Crazy for You (musical)
Crazy for You is a romantic comedy musical with a book by Ken Ludwig, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and music by George Gershwin. Billed as "The New Gershwin Musical Comedy", it is largely based on the songwriting team's 1930 musical Girl Crazy, but also incorporates songs from several other productions. It won the 1992 Tony Award (Broadway), the 1993 Olivier Award (London), and the 1994 Dora Award (Toronto) for Best Musical.
Crazy for You
Girl Crazy
by George Gershwin
Ira Gershwin
Guy Bolton
John McGowan
1992 Broadway
1993 West End
2011 West End revival
2022 Chichester Festival Theatre
2023 West End revival
Background[edit]
Roger Horchow and Elizabeth Williams had been wanting to produce a new version of Girl Crazy. They engaged Ken Ludwig to write the book, Mike Ockrent to direct, and Susan Stroman to do the choreography, and obtained permission from the Gershwin family. Richard Godwin, and Valerie Gordon were the associate producers.[1] The production soon changed to become a new show, using various Gershwin songs from different times. Six songs from Girl Crazy were selected: "Bidin' My Time", "Could You Use Me?", "Embraceable You" , "I Got Rhythm", "But Not For Me", and part of "Bronco Busters"). "Tonight's the Night" was previously unpublished, having originally been written for Show Girl but ultimately not included. "What Causes That?" came from Treasure Girl, but was considered lost until 1982, when a copy was found in a Warner Brothers warehouse in Secaucus, New Jersey. "K-ra-zy for You" also originated from Treasure Girl. "The Real American Folk Song (Is a Rag)" was the Gershwins' first song performed on Broadway; on the other hand, "Naughty Baby" was making its debut, having been in Primrose, which only played in London and Australia. Other songs came from the musical films Shall We Dance ("Slap That Bass" and "They Can't Take That Away From Me") and A Damsel in Distress, both of which were released in the year of George's death.[2]
Production history[edit]
Broadway (1992)[edit]
After a Washington, D.C. tryout and 10 previews, it opened at the Shubert Theatre on February 19, 1992, and ran for 1,622 performances. The cast included Jodi Benson as Polly, Harry Groener as Bobby Child, Bruce Adler as Bela Zangler, John Hillner as Lank Hawkins, Michele Pawk as Irene Roth, Jane Connell as Mother, Beth Leavel as Tess (Leavel also understudied Benson), Ronn Carroll as Everett Baker, and Stephen Temperley and Amelia White as Eugene and Patricia Fodor. The Manhattan Rhythm Kings played cowboys Mingo, Moose, and Sam, singing in their trademark close harmony.
In his review in The New York Times, Frank Rich wrote, "When future historians try to find the exact moment at which Broadway finally rose up to grab the musical back from the British, they just may conclude that the revolution began last night. The shot was fired at the Shubert Theater, where a riotously entertaining show called Crazy for You uncorked the American musical’s classic blend of music, laughter, dancing, sentiment and showmanship with a freshness and confidence rarely seen during the Cats decade. The miracle has been worked here most ingeniously, though not exclusively, by an extraordinary choreographer named Susan Stroman and the playwright Ken Ludwig . . . Crazy for You scrapes away decades of cabaret and jazz and variety-show interpretations to reclaim the Gershwins’ standards, in all their glorious youth, for the dynamism of the stage."[3]
A cast album was released by Angel Records.
West End (1993)[edit]
The West End production, directed by Ockrent, choreographed by Stroman, and starring Ruthie Henshall, Kirby Ward, and Chris Langham, opened at the Prince Edward Theatre on March 3, 1993 and ran for nearly three years.[4][5]
First West End revival (2011)[edit]
In 2011, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre did a revival of Crazy for You as part of the 2011 Summer Season. The production moved to the West End, at the Novello Theatre where it ran from October 8, 2011 to March 17, 2012.[6]
Second West End revival (2023)[edit]
As part of the 2022 Chichester Festival, a new production staged as part of a limited summer run; Charlie Stemp played the role of Bobby Child with Carly Anderson as Polly Baker. The direction and choreography was by Susan Stroman.[7] The production transferred to the West End's Gillian Lynne Theatre for a limited 30-week West End engagement. Previews began on 24 June 2023, with an official opening on July 3.[8][9] Originally scheduled to close on January 20, 2024, the closing date was brought forward by three weeks to December 31, 2023.[10]
Subsequent productions[edit]
A Toronto production directed by Ockrent, choreographed by Stroman, and starring Jim Walton and Camilla Scott opened at the Royal Alexandra Theatre on December 1, 1993 and closed December 31, 1995.
On October 20, 1999, the PBS series Great Performances broadcast a production directed by Matthew Diamond, who was nominated for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Direction of a Variety or Music Program.[11]
On October 18, 2009, a showtime challenge, charity gala performance of Crazy for You, directed by Katherine Hare and choreographed by Racky Plews was staged by Eyebrow Productions at the London Palladium. Eyebrow are well known for their unique Showtime Challenges, where all aspects of the show are rehearsed and performed in 48 hours. All proceeds went to Cecily's Fund.[12][13]
The Off-West End premiere of Crazy For You, directed by John Plews, choreographed by Grant Murphy and musically directed by Oliver John Ruthven, ran at Upstairs at the Gatehouse in Highgate from December 13, 2012 to January 27, 2013. The production made use of a smaller ensemble with cast doubling, and a six-piece band.
In summer 2016 a UK revival opened at the Watermill Theatre, Newbury starring Tom Chambers as Bobby and Caroline Sheen as Polly. The production began touring the UK from August 2017 to June 2018 starring Chambers reprising his role as Bobby, Caroline Flack as Irene and Charlotte Wakefield as Polly. Claire Sweeney replaced Flack as Irene halfway through the tour.[14]