Saturday Night (1954)
Words & Music: Stephen Sondheim
Book: Julius J. Epstein, based on the play Front Porch in Flatbush by Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein
Premise: From their front porch, middle-class bachelors in Brooklyn, New York, 1929, bemoan their inability to find dates for Saturday evenings. Gene, a lowly runner on Wall Street, hatches a plan to gatecrash the Junior League Cotillion at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan and make his mark in society circles. There, he meets and charms Helen, who has – unbeknownst to Gene – also gatecrashed the party.
Note: The show was written in 1954, so predates West Side Story, and was due to be Sondheim's first foray on Broadway. Sadly, the principal producer, Lemuel Ayers, died suddenly in 1955 and the show was shelved for 42 years, until The Stephen Sondheim Society urged Sondheim to sanction a full-scale production at London's Bridewell Theatre in 1997.
Major productions:
1999 O'Rourke Center for the Performing Arts
2003 Chapel Off Chapel / Federation Square (Magnormos) *Australian premiere
2009 Jermyn Street Theatre / Arts Theatre
Bridewell Theatre (1997)
The Bridewell Theatre Company
14 Bride Lane, Fleet St, London EC4Y 8EQ
Previews: 11 December 1997
Opens: 17 December 1997
Closes: 24 January 1998
Performances: 38
Director: Carol Metcalfe and Clive Paget
Musical Director/Orchestrator: Peter Corrigan
Set and Costume Designer: Bridget Kimak
Music Supervisor: Mark Warman
Musical Staging: Tim Flavin
Lighting Designer: Geoff Spain
Production Manager: Pete Bull
Cast:
Gene Gorman: Sam Newman
Helen Fogel: Anna Francolini
Dino: Maurice Yeoman
Artie: Jeremy David
Ray: Simon Greiff
Bobby: James Millard
Hank: Mark Haddigan
Celeste: Tracie Bennett
Mildred: Ashleigh Sendin
Fantasy Man/Male Vocalist/Clune: Gavin Lee
Fantasy Woman/Miss Fletcher/Florence/Usherette/Dakota Doran/Female Vocalist: Rae Baker
Police Lieutenant/Fantasy Butler: Paul Brereton
Musical Numbers:
Act One
"Saturday Night" – Dino, Bobby, Ray and Artie
"Class" – Gene and Company
"Love's a Bond" – Male Vocalist
"Isn't It?" – Helen
"In the Movies" – Celeste, Mildred, Usherette, Artie, Ray, Dino and Hank
"Exhibit A" – Bobby
"A Moment With You" – Male Vocalist, Helen and Gene
"Saturday Night" (reprise) – Dino, Ray, Artie and Bobby
"So Many People" – Helen, Gene
"One Wonderful Day" – Celeste, Bobby, Hank, Dino, Artie, Ray, Mildred, Florence, Gene, Helen
Act Two
"Saturday Night" (reprise) – Dino, Ray and Artie
"I Remember That" – Hank, Celeste
"Love's a Bond" (reprise) – Female Vocalist
"All for You" – Helen
"It's That Kind of a Neighbourhood" – Dino, Ray, Artie, Mildred, Celeste, Hank
"What More Do I Need?" – Helen, Gene and Company
"One Wonderful Day" (reprise) – Company
Recording:
Saturday Night – A Stephen Sondheim World Premiere Cast Recording
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Compact Disc, 1998 [First Night [UK] CD65] (52:50)
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Compact Disc, 1998 [RCA Victor [US] 09026-633182-2]
Producer: Chris Walker
Engineer: David Hunt, assisted by Niall Alcott
Orchestrator: Peter Corrigan
Conductor: Mark Warman
Recorded at: Angel Studios, London, 10–11 February 1998
Selections: "Saturday Night", "Class", "Love's A Bond", "Isn't It", "In the Movies", "Exhibit A", "A Moment With You", "Saturday Night (Reprise)", "So Many People", "One Wonderful Day", "Saturday Night (Reprise)", "I Remember That", "All For You", "It's That Kind of a Neighborhood", and "What More Do I Need?"
