Download the Crazy for You play guide

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The Play Guide for Crazy for You was created by:
Jenna Turk
Artistic Associate
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Crazy for You runs from April 18 to May 20th, 2017
For tickets, visit theatrecalgary.com or call (403) 294-7447
Front cover design by Punch & Judy Inc. and photo by David Cooper
Table of Contents
THE BASICS
The Company
Song List
Who’s Who?
The Story
A Synopsis
1
3
4
5
5
EXPLORATIONS
The Call
Ken Ludwig
The Gershwins
Cowspeak
Citadel Theatre
Crazy for Crazy for You: Then and Now
8
9
1111
12
14
16
CONVERSATIONS
Conversation Starters
Sequins! Sequins! Sequins!
The Fantastic Follies
Movie Night
Recommended Reads from Calgary Public Library
18
19
21
23
24
Sources
26
THE BASICS
1
The Company
Max Bell Theatre at Arts Commons
April 1 8 to May 20, 2017
CRAZY FOR YOU®
A co-production with the Citadel Theatre
The New Gershwin® Musical
Music and Lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin
Book by Ken Ludwig
Co-Conception by Ken Ludwig and Mike Ockrent
Inspired by Material by Guy Bolton and John McGowan
Originally produced on Broadway by
Roger Horchow and Elizabeth Williams
Original Broadway Choreography by Susan Stroman
Director & Choreographer
DAYNA TEKATCH
Music Director
DON HORSBURGH
Set & Costume Design
CORY SINCENNES
Lighting Design
GERALD KING
Sound Design
PETER MCBOYLE
Fight Director & Associate Choreographer
JONATHAN PURVIS
Assistant Director
FARREN TIMOTEO
Associate Lighting Design
APRIL VICZKO
Associate Sound Design
MICHAEL LAIRD
The worldwide copyrights in the music of George and Ira Gershwin® for this presentation
are licensed by the Gershwin Family.
CRAZY FOR YOU®, THE NEW GERSHWIN® MUSICAL
is presented by arrangement with
TAMS-WITMARK MUSIC LIBRARY, INC.
560 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022.
GERSHWIN is a registered trademark and service mark of Gershwin Enterprises.
CRAZY FOR YOU is a registered trademark and service mark of CRAZY FOR YOU Enterprises.
THE BASICS
2
People of New York
Bobby Child
Irene Roth
Lottie Child
Bela Zangler
Evelyn
Rose
Patsy
Tess
Betsy
Mitzi, Dance Captain
ANDREW MACDONALD-SMITH
RACHEL BOWRON
SUSAN GILMOUR
JOHN ULLYATT
NADYA CORSCADDEN
ELIZABETH GREER
KELSEY LACOMBE
MAKAYLA MOORE
ALISON ROBERTS
SARAH VANCE
People of Deadrock
Polly Baker
Everett Baker
Lank Hawkins
Pete
Moose
Billy
Mingo
Junior
Jimmy
Perkins, Custus
AYRIN MACKIE
LARRY HERBERT
JESSE GERVAIS
JONATHAN CULLEN
SHELDON ELTER
ALEX KELLY
WILL LAMOND
GREGORY PEMBER
ANDREW TAYLOR
CHRISTOPHER WILSON
Patricia Fodor
Eugene Fodor
ELIZABETH STEPKOWSKI-TARHAN
BLAIR YOUNG
Stage Manager
Assistant Stage Manager
Assistant Stage Manager
EVAN R. KLASSEN
EMMA BRAGER
AL GADOWSKY
Head of Lighting
Head of Sound (Mixer)
RF Tech
Head Stage Carpenter
Wardrobe & Wig Master
Stage Hands
Follow Spot Operators
Lead Dresser
Dressers
Wig Running
Wig Maintenance
Wardrobe Maintenance
CATHARINE CRUMB
BRONWYN BOWLBY
CHRIS JACKO
SCOTT MORRIS
RON SIEGMUND
ANDREW KERR, DAVID DENNIS
MIKE BOOTH, TRISHA HERBERT
RACHEL MICHELLE SHERIDAN
JULI ELKIW, KATIE KLINGVALL
BRENDA BOUTET
LAURA DEMOISSAC
CARLEY LAINE POWELL
Cameras and audio/visual recording devices are not permitted in the theatre.
