Daddy Long Legs (musical)
Daddy Long Legs is a stage musical with a book by John Caird, and music and lyrics by Paul Gordon. It is based on the 1912 novel of the same name by Jean Webster. Set in turn-of-the-century New England, the musical tells the story of orphan Jerusha Abbott of the John Grier Home and her mysterious benefactor who agrees to send her to college, who she dubs "Daddy Long Legs" after seeing his elongated shadow. Under the conditions of her benefactor, Jerusha sends him a letter once a month, describing her new-found experiences with life outside the orphanage.
Daddy Long Legs
Paul Gordon
Early 20th century, New England
October 17, 2009: Rubicon Theatre, Ventura County, California
2009 Ventura County, California
2012 West End
2015 Off-Broadway
Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical
Ovation Award for Book of an Original Musical
Ovation Award for Lyrics/Music of an Original Musical
The musical was developed as part of the Ann Deal/Fashion Forms Plays-in-Progress Series at Rubicon Theatre in Ventura County, California in 2007. It was co-premiered[1] by the Rubicon, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley,[2] and Cincinnati Playhouse in 2009–2010. The musical then premiered in London's West End at the St. James Theatre in 2012, and Off-Broadway at the Davenport Theatre in 2015. The musical opened in Tokyo in 2012 and Canada in 2013.
Productions[edit]
World premiere[edit]
Workshop readings for the musical were done at the Rubicon Theatre Company as early as 2008, with Leslie Henstock as Jerusha and Robert Adelman Hancock as Jervis.[3][4] The world-premier was a co-production with Rubicon, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, and the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, beginning at the Rubicon Theatre on October 17, 2009, with direction by John Caird, music and lyrics by Paul Gordon, musical direction by Laura Bergquist, scenic and costume design by David Farley, lighting design by Paul Toben, and sound design by Jonathan Burke.[5] Megan McGinnis starred as Jerusha Abbott and Hancock starred as Jervis Pendleton. The same cast and production team continued onto a production at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, January 20 - February 14,[6] which extended through February 21, 2010 [7] followed by a production at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park March 13 – April 10, 2010.
West End[edit]
The production opened in London's West End at the St. James Theatre on October 31, 2012 and ran until December 08.[8] McGinnis and Hancock returned to their roles as Jerusha Abbott and Jervis Pendleton.
Off-Broadway[edit]
Producers Ken Davenport and Michael Jackowitz presented a private New York industry reading of the musical on January 24, 2014, with McGinnis and Hancock reprising their roles.[9] The musical opened Off-Broadway at the Davenport Theatre on September 28, 2015, with an open-ended run.[10][11] McGinnis reprised her role again, with Paul Alexander Nolan joining her as Jervis Pendleton. In addition to the original creative team, the production has sound design by Peter Fitzgerald, lighting adaptation by Cory Pattak, and musical direction, arrangements, and orchestration by Brad Haak. The role of Jervis was temporarily played by understudy Will Reynolds from October 29 to November 19, after Nolan's departure to join the company of Bright Star.[12] Adam Halpin, McGinnis' real-life husband, then assumed the role on November 20.[13] On November 29, it was announced that the production would be streamed live online on December 10, 2015, becoming the first Broadway or Off-Broadway production to do so.[14] According to the provided statistics, the livestream was watched by 150,055 people from 135 countries.[15] The Off-Broadway production celebrated its 200th performance on March 22, 2016.[16] The production played its final performance on June 6, 2016.[17]
US regional productions[edit]
The production was co-premiered by the Rubicon, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts in Mountain View, California from January 20 until February 14, 2010;[18] (extended through February 21),[7] and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park from March 13 until April 10, 2010;[19] in what was called as a "rolling world premiere," due to the various changes continually made to the show on the road. TheatreWorks Silicon Valley participated in the New York casting, and built the sets, props, and costumes, which were shipped to Rubicon for the initial performances. Subsequent productions included the Northlight Theatre in Illinois from September 16 until October 24, 2010;[20] the Cleveland Play House's Allen Theatre at Playhouse Square from October 21 until November 13, 2011; the Gem Theatre in Detroit, Michigan from October 12 until November 20, 2011;[21] the Merrimack Repertory Theatre in Lowell, Massachusetts from February 9 until March 4, 2012;[22] the Skylight Music Theatre's Cabot Theatre in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from March 9 to April 1, 2012; and Florida Studio Theatre's Gompertz Theatre from February 5 until April 5, 2014.[23] McGinnis and Hancock returned to play the roles of Jerusha and Jervis in some of the stagings. Several stagings featured Ephie Aardema, Christy Altomare and Penny McNamee as Jerusha and Kevin Earley as Jervis.[24] The production was presented a second time by TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, November 30 - December 31, 2016,[25][26] extended through January 7, 2017.[27] The revival, directed by Robert Kelley, starred Hilary Maiberger and Derek Carley.