O'Rourke Center for the Performing Arts (1999)
1145 W. Wilson Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60640
Previews: 14 May 1999
Opens: 19 May 1999
Closes: 18 July 1999
Pegasus Productions:
Executive Producer: Arlene J. Crewdson
Managing Director: John Economos
Director: Gary Griffin
Orchestrator: Jonathan Tunick
Incidental, Dance, and Vocal Arrangements:
Sean Patrick Flahaven
Music Director: Thomas Murray
Choreographer: Marc Robin
Scenic Designer: Jeff Bauer
Lighting Designer: Shannon McKinney
Costume Designer: Shifra Werch
Sound Designer: Steve Mezger
Production Stage Manager: Katie Klemme
Cast:
Gene Gorman: Ian Brennan
Helen Fogel: Elizabeth Sayre Yeats
Dino: Nico Tricoci
Artie: Christopher LoDuca
Ray: Charles Karvelas
Ted: Patrick Sarb
Bobby/Major Domo/Elevator Boy: Philip Dawkins
Hank/Male Vocalist: Elic Ryan Bramlett
Celeste: Samantha Fitschen
Mildred: Harriet Nzinga Plumpp
Eugene Gorman (Pinhead): Bil Tisdale
Florence/Dakota Doran: Susan Kokot
Attendant/Clune/Headwaiter: Derek Hasenstab
Mr. Fletcher/Mr. Fisher: Paul Hofmann
Beautiful Person: Catherine Kusch
Orchestra:
Conductor/Pianist: Tom Murray
Reed 1: Ken Mack
Reed 2: Dave Young/Sean McNeely
Reed 3: Ray Nergaard
Trumpet 1: Carey Deadman/Michael Maysillez
Trumpet 2: Gordon Bazall
Trombone: Henry Salgado
Keyboard: Mike DeVito
Bass: Mark Berls
Drums: Brett Zwler
Musical Numbers:
Act One
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"Saturday Night" – The Gang
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"Class" – Gene, Hank, Artie, Ted, Celeste
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"Delighted I'm Sure"* – Celeste, Mildred, Artie, Dino, Bobby, Ray, Ted
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"Love's a Bond" – Male Vocalist
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"Isn't It?" – Helen, Gene
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"In the Movies" – Ray, Hank, Artie, Dino, Mildred, Celeste
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"Exhibit A" – Bobby
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"A Moment With You" – Male Vocalist, Helen, Gene
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"Saturday Night" (reprise) – The Gang
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"Montana Chem"* – Dino, Ray, Artie, Ted, Hank, Celeste
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"So Many People" – Helen, Gene
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"One Wonderful Day"– All
Act Two
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"Saturday Night" (reprise) – The Gang
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"I Remember That" – Hank, Celeste
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"Love's a Bond" (reprise) – Dakota Doran
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"All for You" – Helen
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"That Kind of a Neighborhood" – All
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"What More Do I Need?" – Gene, Helen, Dino, Arite, Ray, Ted, Celeste, Hank, Mildred, Clune, Lieutenant
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"One Wonderful Day" (reprise) – All
*Added for the USA premiere
An archival video recording was made on 29 June 1999 and is held at the Theatre on Film and Tape collection of the Library for the Performing Arts in New York
Second Stage Production (2000)
2econd Stage Theatre, 305 West 43rd Street, New York NY
Previews: 21 January 2000 (30 previews)
Opens: 17 February 2000
Closes: 26 March 2000
Performances: 45
Second Stage Productions:
Artistic Director: Carole Rothman
Director and Choreographer: Kathleen Marshall
Orchestrator: Jonathan Tunick
Music Director: Rob Fisher
Musical Continuity: Sean Patrick Flahaven
Conductor: Steven Freeman
Associate Director: Rob Ashford
Scenic Designer: Derek McLane
Lighting Designer: Donald Holder
Costume Designer: Catherine Zuber
Sound Designer: Scott Lehrer
Production Stage Manager: Karen Moore
Cast:
Gene Gorman: David Campbell
Helen Fogel: Lauren Ward
Dino: Joey Sorge
Artie: Kirk McDonald
Ray: Greg Zola
Ted: Michael Benjamin Washington
Bobby: Christopher Fitzgerald
Hank: Clarke Thorell
Celeste: Andrea Burns
Mildred: Rachel Ulanet
Eugene Gorman (Pinhead): Frank Vlastnik
Florence/Dakota Doran: Natascia Diaz
Attendant/Clune/Headwaiter: Michael Pemberton
Mr. Fletcher/Mr. Fisher/Waiter/Lieutenant: David A. White
Vocalist: Donald Corren
