Marilyn: An American Fable

Marilyn
An American Fable
Music	Jeanne Napoli Doug Frank Gary Portnoy Beth Lawrence Norman Thalheimer
Lyrics	Jeanne Napoli Doug Frank Gary Portnoy Beth Lawrence Norman Thalheimer
Book	Patricia Michaels
Basis	The life of Marilyn Monroe
Productions	1983 Broadway

Marilyn: An American Fable is a musical with a book by Patricia Michaels and music and lyrics by Jeanne Napoli, Doug Frank, Gary Portnoy, Beth Lawrence, and Norman Thalheimer.

Not to be confused with the West End production Marilyn starring Stephanie Lawrence, this allegedly "authorized" version (officially endorsed by acting coach Lee Strasberg's wife Anna), while also based on events in the life of screen icon Marilyn Monroe, was a highly fictionalized account, complete with a happy ending, set on a huge, vacant Hollywood soundstage.

The production underwent numerous changes throughout its development period. During rehearsals, original star Gerolyn Petchel was replaced by Alyson Reed, and after previews began, director/choreographer Kenny Ortega was replaced by Thommie Walsh and Baayork Lee, although Ortega retained credit in the program. Ten musical numbers were dropped and forty-five minutes of dialogue were excised before opening night. Among the characters retained were young Norma Jean Baker, who interacted with her adult self, and a Greek chorus-like trio called Destiny, who provided a running commentary about the sex goddess' woes.

After thirty-four previews, the Broadway production opened on November 20, 1983 at the Minskoff Theatre, where it ran for only seventeen performances. In addition to Reed, the cast included Scott Bakula (making his Broadway debut) as Joe DiMaggio, Will Gerard as Arthur Miller, and Kristi Coombs as young Norma Jean.

Reed was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical.

Songs

Act I We Are the Ones Close the Door, Norma A Single Dream Jimmy Jimmy Church Doors Miss Parachute The Golden Dream Uh-Huh Can't Keep My Heart from Racing Money, Men and Moore I'll Send You Roses Church Doors (Reprise) I'll Send You Roses (Reprise) It's a Premiere Night Stairway Leading Nowhere

Act II We'll Help You Through the Night Shootin' Run Between Raindrops You Are So Beyond In Disguise A Special Man Church Doors (Reprise) Don't Hang Up the Telephone All Roads Lead to Hollywood My Heart's an Open Door Miss Bubbles A Single Dream (Reprise)

Awards and nominations

1984 Drama Desk Award nomination

• Outstanding Actress in a Musical - Alyson Reed

References

Not Since Carrie: Forty Years of Broadway Musical Flops by Ken Mandelbaum, published by St. Martin's Press (1991), pages 29–31 (ISBN 0-312-06428-4)

External links

• Marilyn: An American Fable at the Internet Broadway Database
• New York Times review