Video and audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited.
CRAZY FOR YOU has one 20-minute intermission.
THE BASICS
3
Song List
ACT ONE
OPENING: K-RA-ZY FOR YOU
I CAN’T BE BOTHERED
BIDIN’ MY TIME
THINGS ARE LOOKING UP
COULD YOU USE ME?
SHALL WE DANCE?
GIRLS ENTER NEVADA
SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME
SLAP THAT BASS
EMBRACEABLE YOU
TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT
I GOT RHYTHM
Bobby
Bobby & Girls
Cowboy Trio & Men
Bobby
Bobby & Polly
Bobby & Polly
Chorus
Polly
Bobby (as Zangler) & Company
Polly & Bobby (as Zangler)
Chorus
Polly & Company
ACT TWO
THE REAL AMERICAN FOLK SONG
WHAT CAUSES THAT?
NAUGHTY BABY
STIFF UPPER LIP
THEY CAN’T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME
BUT NOT FOR ME
NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT
FINALE
Cowboy Trio & Chorus
Bobby & Zangler
Irene, Lank & Male Quartet:
Billy, Custus, Jimmy, Junior
Eugene, Patricia, Bobby,
Polly & Company
Bobby
Polly
Bobby & Girls
Company
MUSICIANS
Music Director & Keyboard
Reed 1 (Flute, Clarinet, Soprano & Alto saxes)
Reed 2 (Flute, Clarinet, Alto & Tenor saxes)
Reed 3 (Clarinet, Bass Clarinet & Tenor sax)
Trumpet 1
Trumpet 2
Trombone 1
Bass Trombone/Tuba
Drums
Percussion
Synthesizer
Violin
Cello
Bass
Orchestra Contractor
DON HORSBURGH
JEREMY BROWN
GERRY HEBERT
CEDRIC BLARY
JIM MURRAY
JAY MICHALAK
CARSTEN RUBELING
DAVE REID
JIM JOHNSTON
ROBERT FENSKE
MICHELLE GRÉGOIRE
JONATHAN LEWIS
MORAG NORTHEY
KODI HUTCHINSON
DAVE REID
Subs
Reed 1:
Reed 2:
Trumpet 2:
Bass Trombone/Tuba:
KEITH O’ROURKE
ANDREA CIONA
LEANNE PAISLEY
NATHAN CHANDLER
THE BASICS
4
Who’s Who?
People of New York
Bobby Child: A banker who loves musical theatre
Irene Roth: Bobby’s fiancé of five years
Lottie Child: Bobby’s wealthy and domineering mother
Bela Zangler: A Broadway impresario and the face of Zangler’s Follies
Evelyn: One of Zangler’s Follies
Rose: One of Zangler’s Follies
Patsy: One of Zangler’s Follies with a high speaking voice
Tess: The dance director of Zangler’s Follies
Betsy: One of Zangler’s Follies
Mitzi/Dance Captain: A principal dancer in Zangler’s Follies
People of Deadrock
Polly Baker: Postmistress and daughter of Everett Baker, an “All
American Girl”
Everett Baker: Owner of the Gaiety Theatre/post office
Lank Hawkins: Proprietor of the Deadrock saloon
Pete: A cowboy
Moose: A cowboy
Billy: A card player
Mingo: A cowboy
Junior: A card player
Jimmy: A cowboy
THE BASICS
5
Perkins/Custus: Lottie Child’s business assistant and a cowboy
Patricia Fodor: An English tourist
Eugene Fodor: Patricia’s brother
The Story
When a young banker is sent to the sleepy town of Deadrock to foreclose a
rundown theatre, his heart and his life are turned completely upside
down. This hilarious song-and-dance extravaganza features the classics “I
Got Rhythm,” “Someone to Watch Over Me,” and “Nice Work If You Can
Get It.” High-energy fun!
