Singin' in the Rain (musical)

Infobox Musical
name= Singin' in the Rain
subtitle=


caption= Original Cast Recording
music= Nacio Herb Brown
lyrics= Arthur Freed
book= Betty Comden
Adolph Green
basis= 1952 film "Singin' in the Rain"
productions= 1983 West End
1985 Broadway
awards=

"Singin' in the Rain" is a musical with a book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, lyrics by Arthur Freed, and music by Nacio Herb Brown.

Adapted from the 1952 movie of the same name, the plot closely adheres to the original. Set in Hollywood in the waning days of the silent screen era, it focuses on romantic lead Don Lockwood, his sidekick Cosmo Brown, aspiring actress Kathy Selden, and Lockwood's leading lady Lina Lamont, whose less-than-dulcet vocal tones make her an unlikely candidate for stardom in talking pictures.

The West End production, directed by Tommy Steele and choreographed by Peter Gennaro, opened on June 30 1983 at the London Palladium, where it ran for two years and three months. The original cast included Steele as Don, Roy Castle as Cosmo, Danielle Carson as Kathy, and Sarah Payne as Lina.

The original film's vocal score was embellished with additional tunes by Comden, Green, and Roger Edens, Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh, George and Ira Gershwin, Johnny Mercer and Richard Whiting, and Cole Porter.

After 38 previews, a dramatically revamped Broadway production, directed and choreographed by Twyla Tharp, opened on July 2 1985 at the George Gershwin Theatre, where it ran for 367 performances. The cast included Don Correia as Don, Mary D'arcy as Kathy, Peter Slutsker as Cosmo, and Faye Grant as Lina.

The highlight of both productions was the recreation of the film's title tune sequence, complete with an on-stage rain shower.

ynopsis

Don Lockwood is a silent film star with humble roots as a musician, dancer and stunt man. Don barely tolerates his vapid leading lady, Lina Lamont, who is convinced that their screen romance is real. After the first talking picture, "The Jazz Singer", proves to be a smash hit, the head of the studio, R. F. Simpson, decides he has no choice but to convert the new Lockwood and Lamont film, "The Dueling Cavalier", into a talkie. The production is beset with difficulties, by far the worst being Lina's comically grating voice.

After a disastrous test screening, Don's best friend, Cosmo Brown, comes up with the idea to overdub Lina's voice and they convince Simpson to turn "The Dueling Cavalier" into "The Dancing Cavalier", a musical comedy film. Meanwhile, Don falls in love with an aspiring actress, Kathy Selden, who is providing the voice for Lina. When Lina finds out, she is furious and does everything possible to sabotage the romance. She maliciously demands that Kathy continue to provide her voice in all future films, but remain uncredited. An irate, but desperate Simpson is forced to agree; Kathy has no choice because she is under contract.

The premiere is a tremendous success. When the audience clamors for Lina to sing live, Don and Cosmo improvise and get Lina to lip-synch while Kathy sings into a second microphone while hidden behind the curtain. Unbeknownst to Lina, as she starts "singing", Don, Cosmo and Simpson gleefully raise the curtain behind her, revealing the deception. Kathy becomes a star, and Lina is finished.

Broadway song list

;Act I
* Fit as a Fiddle - Don Lockwood and Cosmo Brown
* Beautiful Girl - Don Lockwood and Fans
* I've Got a Feelin' You're Foolin' - Kathy Selden and Coconut Grove Coquettes
* Make 'Em Laugh - Cosmo Brown
* Hubbub - Cosmo Brown and Studio Stage Hands
* You Are My Lucky Star - Don Lockwood and Kathy Selden
* Moses Supposes - Don Lockwood and Cosmo Brown
* Good Mornin' - Don Lockwood, Kathy Selden and Cosmo Brown
* Singin' in the Rain - Don Lockwood;Act II
* Wedding of the Painted Doll - Selected Ensemble
* Rag Doll - Selected Ensemble
* Temptation - Selected Ensemble
* Takin' Miss Mary to the Ball - Selected Ensemble
* Love is Where You Find It - Ensemble
* Would You? - Kathy Selden
* Broadway Rhythm - Company
* Blue Prelude - Company
* Would You? (Reprise) - Kathy Selden
* You Are My Lucky Star - Don Lockwood, Kathy Selden and Company
* Singin' in the Rain (Reprise) - Company

Awards and nominations

*Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical (nominee)
*Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (Correia, nominee)
*Theatre World Award (Grant, winner)
*Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (Grant, nominee)
*Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography (nominee)
*Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Special Effects (winner)

External links

* [http://www.first-night-records.com/cart/description.php?II=73&UID=20070217234430205.188.116.74 London production details]
* [http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=4376 Broadway production details]