Understudies:
Pinhead/Ted/Hank/Ray: Andy Karl
Bobby: Kirk McDonald
Gene/Artie/Dino: Jim Stanek
Vocalist: David A. White
Celeste/Mildren/Helen/Florence/Dakota Doran: Lisa Datz
Orchestra:
Conductor/Piano: Steven Freeman
Associate Conductor/Keyboard: Stephen Marzullo
Woodwinds: Steve Kenyon, Richard Heckman, John Winder
Trumpets: Brian O’Flaherty, Tino Gagliardi
Trombone: Clint Sharman
Bass: Raymond Kilday
Drums/Percussion: Raymond Grappone
Musical Numbers:
Act One
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Overture – Orchestra
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"Saturday Night" – Ted, Artie, Ray, Dino
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"Class" – Gene, Hank, Celeste, Bobby, Artie, Ted, Dino
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"Delighted I'm Sure" – Celeste, Mildred, Hank, Bobby, Ted, Artie, Ray, Dino
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"Love's a Bond" – Vocalist
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"Isn't It?" – Helen
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"In the Movies" – Ted, Artie, Ray, Dino, Hank, Celeste, Mildred
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"Exhibit A" – Bobby
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"A Moment With You" – Vocalist, Gene, Helen
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"Saturday Night" (reprise) – Ted, Artie, Ray, Dino
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"Gracious Living Fantasy" – Gene & The Gang
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"Montana Chem" – Ted, Artie, Ray, Dino, Hank, Celeste
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"So Many People" – Helen, Gene
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"One Wonderful Day" – Celeste, Hank, Bobby, Mildred, Florence, Ted, Artie, Ray, Dino
Act Two
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Entr'acte – The Orchestra
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"Saturday Night" (reprise) – Ted, Artie, Ray, Dino
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"I Remember That" – Hank, Celeste
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"Love's a Bond" Blues – Dakota Doran
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"All for You" – Helen
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"That Kind of a Neighborhood" – Hank, Celeste, Mildred, Florence, Bobby, Ted, Artie, Ray, Dino
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"What More Do I Need?" – Gene, Helen, Hank, Celeste, Mildred, Florence, Bobby, Ted, Artie, Ray, Dino, Clune, Lieutenant
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"One Wonderful Day" (reprise) – The Company
Awards
Drama Desk: Outstanding Lyrics (Stephen Sondheim)
Recording:
Saturday Night - Original New York Cast
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Compact Disc, 2000 [Nonesuch Records 79609-2]
Producer: Tommy Krasker
Recorded and mixed: Joel Moss
Liner notes: Jeff Lonoff (lyrics included)
Recorded: 28 March 2000 at the Hit Factory, New York
Selections: All of the tracks listed above, except for the Entr'acte.
Notes: Cast recording features an extended orchestration, played by 26 musicians:
Conductor/piano; Associate conductor/synthesizer; Violin (9); Viola (2); Cello (3); Woodwind (3); Trumpet (4); Trombone; Bass; Drums/percussion.
Jermyn Street Theatre/Arts Theatre (2009)
Jermyn Street Theatre, 16B Jermyn Street, St James's, London
Arts Theatre, Great Newport Street, Covent Garden, London
First UK production using the revised Chicago/Off-Broadway score
Jermyn Street
Previews: 10 February 2009
Opens: 13 February 2009
Closes: 14 March 2009
Arts Theatre
Opens: 25 March 2009
Closes: 11 April 2009
Primavera:
Director: Tom Littler
Choreographer: Tim Jackson
Music Director: Tom Attwood
Set and Designer: Will Reynolds
Cast:
Gene Gorman: David Ricardo-Pearce
Helen Fogel: Helena Blackman
Dino: David Osmond
Artie: Lloyd Gorman
Ray/Male Vocalist: Harry Waller
Ted: David Botham
Bobby/Inspector Clune: Lee Drage
Hank/Mr Fletcher: Nick Trumble
Celeste: Joanna Hickman
Mildred: Joanna Hollister
Eugene Gorman (Pinhead)/Mr Fisher: Kevin Millington
Florence/Female Vocalist: Charlie Cameron
Orchestra:
Actor-muso production
Musical Numbers:
Act One
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Overture – Ted, Artie, Ray, Dino
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“Saturday Night” – Ted, Artie, Ray, Dino