A Synopsis
The musical opens backstage at the Zangler Theatre in New York City
during the 1930s where chorus girls (members of “Zangler’s Follies”) are
finishing up rehearsal when Bobby Child appears hoping to audition for
the famous Broadway producer, Bela Zangler. A banker by day, Bobby
flubs his audition and is further humiliated when his fiancée Irene shows
up demanding he give up his dreams of stardom. Bobby’s overbearing
mother appears and orders him to go to Deadrock, Nevada to foreclose on
an old theatre to save the family business some money (they run the
bank).
In Deadrock, Everett Baker receives a letter warning him the bank will be
foreclosing on his theatre, called Gaiety Theatre. The town’s saloon owner,
Lank, tries to convince him to sell him the space, but Everett refuses as the
THE BASICS
6
theatre is where his late wife was a star. An old gold-mining town,
Deadrock has seen better days, and the last remaining woman is now
Everett’s daughter, Polly, who works as the postmistress.
When Bobby arrives, he is suffering from heat-stroke and Polly appears
like a mirage – Bobby falls instantly in love. When he finds out who she is,
he realizes that foreclosing on the theatre would lose him the girl of his
dreams, so he decides to help her save the theater by putting on a show
like “Zangler’s Follies.” However, when Polly discovers why he’s in
Deadrock, she loses all trust in him. Unwilling to give up on Polly, Bobby
disguises himself as Bela Zangler to orchestrate the show.
In preparation for opening night Deadrock is abuzz with cowboys
learning to dance and chorus girls arriving from New York City to help
out. Meanwhile, Polly has fallen in love with Bobby’s impersonation of
Zangler and Irene has arrived in town. But when the big night arrives,
only two tourists show up to the performance. Luckily, the town realizes
that putting the show together woke them up and reenergized Deadrock.
The end of Act One arrives with the reappearance of the real Bela Zangler.
Act Two begins with Bobby intent on confessing his impersonation of
Zangler to Polly, but Polly won’t believe it and instead kisses the real
Zangler to prove Bobby a liar. When Polly leaves, Zangler seeks out Tess,
his lover, and tries to reunite, but she rejects him. Finally the two Zanglers
meet in a drunken stupor in Lank’s saloon and share their sorrows.
When Polly discovers Bobby wasn’t lying about playing dress up she
slaps him and storms off. Impassioned by his feelings for Polly, Bobby
breaks off his engagement with Irene, who then seduces Lank. Meanwhile
the townspeople have all met to discuss whether or not to proceed with
the show.
THE BASICS
7
Dejected, Bobby heads back to New York City just as Polly realizes too
late that she loves him. The real Zangler takes over Deadrock’s show and
casts Polly in the lead.
Six weeks later, Bobby’s mother gives him the Zangler Theatre for his
birthday – it turns out that Zangler has given all of his attention the Gaiety
Theatre in Deadrock. Although happy with the present, Bobby realizes his
love for Polly is worth more and heads back to Deadrock with his mother
to find her. Seemingly at the same time, Polly has realized she must be
with Bobby too and so she has left town for New York. As Bobby learns he
has just missed Polly, his mother and Everett Baker catch eyes and they
instantly fall in love. Suddenly, Polly reappears as her ride to the train
station ran out of gas, and with the town’s help she and Bobby are
reunited!
Ayrin Mackie as Paolly Baker and Andrew MacDonald-Smith as Bobby Child in
Crazy for You
(Photo by David Cooper)
THE BASICS
8
The Call
The cast of Crazy for You
(Photo by David Cooper)
In 1990, Ken Ludwig got a telephone call from a Texas millionaire with an
idea: Roger Horchow wanted Ludwig to resurrect a 1930 musical called
Girl Crazy by George and Ira Gershwin. Ludwig had never written a
musical before in his life. He was a part-time lawyer (Ludwig studied at
Harvard Law) and part-time playwright with one hit comedy under his
belt, Lend Me a Tenor. But Horchow, the wannabe Broadway producer,
insisted that Ludwig was the man for the job, and after much pestering he
took the gig.
