''Miss Spectacular'' is an unproduced
musical
Musical is the adjective of music.
Musical may also refer to:
* Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance
* Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...
with a libretto by
Robert L. Freedman
Robert L. Freedman (born July 27, 1957) is an American screenwriter and dramatist. He is best known for his teleplays for '' Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella'' (1997) and '' Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows'' (2001), and for his Tony ...
, lyrics and music by
Jerry Herman
Gerald Sheldon Herman (July 10, 1931December 26, 2019) was an American composer and lyricist, known for his work in Broadway theatre.
One of the most commercially successful Broadway songwriters of his time, Herman was the composer and lyricis ...
and additional lyrics by
Steve Lawrence and
Michael Feinstein
Michael Jay Feinstein (born September 7, 1956) is an American singer, pianist, and music revivalist. He is an archivist and interpreter for the repertoire known as the Great American Songbook. In 1988 he won a Drama Desk Special Award for cele ...
. Its plot focuses on a girl from the
Midwest
The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four Census Bureau Region, census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of ...
who heads to Las Vegas and is a finalist in the "Miss Spectacular" contest.
[Jones, Kenneth]
"Jerry Herman's 'Miss Spectacular' Gets All-Star Studio Cast Recording June 11"
Playbill, April 2, 2002
History
Steve Wynn had asked Herman to write a musical that would be presented at the
Mirage Hotel in
Las Vegas
Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...
, possibly in 2000. Wynn planned to install the musical in its theater for a long-term engagement, but when the property was sold to
MGM
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...
the new owners had no interest in the project.
In 2003, there were new plans for staging the musical in Las Vegas with
Tommy Tune directing and the search for the leading lady done with a television talent show. There has been no further word on this project.
Undaunted by the collapse of the arrangement, Herman gathered together a cast of
Broadway performers, including Lawrence, Feinstein,
Faith Prince,
Christine Baranski
Christine Jane Baranski (born May 2, 1952) is an American actress. She is a 15-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee, winning once in 1995 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Maryann Thorpe in the sitcom ''Cybill'' ...
,
Debbie Gravitte
Debbie Shapiro Gravitte is an American actress and singer. She was born in Los Angeles, California.
Career
Gravitte made her Broadway debut in the chorus of '' They're Playing Our Song'' in 1979. She performed on Broadway in '' Blues in the Nig ...
, and
Karen Morrow
Karen Morrow (born December 15, 1936) is an American singer and actress best known for her work in musical theater. Her honors include an Emmy Award and a Theatre World Award, and an Ovation Award and five Drama-Logue Award nominations.
Earl ...
, and a full orchestra to record a
concept album
A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpose or meaning collectively than they do individually. This is typically achieved through a single central narrative or theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, or lyrical. Som ...
that was released on the DRG label in 2002. His score is reminiscent of such early work as ''
Hello, Dolly!'' and ''
Mame''.
[
]
Song list
* "Overture"
* "Miss What's Her Name "
* "Las Vegas"
* "Ziegfeld Girl"
* "Sarah Jane"
* "Ziegfeld Girl (Reprise)"
* "Where in the World is My Prince?"
* "No Other Music"
* "I Wanna Live Each Night"
* "Miss Spectacular"
* "My Great Dream"
Source:[''Jerry Herman: Poet of the Showtune'' (2004), Steve Citron, p. 298, Yale University Press, ]
References
External links
talkinbroadway interview, date unknown
{{Jerry Herman
2000 musicals
Musicals by Jerry Herman