Juno musical

'Juno' -Musical play based on Sean O'Casey's 1924 play Juno and the Paycock. Book by Joseph Stein, music and lyrics by American composer Marc Blitzstein. Choreography by Agnes de Mille. Direction was originally to have been by Tony Richardson, who dropped out of the production during the early stages. Vincent J. Donehue replaced him but the rest of the creative team were not satisfied with his work. Out of town he was replaced by José Ferrer. Orchestrations were by Blitzstein, with additional support from Russell Bennett and Hershy Kay. The show was conducted by Robert Emmett Dolan.

Related Topics:
Sean O'Casey - Juno and the Paycock - Joseph Stein - American - Composer - Marc Blitzstein - Agnes de Mille - Tony Richardson - Vincent J. Donehue - José Ferrer - Russell Bennett - Hershy Kay - Robert Emmett Dolan

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The original production starred Shirley Booth and Melvyn Douglas (his first performance in a musical). Additional cast members included Jean Stapleton, Arthur Rubin, Monte Amundsen, Tommy Rall, Sada Thompson, Nancy Andrews,and Jack MacGowran. Booth proved a problematic choice for the lead. Director Vincent J. Donehue deferred totally to her, with the result that the characterization strayed too far from the original. Later, José Ferrer worked closely with her and her performance was much improved. The troubled production was clearly headed in the right direction under Ferrer, but there simply wasn't time to shore everything up prior to the scheduled Broadway opening at the Winter Garden Theatre on March 9, 1959.

Related Topics:
Shirley Booth - Melvyn Douglas - Jean Stapleton - Arthur Rubin - Monte Amundsen - Tommy Rall - Sada Thompson - Nancy Andrews - Jack MacGowran - Broadway - Winter Garden Theatre

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Reviews were mixed to very negative, however many modern scholars of musical theatre consider Blitzstein and Stein's musicalization of the source material to be extremely well done. But in 1959 the original play was considered by critics and audiences to be too dark to be a musical. The production closed after 16 performances. Fortunately, Blitzstein's score was preserved by Columbia Records, which released the original cast album in both mono and stereo editions. The Fynsworth Alley label rereleased the recording on compact disc in 2002.

Related Topics:
Columbia Records - Mono - Stereo - Fynsworth Alley - Compact disc

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Juno has since been attempted a few times with little success, with revisions and new material by Richard Maltby, Jr. and severely reduced orchestrations.

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'Song List'

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Overture

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We're Alive

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I Wish It So

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Song Of The Ma

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We Can Be Proud

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Daarlin' Man

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One Kind Word

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Old Sayin's

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What Is The Stars

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You Poor Thing

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My True Heart

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On A Day Like This

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Bird Upon The Tree

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Music In The House

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It's Not Irish

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The Liffey Waltz

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Hymn

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Johnny

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You Poor Thing (Reprise)

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For Love

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Where?

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Finale

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