With Horchow’s support and the rights to many of Ira and George
Gershwin’s greatest hits, Ludwig completely reworked Girl Crazy into the
musical we know today as Crazy for You. He kept many of the original
musical’s songs like, “Bidin’ My Time,” “Embraceable You,” and “I Got
Rhythm,” but he also added loads more Gershwin gems like, "Someone to
Watch Over Me" "K-ra-zy for You," and "They Can't Take That Away from
Me." Ludwig also changed our leading man from Danny Churchill to
THE BASICS
9
Bobby Child and shifted the plot so that instead of the leading man
returning to Nevada to run his family’s ranch, he was now banished to
Deadrock to foreclose on a rundown theatre.
Together, Horchow and Ludwig produced a bonafide Broadway hit!
Crazy for You opened in 1992 and promptly won the Tony Award for Best
Musical. The next year when it moved to London’s West End it won the
Olivier Award for Best New Musical, and when it was recently revived
there in 2012 it won the Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival.
Thanks to a part-time lawyer and a pushy Texan, the Gershwins’ music
was reborn into a musical comedy classic.
Ken Ludwig
Ken Ludwig
(Photo by Leslie Cashen)
KEN LUDWIG (Playwright) has had 6 shows on Broadway and 7 in
London’s West End, and his plays and musicals have been performed in
more than 30 countries in over 20 languages. Lend Me a Tenor, which the
Washington Post called “one of the classic comedies of the 20th century,”
won two Tony Awards and was nominated for seven. He has also won
THE BASICS
10
two Laurence Olivier Awards, the Charles MacArthur Award, two Helen
Hayes Awards, and the Edgar Award for Best Mystery of the Year. His
plays have been commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, the
Old Globe and the Bristol Old Vic. His 24 plays and musicals include
Moon Over Buffalo (with Carol Burnett), Twentieth Century (with Alec
Baldwin), The Game’s Afoot, Leading Ladies, The Fox on the Fairway,
Baskerville and A Comedy of Tenors. His adaptation of Agatha Christie’s
Murder on the Orient Express will premiere in March at the McCarter
Theatre and his newest play, Robin Hood!, opens at the Old Globe in
August. His book How To Teach Your Children Shakespeare (Random House)
won the Falstaff Award for Best Shakespeare Book of 2014. He holds
degrees from Harvard, where he studied with Leonard Bernstein,
Haverford College, and Cambridge University. For more information
please visit www.kenludwig.com
“There’s no business like show business.”
-Irving Berlin
EXPLORATIONS
11
The Gershwins
George and Ira Gershwin
(Photo courtesy of Warner Publications)
Brothers George and Ira Gershwin were born just before the turn of the
20th century, and together they created some of the most famous musical
numbers in American music history, like: “I Got Rhythm,” “Embraceable
You,” and “Someone to Watch Over Me.”
Older brother Ira was the creator in the family and his lyrics helped win
the musical, Of Thee I Sing, the first Pulitzer Prize ever for a piece of
musical theatre. He lived a long life, happily married for 57 years, writing
for both the stage and screen, before passing away at the age of 86.
His younger brother, George, however wasn’t quite so fortunate. A
songwriter and pianist, George is often thought to have been the more
promising of the two, but unfortunately, his life was cut short by a
malignant brain tumor at the age of 38. Together George and Ira were
surely successful having collaborated on more than a dozen scores
including musicals Strike Up the Band, Let ‘Em Eat Cake, and Porgy and Bess,
but George’s most famous works were actually done on his own. With his
jazzy Tin Pan Alley influenced style, his orchestral compositions remain
EXPLORATIONS
12
some of the most world-renowned like: “Rhapsody in Blue” and “An
American in Paris.”
