Vanities

Vanities is a comedy-drama stage production. The story centers on the lives and friendship of three Texas cheerleaders starting from high school. "Vanities" had one of the longest Off-Broadway runs on record. The comedy, written by Jack Heifner, opened at Playwrights Horizon, New York City on January 15, 1976, for 13 performances, and then transferred to the Chelsea Theatre Center where it opened on March 22, 1976 and closed August 3, 1980, running for 1,785 performances. The cast included Kathy Bates as Joanne, Jane Galloway (Kathy) and Susan Merson (Mary). [ [http://www.lortel.org/LLA_archive/index.cfm?search_by=show&title=Vanities Lortel database] ] [Klein, Alvin, "The New York Times", p. LI 13, August 17, 1980, "The House That 'Vanities' Built" "Vanities"...closed off Broadway two weeks ago, setting the record as its longest-running nonmusical"] Heifner received a 1976 Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding New Play. Other productions were performed in local colleges and theatres for a short time. [ [http://www.answers.com/topic/vanities American Theater Guide] ]

A musical adaptation, "Vanities, A New Musical", opened at the Pasadena Playhouse, California on August 22, 2008. Music and lyrics are by David Kirshenbaum and the book is by Jack Heifner, with direction by Judith Ivey and choreography by Dan Knechtges. Lauren Kennedy (Mary), Sarah Stiles (Joanne) and Anneliese van der Pol (Kathy) play the three former cheerleaders. [ [http://www.pasadenaplayhouse.org/2008_mainstage_season.htm#VANITIES 2008 "Vanities" performance] ] [ [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/118207.html playbill article] ] Prior to this production, the musical was originally produced at TheatreWorks in Palo Alto, California in June-July 2006. [ [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/100517.html playbill article] ] According to an article in "Variety" as reported in playbill.com, this production is expected to open on Broadway in previews on February 2, 2009 at a Shubert theatre to be announced. [Gans, Andrew and Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/120701.html "Vanities Will Arrive on Broadway in Winter 2009",] playbill.com, August 25, 2008]

Notes

External links

* [http://vanitiesthemusical.com/ Official site, Vanities the Musical]
* [http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=28449 broadwayworld.com article]
* [http://www.sfasu.edu/pubaffairs/pressreleases/may2007/16-vanities.asp Stephen F. Austin State University article/interview]