Thursday, December 17, 2009
SMILE: The Musical - History
SMILE is a musical with music by Marvin Hamlisch (A CHORUS LINE, THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG) and book and lyrics by Howard Ashman (LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, THE LITTLE MERMAID, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, ALADDIN). The musical is based loosely on a 1975 film of the same title, with a screenplay by Jerry Belson. The original production opened on Broadway on November 24, 1986 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre and closed on January 3, 1987 after 11 previews and 48 performances. It was directed by Ashman with musical staging by Mary Kyte. Among the original cast were Marsha Waterbury, Jeff McCarthy, Anne Marie Bobby, Michael O'Gorman, and Jodi Benson. It received a Tony Award nomination for Best Book of a Musical as well as Drama Desk Award nominations for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Michael O'Gorman) and Outstanding Costume Design (William Ivy Long). The television show "60 Minutes" followed the production from workshop, to out-of-town tryout, to Broadway. SMILE was being looked at as the great hope for American musicals in a time when all the biggest hits were coming from England. Unfortunately, the critics didn't buy SMILE. They were quick to point out the similarities between Marvin Hamlisch's other big show, A CHORUS LINE. The show had no major "star" and was unable to find the audience it needed to survive. However, SMILE is vastly considered one of the most underappreciated musicals of the 1980s and is referred to as a "lost" musical. Not every musical that closes early does so because it is not good. Sometimes the material is ahead of it's time, sometimes there's a lot of other shows opening at the same time, and sometimes it is just not the critics flavor of the month. SMILE is one of those musicals. As the original Broadway tag line read, SMILE has "the look of a winner."
SMILE is considered a "lost" musical because no official cast recording was ever made. However, there does exist a demo CD which is a primary source for groups performing the show. Some of the songs from the show, "Disneyland," "Smile," and "In Our Hands," have been released commercially in compilations of songs from little-known musicals
SMILE: The Musical - Synopsis
Act One
Smile takes place over the course of a week during the summer of 1985. We open to find Robin Gibson, who has just won her local Young American Miss Pageant from Antelope Valley. She is packing her things to travel to Santa Rosa to compete in the state finals and then, hopefully, to travel to the national competition as California's Young American Miss. She is joined by other girls from across the state of California (Typical High School Senior). The girls arrive in Santa Rosa to be greeted by the pageant coordinator, a previous winner of that very pageant and third-runner-up at nationals, Brenda and her husband Big Bob. (The Very Best Week Of Your Lives) The girls meet their roommates and are sent off to their rooms. Robin meets her roommate, Doria Hudson, a girl originally from Texas and every bit the wannabe. The two become fast friends. (Disneyland) Not everyone, however, is happy with their roommate assignments. Shawn, a truly California valley girl, is less than thrilled to be rooming with Maria, a Mexican-American. The next morning the girls meet their choreographer, Tommy French, who puts them thru a grueling dance routine. (Shine) The girls also begin the tour of their local sponsors. Robin, in particular, is finding all of this to be a bit too much. Brenda recieves word that the national chairman is searching for a national spokeswoman, and he's considering her. Seeing this as her chance to make up for losing all those years ago, she goes into overdrive. Big Bob, on the other hand, is determined to keep to his beliefs of "going for gold and forming the future." (Bob's Song) The next morning the girls are woken up bright and early to begin their judges interviews. (Nerves) Before long the girls are ready for their Preliminary Competitions (Young And American) where the girls recieves awards for talent, etc. Maria is among the recipients and Shawn is not pleased. She sets out to make sure Maria doesn't win the pageant. Doria is devestated at not having won an award and Robin comforts her. At the same time, Dale Wilson-Shears, national chairman, arrives and kicks Brenda's nerves up a notch. (Until Tomorrow Night)
Act Two
It is the big night, pageant night. It has all come down to this. Doria, sure she won't win, has taken Robin under her wing. (A Stay Calm) The pageant begins, hosted by Ted Farley. (Smile) Shawn's devious plot against Maria is revealed, throwing the pageant into turmoil. Brenda is determined to keep the pageant going, tho Big Bob thinks they ought to cancel and investigate. The finalists are announced, Doria and Robin among them. (In Our Hands) Finally Ted announces the winner of the pageant (There Goes The Girl) and suddenly it is all over. The girls must pack their things and return home without a crown while Big Bob and Brenda must come to terms with everything that has gone on. (Finale)
Smile takes place over the course of a week during the summer of 1985. We open to find Robin Gibson, who has just won her local Young American Miss Pageant from Antelope Valley. She is packing her things to travel to Santa Rosa to compete in the state finals and then, hopefully, to travel to the national competition as California's Young American Miss. She is joined by other girls from across the state of California (Typical High School Senior). The girls arrive in Santa Rosa to be greeted by the pageant coordinator, a previous winner of that very pageant and third-runner-up at nationals, Brenda and her husband Big Bob. (The Very Best Week Of Your Lives) The girls meet their roommates and are sent off to their rooms. Robin meets her roommate, Doria Hudson, a girl originally from Texas and every bit the wannabe. The two become fast friends. (Disneyland) Not everyone, however, is happy with their roommate assignments. Shawn, a truly California valley girl, is less than thrilled to be rooming with Maria, a Mexican-American. The next morning the girls meet their choreographer, Tommy French, who puts them thru a grueling dance routine. (Shine) The girls also begin the tour of their local sponsors. Robin, in particular, is finding all of this to be a bit too much. Brenda recieves word that the national chairman is searching for a national spokeswoman, and he's considering her. Seeing this as her chance to make up for losing all those years ago, she goes into overdrive. Big Bob, on the other hand, is determined to keep to his beliefs of "going for gold and forming the future." (Bob's Song) The next morning the girls are woken up bright and early to begin their judges interviews. (Nerves) Before long the girls are ready for their Preliminary Competitions (Young And American) where the girls recieves awards for talent, etc. Maria is among the recipients and Shawn is not pleased. She sets out to make sure Maria doesn't win the pageant. Doria is devestated at not having won an award and Robin comforts her. At the same time, Dale Wilson-Shears, national chairman, arrives and kicks Brenda's nerves up a notch. (Until Tomorrow Night)
Act Two
It is the big night, pageant night. It has all come down to this. Doria, sure she won't win, has taken Robin under her wing. (A Stay Calm) The pageant begins, hosted by Ted Farley. (Smile) Shawn's devious plot against Maria is revealed, throwing the pageant into turmoil. Brenda is determined to keep the pageant going, tho Big Bob thinks they ought to cancel and investigate. The finalists are announced, Doria and Robin among them. (In Our Hands) Finally Ted announces the winner of the pageant (There Goes The Girl) and suddenly it is all over. The girls must pack their things and return home without a crown while Big Bob and Brenda must come to terms with everything that has gone on. (Finale)
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
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