Throughout their careers Ira had always managed his brother’s affairs,
and after George’s death he continued to do so, advocating for the
maintenance of his legacy. His work paid off as the George and Ira
Gershwin Collection is now housed in the Library of Congress. Not only
does the Gershwins’ music live on, but their name holds incredible weight
both in the musical theatre playbook and in the classical music canon.
Cowspeak
The Cast of Crazy for You
(Photo by David Cooper)
Calgary and Deadrock, Nevada, may both share a western heritage, but
that doesn't mean we're all cowboys and cowgirls! For your cowpoke
interpreting needs, here is a translation guide of some key terms.
Deadrock, Nevada: A fictional sleepy little Western town in the middle
of nowhere
EXPLORATIONS
13
Saloon: A venue serving alcoholic drinks, popular in the western United
States in the 19th century
Lock, stock and barrel: A figure of speech meaning all or everything.
Its various parts itemize the parts of a musket rifle. The phrase
popularized in the 1800’s when muskets began being mass-produced and
now all of the gun’s parts could be made together
The junction: A place where roads or railroads come together. Where
passengers could get on and off.
Dumb cuss: A derogatory term for someone you find stupid, derived
from the shortening of “customer”
Gunfights: Popular in the Old American West where lawmen, outlaws,
and cowboys would resolve disputes by squaring off in a duel using guns
Wyatt Earp: A famous American Old West gambler and sheriff known
as the hero of the O.K. Corral shootout where three outlaws were killed
Billy the Kid: A gunfighter infamous for escaping jail and evading
capture. He was shot and killed at age 21, but some rumours also suggest
he escaped to live a long life
Leather fringe: A staple of western wear, the leather keeps the wearer
warm and the fringe keeps them dry as it wicks off rain
Gal-darn: An exclamation of amazement; a derivative of goddamn
Foaled: When a mare gives birth to a baby horse, a foal
Drifters: A person who moves from one place to another, from one job to
another. Prevalent during the Great Depression as people were forced to
seek out work
EXPLORATIONS
14
Yip-pie I Oh Ki-ai Kai-oh: Likely derived from the term yip meaning to
chirp excitedly, but the full phrase was first used in 1936 in the cowboy
movie- musical, Rhythm on the Range, in a song by Bing Crosby
Cowpoke: An informal term meaning cowboy
Wide open spaces: The West is known as the land of opportunity and
its big blue skies appeal to many. For years people have sought their
freedom and their fortune here
The Dalton Boys: A team of outlaws that included three brothers who
were known for robbing trains and sticking up banks
The Clanton Gang: A group of outlaw cowboys, including Ike Clanton
who was killed at the O.K. Corral, who specialized in hold-ups
High hat: Used to refer to people who are snobbish or self-important.
This began as a reflection of those who literally wore tall hats
Citadel Theatre
Citadel Theatre
(Photo via Theatre Alberta)
Crazy for You is a co-production between Theatre Calgary and Edmonton’s
Citadel Theatre and marks a collaboration between two of Canada’s top
regional theatres.
EXPLORATIONS
15
The Citadel was founded more than 50 years ago, originally opening in
the old Salvation Army Citadel on 103rd Street. The current Citadel opened
in Edmonton’s arts district in 1976. It houses five performance spaces: the
Shoctor Theatre (a proscenium stage), the Maclab Theatre (a thrust stage),
The Club (a cabaret-style venue also known as the Rice Theatre), as well as
Zeidler Hall, the Lee Pavilion and the Tucker Amphitheatre.
The Citadel is also home to the Academy which encompasses The
Citadel/Banff Centre Professional Theatre Program (a rigorous advanced
training program for established and emerging theatre professionals);
Young Companies (offering advanced training and mentorship in Acting,
Musical Theatre, Playwriting, and Theatre Production to youth between
the ages of 16-21); The Eldon and Anne Foote Theatre School (the oldest
and largest theatre school in Edmonton, providing year-round classes for
all ages and experience levels since for almost 50 years); and Play
Development (supporting playwrights with the opportunity to collaborate
with some of Canada’s most celebrated writers).
