Strike up the Band (musical)

"Strike Up the Band" had no relation to the stage production.

Libretto

The original book by Kaufman centered on Horace J. Fletcher, a Babbitt-like cheese tycoon who tries to maintain his monopoly on the American market by convincing the United States government to declare war on Switzerland. In 1930, the Gershwins joined with Ryskind, who softened the political overtones, increased the emphasis on romance, made much of the storyline a dream sequence, and replaced cheese with chocolate.

Production

Directed by Alexander Leftwich and choreographed by George Hale, the revised production opened on January 14 at the Times Square Theatre and ran for 191 performances. The cast included Dudley Clements and Blanche Ring.

core

The Gershwin's first fully-integrated score for a book musical was influenced by the operettas of Gilbert and Sullivan [ [http://www.amclass.org/sutb.html "Strike Up the Band at AmericanClassics.org] ] . It was performed by the Red Nichols Orchestra, which included Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Gene Krupa, Jimmy Dorsey, and Jack Teagarden.

Title song

The title song, "Strike Up the Band", was given to the University of California, Los Angeles by the Gershwins in 1936 as "Strike Up the Band for UCLA" and has become one of the school songs.

In 1990, a studio cast recording of the original 1927 score, featuring Rebecca Luker and Don Chastain, was released on the Nonesuch label [ [http://www.amazon.com/Strike-Band-1990-Studio-Cast/dp/B000005J11 "Strike Up the Band" studio cast recording at Amazon.com] ] . The recording also featured songs written especially for the 1930 production.

1927 song list

;Act I
*Fletcher's American Cheese Choral Society
*17 And 21
*Typical Self-Made American
*Meadow Serenade
*Unofficial Spokesman
*Patriotic Rally
*The Man I Love
*Yankee Doodle Rhythm
*17 And 21 (Reprise)
*Act I Finaletto
*Strike Up the Band;Act II
*Oh This Is Such A Lovely War
*Hoping That Someday You'd Care
*Come-Look-At-The-War
*Military Dancing Drill
*How About A Man?
*Act II Finaletto
*Homeward Bound/The Girl I Love (Reprise of The Man I Love)
*The War That Ended War
*Finale Ultimo

1930 song list

;Act I
*Fletcher's American Chocolate Choral Society
*I Mean to Say
*Typical Self-Made American
*Soon
*A Man of High Degree
*The Unofficial Spokesman
*Three Cheers for the Union
*This Could Go On For Years
*If I Became President
*Soon (Reprise)
*(What's the Use of) Hanging Around with You?
*He Knows Milk
*Strike Up the Band;Act II
*In the Rattle of the Battle
*Military Dancing Drill
*Mademoiselle from New Rochelle
*I've Got a Crush on You
*(How About a Boy) Like Me?
*Official Resume
*Ring a Ding Dong Bell (Ding Dong)

References

External links

* [http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=11031 Internet Broadway Database entry]