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“Class” – Gene, Hank, Celeste, Bobby, Ted, Artie, Dino
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“Delighted I’m Sure” – Celeste, Mildred, Hank, Bobby, Ted, Artie, Ray, Dino
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“Love’s a Bond” – Male Vocalist
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“Isn’t It?” – Helen
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“In the Movies” – Ted, Artie, Ray, Dino, Hank, Celeste, Mildred
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“Exhibit ‘A’” – Bobby
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“A Moment With You” – Male Vocalist, Helen, Gene
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“Saturday Night" (reprise) – Ted, Artie, Ray, Dino
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“Montana Chem” – Ted, Artie, Ray, Dino, Hank, Celeste
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“So Many People” – Helen, Gene
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“One Wonderful Day” – Company
Act Two
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“Saturday Night" (reprise) – Ted, Artie, Ray, Dino
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“I Remember That” – Hank, Celeste
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“Love’s a Bond Blues” – Female Vocalist
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“All for You” – Helen
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“That Kind of a Neighborhood” – Company
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“What More Do I Need?” – Gene, Helen, Company
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"One Wonderful Day" (reprise) – The Company
Signature Theatre (2011)
Signature Theatre MAX Theatre, Campbell Avenue, Arlington, Virginia, USA
Concert staging
Opens: 29 October 2011
Closes: 30 October 2011
Performances: 3
Director: Matthew Gardiner
Music Director: Jon Kalbfleisch
Lighting Design: Katrina Maurer
Cast:
Gene Gorman: Geoff Packard
Helen Fogel: Susan Derry
Bobby: William (Will) Beech
Hank: Evan Casey
Celeste: Tracy Lynn Olivera
Mildred: Joanna Hollister
Florence/Dakota Doran: Eleasha Gamble
Ensemble: Sam Ludwig, Bayla Whitten, William Diggle, Danny Yoerges, Buzz Mauro, Alan DeMont Wiggins and Mike Barry.
York Theatre Company (2014)
The Theater at St. Peter's, 619 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
Concert staging as part of the Musicals in Mufti series
Opens: 8 November 2014
Closes: 16 November 2014
Director: Stafford Arima
Music Supervisor: Paul Gemignani
Lighting Designer: Brian Nason
Casting: Geoff Josselson
Cast:
Gene Gorman: Ben Fankhauser
Helen Fogel: Margot Seibert
Dino: Jeremy Greenbaum
Artie: Greg Kamp
Ray: Jared Loftin
Ted: Matthew (Matt) Bauman
Bobby: Andrew Keenan-Bolger
Hank: Matthew Scott
Celeste: Lindsay Mendez
Mildred: Dana Steingold
Eugene Gorman (Pinhead): Olli Haaskivi
Florence/Female Vocalist: Kenita R. Miller
Plaza Attendant/Clune: Lance Roberts
Mr. Fletcher/Waiter: Michael Thomas Holmes
Mr. Fisher/Male Vocalist: Jim Stanek
42nd Street Moon (2018)
Gateway Theatre, 215 Jackson Street, San Francisco, CA, USA
Preview: 28 March 2018
Opens: 31 March 2018
Closes: 15 April 2018
Director: Ryan Weible
Musical Director: Daniel Thomas
Set Designer: Brian Watson
Costume Designer: Bethany Deal
Production Stage Manager: Kris Vecere
Asst Stage Manager: Lauren Howry
Choreographer: Allison Paraiso
Cast:
Gene Gorman: Nikita Burshteyn
Helen Fogel: Amie Shapiro
Dino: Nathaniel Rothrock
Artie: Mike Birr
Ray: Jack O'Reilly
Ted: Jesse Cortez
Bobby: Cameron La Brie
Hank: Kalon Thibodeaux
Celeste: Ayelet Firstenberg/Courtney Hatcher
Mildred: Caitlin Waite
Eugene Gorman (Pinhead)/Mr. Fletcher/Head Waiter/Crooner: DC Scarpelli
Florence/Dakota Doran: Katherine Cooper
Clune: Alison Quin
Mr. Fisher/Lieutenant: John Brown
Band: Daniel Thomas (MD/keys), Nick Di Scala (reeds and keys) and Ken Brill (keys)
Second Stage Theatre (2019)
Tony Kiser Theater, 305 W 43rd St, New York, NY, USA
Concert staging as part of the Musical Mondays series
One Performance: 11 March 2019
Director: Noah Brody
Musical Director: Alexander Gemignani
Cast:
Gene Gorman: Kyle Selig
Helen Fogel: Erika Henningsen
Dino: Jakeim Hart
Artie: Alec Robert Mathieson
Ray: Sommer Carbuccia
Ted: Kennedy Kanagawa
Bobby: Nathan Salstone
Hank: Jonathan Raviv
Celeste: Sarah Naughton
Mildred: Gabrielle Perez