On now at the Citadel are Peter and the Starcatcher from April 1st to April
23rd and Sense and Sensibility from April 22nd to May 14th.
For more information about our partners to the north, visit the Citadel
website: http://www.citadeltheatre.com/
Christopher Wilson as Perkins, Andrew MacDonald-Smith as Bobby Child, and
Susan Gilmour as Lottie Child in Crazy for You
(Photo by David Cooper)
EXPLORATIONS
16
Crazy for Crazy for You: Then and Now
The cast of Crazy for You
(Photo by David Cooper)
When Crazy for You premiered on Broadway in 1992 it was a runaway hit.
Featuring songs from the nineteen-thirties set in archetypal locales like a
Broadway theatre and an old western saloon, the musical had an innate
sense of timelessness. But while the music may have had a classic
Gershwin feel, its energy was electrifyingly present. Crazy for You, the first
musical ever written by Ken Ludwig, was nominated for nine Tony
Awards and took home the prizes for Best Choreography, Best Costume
Design, and the top honour of Best Musical.
The following year the original Broadway director, Mike Ockrent, directed
the show in London, England. The West End production ran for nearly
three years and repeated its wins at the Laurence Olivier Awards.
Since 1992, Crazy for You has been done all over the world from
community stages to professional productions, but in 2011 an official
revival debuted in the West End. Together Theatre Calgary and
Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre are thrilled to bring this stunning show to
Alberta this spring.
EXPLORATIONS
17
In 1992, the world was a tumultuous place full of political change. The
Soviet Union had collapsed, and while the Cold War was finally over, the
Gulf War was just beginning. An ailing President Bush was the leader of
the United States and a young Bill Clinton was waiting in the wings. In
Canada, Conservative Brian Mulroney was finishing up as our 18th Prime
Minister and our country would soon be under a Liberal government with
Jean Chrétien at its helm (by way of Kim Campbell, of course). Today in
2017, things are similar with both Canada and the United States recently
electing new leadership. Many feel unsure of the future and scared of the
direction in which our globe is heading. With worries and fears
dominating our collective consciousness, everyone needs an escape – from
1992 to 2017 that much hasn’t changed. Thankfully, Crazy for You with its
hilarious script, delightful cowboys and showgirls, and its infectiously
joyful spirit is the perfect release.
“To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in
love.”
-Jane Austen
CONVERSATIONS
18
Conversation Starters

Have you ever been involved in a show of some kind?

Was it a positive experience? Why or why not?

Do you think Calgary is more like New York City or Deadrock?

Are you proud of where you’re from?

Is there a sense of community where you live?

Is there such a thing as true love?

How do you know that you’re in love?

Do you like musical theatre? Why or why not?

Does singing and dancing enhance the show’s story?

What was your favourite part of Crazy for You? Why?

How did this musical leave you feeling?
The cast of Crazy for You
(Photo by David Cooper)
“If music be the food of love, play on.”
-William Shakespeare
CONVERSATIONS
19
Sequins! Sequins! Sequins! An Interview with
Theatre Calgary’s Wardrobe Coordinator
Katie Klingvall
The cast of Crazy for You
(Photo by David Cooper)
A co-production with Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre, Crazy for You
is a true celebration of collaboration with every theatrical
element being touched by both the Citadel and Theatre Calgary.
Not only do the talented performers and jazzy music thrill
audiences, but so do the dazzling costumes made with yard upon
yard of sequined fabric! Theatre Calgary’s Artistic Associate,
Jenna Turk, talked to Theatre Calgary’s Wardrobe Coordinator
Katie Klingvall about how these costumes came to life.
What was it like working with designer Corey Sincennes?
Well, we had a prior relationship as he designed ‘da Kink in my Hair, Bad
Jews, and Mary Poppins. So, he and the Citadel know and trust our skills.