UK regional productions[edit]
A new production of the musical opened at the Barn Theatre in Cirencester, United Kingdom in October 2019.[28] The production marked the first time the musical had been produced by a British theatre. The production ran from 2 October to 2 November 2019. The production was directed by Kirstie Davis with design by Gregor Donnelly, musical direction by Charlie Ingles, lighting design by Sam Rowcliffe-Tanner and sound design by Christopher Cleal and Harry Smith. It starred Rebecca Jayne-Davies as Jerusha Abbott and Ryan Bennett as Jervis Pendleton.[29][30]
International productions[edit]
The Australian premiere of Daddy Long Legs opened at the Brisbane Powerhouse in Queensland September 23, 2019. Starring Ella Macrokanis, Jerusha, and Shaun Kohlman, Jervis. Directed by Connor Clarke Nominated for Best Musical - Matilda Awards 2019 and Ella Macrokanis was nominated for the Billy Brown Award -Best Emerging Artist 2019
The Japanese premiere of the production opened at the Theatre Creation in Tokyo from September 2–19, 2012, and toured to theatres in Niigata, Oita, Osaka and Fukuoka where it closed on October 3, 2012. The production returned to the Theatre Creation on January 5–9, 2013.[31] Caird's book and Gordon's lyrics were translated into Japanese by Maoko Imai. The Japanese productions starred Sakamoto Maaya as Jerusha and Inoue Yoshio as Jervis.
The Korean premiere of the production opened at the Daemyung Culture Factory in Seoul from July 19, 2016 and closed on October 3, 2016. Caird's book and Gordon's lyrics were translated into Korean by Lee Heejun and directed by Nell Balaban. The Korean productions are multi-cast, with 2 Jerushas and 3 Jervises. It starred Lee Jisook and Yuria as Jerusha and Shin Sungrok, Song Wongeun, and Kang Dongho as Jervis.
The Canadian premiere of the production, starring McGinnis and Hancock, opened at the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre Mainstage in Winnipeg, from March 14 until April 6, 2013.[32][33]
Music Theatre International (MTI) currently holds the worldwide licensing rights to the musical.[34] The university premiere of the show was at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County on December 2 and 3, 2017.[35]
The Russian premiere of the production made into Dear Mr. Smith opened at the Theatre "Shelter of Comedians" in Saint Petersburg June 4–6, 2021. Caird's book and Gordon's lyrics were translated into Russian Maria Kuznetsova and directed by Aleksey Frandetti. The Russian productions starring Yulia Dyakina, Jerusha, and Ivan Ozhogin, Jervis. From May 11 to June 17, 2020, the musical play staged with same artists on the Instagram and same director, following the events of the novel into the 21st century.[36]
*Not present in any of the recordings
#Present in any of the recordings but in a different form (different melody and/or lyrics)
Off-Broadway understudies
Reviews[edit]
The show received positive reviews. According to the aggregator Show-Score, the show received a score of 81%, combining both scores from professional critics and audience reviews. The performers, especially McGinnis, received praise for their performances. However, critics are divided on the show itself, most faulting the epistolary approach to the libretto.[39]
Alexis Soloski, reviewing the Off-Broadway production for The New York Times, found that Gordon's music and lyrics "have a charm and ease, though the songs can blur into one another in ways that are sometimes purposeful and sometimes not" and Caird's book "appealing" and direction "nimble." She wrote of McGinnis having a "bright spirit, a mass of curly hair and a dulcet soprano" and of Nolan being "softly debonair" and possesses a "tender tenor that nicely encircles Ms. McGinnis's voice in their duets."[40]
Steven Suskin, reviewing the Off-Broadway production for The Huffington Post, found that the "letter-by-letter format inevitably leads to too many similar sections," yet found the musical "imaginative" and Caird's two-actor scheme "economical," in contrast with his "ponderously overdone" work for Jane Eyre (another collaboration between him and Gordon). He wrote of McGinnis to be charming, despite the "baldly expository opening number ('The Oldest Orphan in the John Grier Home')" and of Nolan to be "sweetly sympathetic here as he was harshly disruptive in Zhivago."[41]
Recordings[edit]
The original cast recording, featuring McGinnis and Hancock, was released by Paul Gordon Music on February 1, 2010.[42] The Japanese cast recording, featuring Sakamoto and Inoue, was released on June 18, 2014 by Toho Music and included 26 tracks in the Japanese language, translated by Maoko Imai.[43][44] The original Off-Broadway cast recording, featuring McGinnis and Nolan, was released by Ghostlight Records on November 13 (US digital release), November 20 (international digital release), and December 18, 2015 (CD release).[45][46][47]
Demo recordings of the songs from the musical were recorded in 2004 and 2005, with Jayne Paterson and Paul Gordon performing.[48][49]