King David (musical)

Infobox Musical
name= King David
subtitle=


caption=
music= Alan Menken
lyrics= Tim Rice
book= Tim Rice
basis= Biblical story of David
productions= 1997 Broadway concert
awards=

"King David" is a musical, sometimes described as a modern oratorio, with a book and lyrics by Tim Rice and music by Alan Menken.

Based on Biblical tales from the Books of Samuel and 1 Chronicles, as well as text from David's Psalms, a concert version, produced by Disney Theatrical Productions and André Djaoui and directed by Mike Ockrent, was presented as the inaugural production at Disney's newly-renovated New Amsterdam Theatre (the former home of the "Ziegfeld Follies"), playing for a nine-performance limited run in 1997. The cast included Roger Bart, Stephen Bogardus, Judy Kuhn, Alice Ripley, Martin Vidnovic, and Michael Goz, with Marcus Lovett in the title role.

The piece ran two hours and 45 minutes and was only partially staged. It provoked a lukewarm review by the "New York Times" (and "Variety" called it "Unrelentingly serious-minded and devoid of the wit") [http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117341382.html?categoryid=33&cs=1] , but the cast album, which cuts several musical numbers and reprises, has been praised. [http://www.soundtrack-express.com/osts/kingdave.htm] On September 6, 1997, Patti LuPone, Davis Gaines, and Rebecca Luker gave a concert at the Hollywood Bowl that ended with three selections from "King David". There was a production in Dallas, Texas in 2004 and another in Newnan, Georgia, near Atlanta, in 2005. At present, there are no plans for a fully-staged Broadway production.

"King David" is through composed (no dialogue) and the music swings from pop to jazz to grand choral arrangements. It uses a large orchestra and a large choir. The work was conceived as an outdoor piece to commemorate the 3,000th anniversary of the city of Jerusalem. However, according to Rice, "When it proved logistically and financially impossible to do it and Disney took an interest, we changed gears.... We felt we'd been commissioned to write it as an oratorio, and still hoped it would be performed as such in Israel. ... we should have emphasized that more to avoid being judged primarily as a Broadway show." [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/88034.html]

Musical numbers

;Act I
*Prologue - David, Bathsheba, Young Solomon, Joab and Chorus
*Israel and Saul - Joab, Samuel, Saul and Chorus
*Samuel Confronts Saul - Saul, Samuel, Agag and Chorus
*Samuel Anoints David - Joab, Samuel, Jesse, David and Chorus
*The Enemy Within - Saul and Chorus
*There is a View - Joab, Abner, Saul and Chorus
*Psalm 8 - David
*Genius from Bethlehem - Saul, David, Abner, Joab, Jonathan and Michal
*The Valley of Elah - Goliath, Abner, Joab, David, Saul and Soldiers
*Goliath of Gath - Goliath, David, Joab, Soldiers and Chorus
*Sheer Perfection - Joab, Saul, David and Michal
*Saul Has Slain His Thousands - Joab and Chorus
*You Have It All - Saul, Jonathan and David
*Psalm 23 - Saul and David
*You Have It All (Reprise) - Jonathan, Joab, Michal and David
*Sheer Perfection (Reprise) - Jonathan, Joab, Michal and David
*Hunted Partridge on the Hill - Joab, Saul, Michal, David and Men
*The Death of Saul - Saul, Jonathan, Samuel and Chorus
*How Are The Mighty Fallen - ;Act II
*This New Jerusalem - David, Absalom, Jonathan, Joab and Chorus
*David and Michal - David, Joab and Michal
*The Ark Brought to Jerusalem - David and Chorus
*Never Again - Michal and David
*How Wonderful the Peace - Absalom, Joab, David and Chorus
*Off Limits - Bathsheba, David and Joab
*Warm Spring Night - David
*When in Love - Bathsheba
*Uriah's Fate Sealed - David, Joab, Bathsheba and Chorus
*Atonement - David, Saul, Samuel, Bathsheba and Chorus
*The Caravan Moves On - Joab, Absalom, David, Saul, Samuel and Men
*Death of Absalom - Joab and Absalom
*Absalom My Absalom - David
*Solomon - Young Solomon, Joab, David and Bathsheba
*David's Final Hours - Michal, David, Joab, Bathsheba, Goliath, Saul, Jonathan, Samuel and Chorus
*The Long Long Day - David
*This New Jerusalem (reprise) - Young Solomon and Company

Opening night cast

*Roger Bart - Jonathan
*Stephen Bogardus - Joab
*Anthony Galde - Absalom
*Judy Kuhn - Michal
*Marcus Lovett - David
*Alice Ripley - Bathsheba
*Peter Samuel - Samuel
*Martin Vidnovic - King Saul
*Bill Nolte - Goliath
*Timothy Shew - Abner
*Timothy Robert Blevins - Agag
*Peter C. Ermides - Uriah
*Michael Goz - Jesse
*Daniel James Hodd - Young Solomon
*Kimberly JaJuan - Abishag
*Dylan Lovett - Young Absalom

External links

* [http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=4728 Internet Broadway Database listing]
* [http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=9501E4DF1F38F933A15756C0A961958260&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fPeople%2fR%2fRice%2c%20Tim New York Times review]
* [http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117341382.html?categoryid=33&cs=1 Variety review]
* [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/88034.html Announcement of the Dallas production that includes an interview with Rice]
* [http://www.soundtrack-express.com/osts/kingdave.htm Description of the cast album]
* [http://www.landmarkchristianschool.org/drama/kingdavid_what.html Description of another production]