We communicated mostly through email, sending photos back and forth,
but because he knows us we understood that we weren’t going to hurt
each other’s feelings. There was room for us to predict what he would like
and really interpret their design.
CONVERSATIONS
20
What was Theatre Calgary’s Wardrobe Department in charge of?
We did the more showgirl pieces. We were in charge of the female
ensemble. “Zangler’s Follies.”
How was this show’s design unique from other shows you’ve
worked on?
With Crazy for You we could really push it to the extreme. Like, using a
classic pannier (two hoops traditionally worn as undergarments on the
side of a woman’s body under her skirt to hold it wide and create the
illusion of a full skirt; popular in the 17th and 18th centuries) in a modern
way. Not every show allows that, but with these Vegas showgirl-type
costumes Crazy for You necessitates that kind of creativity. You know, we
used layers of sequins in pink, purple, black and white chevron. We were
using materials that we don’t usually get to work with.
Was it a challenge?
It was a fun creative challenge. The question of ‘how do I do this’ is
always exciting. How can I make this work? How can I bring it to life? No
one normally asks me to make a huge hula hoop musical-note backpack.
The cast of Crazy for You
(Photo by David Cooper)
CONVERSATIONS
21
The Fantastic Follies
The cast of Crazy for You featuring “Zangler’s Follies”
(Photo by David Cooper)
The singing and dancing showgirls of “Zangler’s Follies” featured in
Crazy for You bring real razzle dazzle rhythm to a true cowpoke musical.
Inspired by the Ziegfeld Follies, these chorus girls hold an iconic place in
the world of show business. First mounted in 1907, the Ziegfeld Follies
took their inspiration from a Parisian cabaret music hall, the Folies
Bergère. Incredibly popular during the Belle Époque, the Folies Bergère
was famous for offering light entertainment with a mix of popular songs,
comic operettas, and gymnastics. However, it was most legendary for its
titillating content – and its beautiful women (venerably immortalized by
Édouard Manet in his painting, A Bar at the Folies-Bergère). Elaborate
costumes were worn and then unworn to the delight of those that
frequented the cabaret.
Broadway impresario Florenz Ziegler Jr. was charmed by the Folies
Bergère and in search of an inexpensive summer money-maker, he
produced his first revue in New York City called Follies of 1907. A smash
hit, Ziegfeld put his name in the title renaming the show Ziegfeld’s Follies
and sold it as the highlight of the Broadway season.
CONVERSATIONS
22
Like the showgirls of the Folies Bergère, Ziegfeld made the beauty of his
dancing choristers a priority. “Ziegfeld Girls” were personally chosen by
Mr. Ziegfeld, were dressed in elaborate costumes, and were expected to
perform intricate choreography in perfect synchronization. Being a
“Ziegfeld Girl” gave young aspiring starlets another route to fame, as they
were not only beautiful, but talented. The press gossiped about the
women, and it became sport to try to guess which fresh ingénue was
biding their time before becoming the next big star. Notable showgirls
included: Barbara Stanwyck, Gypsy Rose Lee, and Josephine Baker. In
fact, all those working on Ziegfeld’s Follies were the best in the business
(this was no small-time venture) and that included music by Mr. George
Gershwin.
A Bar at the Folies-Bergère
By Édouard Manet
Ziegfeld’s Follies ran in New York City through to 1931, with renewals in
1932 and 1936, but its legacy lives on in the spectacle it celebrated.
Broadway was certainly influenced by its opulence as well as Ziegfeld’s
penchant for extravagance. Crazy for You is truly an ode to the joy that can
be found in banding together to put on a show, with much of the legwork
being done by the brilliant Follies singing and dancing all the way from
New York City to Deadrock, Nevada.
CONVERSATIONS
23
Movie Night
Part of what makes Crazy for You special is how easily it blends two classic
genres: the western and the musical-comedy. Interested in exploring their
tropes? Here are some films that pay homage to both chorus girls and
cowpokes alike.
Girl Crazy This 1943 musical film is based on the original musical of the
same name – which was the initial inspiration for the creation of Crazy for
You. This movie features Hollywood legends Judy Garland and Mickey
Rooney as its young lovers.
Oklahoma! A 1955 movie musical based on the 1943 stage show that tells
the tale of cowboy Curly’s quest for love. Known for such songs as “Oh
What a Beautiful Morning,” “The Surrey with the Fringe On Top,” and of
course “Oklahoma!” A classic.
Back to the Future III The third and final installment of the Back to the
Future trilogy premiered in 1990 and takes Marty McFly and Doc back in
time to the Wild West where they gun fight, hop trains, and even fall in
love. It may be science-fiction, but it is delivered with humour and heart.
Moulin Rouge A movie musical by the visionary Baz Luhrmann starring
Nicole Kidman as a courtesan/cabaret singer in 1900’s Paris. This love
story from 2001 is full of vibrant characters who would have felt right at
home at the Folies Bergère – the primary inspiration for “Zangler’s
Follies.”
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Recommended Reads from Calgary Public Library
By Rosemary Griebel
The Gershwins and Me: A Personal History in Twelve Songs
by Michael Feinstein
Nonfiction. 2012. An intimate look at the groundbreaking careers of
the Gershwin brothers, as told through an exploration of their most
iconic songs.
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
Fiction. 1939. This epic tale of the Great Depression chronicles the
Dust Bowl migration of the 1930s and the trials of the Joad family
who journey west to the promised land of California. Intensely tragic
and majestic in its moral vision, this book has been called the most
American of American classics.
Musicals: The Definitive Illustrated Story by Elaine Paige
Nonfiction. 2015. Featuring more than 140 stage and film productions,
this illustrated guide is full of images and insights into the history of
musical theatre from ancient times to the present. A true showstopper
for anyone interested in theatre or cultural history.
Click on the book covers to check
availability at the Calgary Public Library!
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Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
Fiction. 2010. Two of the biggest names in young adult fiction team up
to tell the story of a meeting between Will Grayson and…Will
Grayson; a meeting which ultimately leads to journeys of selfdiscovery and the most epic high school musical of all time!
The Secret Life of the American Musical: How Broadway
Shows Are Built by Jack Viertel
Nonfiction. 2016. This delightful, accessible guide explains why your
favourite musical productions work. It is a little bit history, a little bit
memoir, a little bit criticism and, for any theatre fan, a whole lot of
fun.
Water for Elephants By Sara Gruen
Fiction. 2006. This novel follows Jacob as he navigates life during the
Depression as he takes up with the circus and meets the magnificent
misfits that call the big top their home. An exploration of love in a
time where love is a luxury few can afford.
*Water for Elephants is Theatre Calgary’s book club selection for TC Reads!
Click on the book covers to check
availability at the Calgary Public Library!
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Sources
“A Brief History of Yippee-Ki-Yay”
http://blog.wordnik.com/a-brief-history-of-yippee-ki-yay
Citadel Theatre Website
http://www.citadeltheatre.com/
“Historical Events in 1991”
http://www.onthisday.com/events/date/1991
Hyland, William G. George Gershwin.Wesport, CT: Praeger Publishers,
2003.
Long, Michael. “’Crazy for You’: Broadway playwright Ken Ludwig, a
York native, is hitting his stride,” Lancaster Sunday News, June 03, 2006.
Ken Ludwig’s Official Website
http://www.kenludwig.com/news/articles/crazy_for_you_broadway_play
wright_ken_ludwig_a_york_native_i.php
“Prime Ministers of Canada Biographical Information”
http://www.lop.parl.gc.ca/ParlInfo/Compilations/FederalGovernment/Pri
meMinisters/Biographical.aspx
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The Presidents
https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/Presidents
“The Word Detective”
http://www.word-detective.com/2008/04/lock-stock-and-barrel/commentpage-1/
“Ziegfeld Follies”
http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/feature/ziegfeld-follies/