''The Last Session'' is a musical with the book by
Jim Brochu and the music and lyrics by
Steve Schalchlin
Steve Schalchlin (born October 4, 1953) is an American songwriter, actor and musician. He is widely regarded as one of the first HIV/ AIDS bloggers, beginning his in 1996 to keep family and friends updated on his failing health. When he responded ...
, with additional lyrics by
John Bettis
John Gregory Bettis (born October 24, 1946) is an American lyricist. He was originally part of the band Spectrum, which also featured Richard and Karen Carpenter. He wrote the lyrics for " Top of the World", a hit for both Lynn Anderson and Th ...
and Marie Cain.
The musical is about a singer/songwriter who has decided to commit suicide to end his battle with
AIDS, but only after one last recording session in the studio. The musical was presented
Off-Broadway in 1997.
Background
The musical is partially based on Schalchlin's life. ''CurtainUp'' notes that the musical is a "fictionalized and more tightly focused version of the autobiographical notes that the composer, Steve Schalchlin, has been keeping about his own life in a diary.
[
''TalkinBroadway'' explained: "The character of Gideon is clearly based on composer Schalchlin, who has made no secret of the fact that he has escaped HIV-related death at least three times and was convinced by his own companion of fourteen years, Brochu, to write his feelings out as songs."
]
Plot
Gideon is an ex-gospel singer turned pop star who has scheduled a final recording session. He invites his old band to join him including professional back-up singer Tryshia,
failed rock singer turned Mary Kay Cosmetics
Mary Kay Inc. is an American privately owned multi-level marketing company. According to '' Direct Selling News'', Mary Kay was the sixth largest network marketing company in the world in 2018, with a wholesale volume of US$3.25 billion. salesperson, Vicki, and studio engineer Jim. Buddy is a young Texas gospel singer, who has idolized Gideon his entire lifetime. He has come to Los Angeles to meet Gideon and to follow in his footsteps to cross over from gospel to pop. His world is shaken when, during the course of the recording session, he learns that Gideon is gay and has AIDS.
Productions
''The Last Session'' was produced Off-Off-Broadway
Off-off-Broadway theaters are smaller New York City theaters than Broadway and off-Broadway theaters, and usually have fewer than 100 seats. The off-off-Broadway movement began in 1958 as part of a response to perceived commercialism of the pro ...
at the Currican Theater in May 1997, directed by Mike Wills and featuring Bob Stillman as Gideon. The musical next was presented Off-Broadway at the 47th Street Theatre, running from October 17, 1997 to March 1, 1998. Directed by Jim Brochu, the cast featured Bob Stillman as "Gideon," Grace Garland as Trisha, Amy Coleman as Vicki, Dean Bradshaw as Jim and Stephen Bienskie as Buddy.[Sommer, Elyse]
"Review. ''The Last Session''"
curtainup.com, October 18, 1997["'The Last Session' 1997"]
lortel.org, accessed October 30, 2015
The musical was nominated for the New York Drama League Award
The Drama League Awards, created in 1922, honor distinguished productions and performances both on Broadway and Off-Broadway, in addition to recognizing exemplary career achievements in theatre, musical theatre, and directing. Each May, the awards ...
for Distinguished Production of a MusicalSimonson, Robert
Robert Simonson (born September 11, 1964) is an American journalist and author.
Personal life
Robert Simonson was born in Wisconsin; he has lived in Brooklyn since 1988.
Career
Robert Simonson began writing about cocktails, spirits and bars for ...
and Viagas, Robert
"'Ragtime', 'Beauty Queen', 'Cabaret' Win Drama League Awards May 8"
Playbill, May 8, 1998[
A subsequent production in Los Angeles opened at the Laguna Playhouse and then transferred to the Tiffany Theatre, beginning in December 1998. The production featured two cast members from New York, Bob Stillman and Amy Coleman. New cast members included Michelle Mais (Tryshia), P.M. Howard and Joel Traywick
][Martinez, Julio]
"Review. 'The Last Session'"
''Variety'', December 7, 1998 (who went on to be nominated for the Theatre LA Ovation Award
The Ovation Awards are a Southern California award for excellence in theatre, established in 1989. They are given out by the non-profit arts service organization LA Stage Alliance and are the only peer-judged theatre awards in Los Angeles. Winne ...
for Featured Actor).[
The musical was produced at the Tristan Bates Theatre, London, from September 25, 2012 to October 27. Directed by Guy Retallack, ]Darren Day
Darren Day is an English actor, singer and television presenter, well known for his West End theatre starring roles.
Early life
Day's paternal grandfather was a support act to George Formby in the days of music hall. Day undertook drama clas ...
stars as Gideon. A recording of this production was made by JAY Records.
An original cast album was recorded with elaborate packaging and a vocal selections book was published by Cherry Lane Music.
Critical response
The ''CurtainUp'' reviewer of the 1997 Off-Broadway production called the musical "life affirming" and wrote: "'The Last Session' combines an affecting story, songs you'll want to hear again... it's original and funny, enlightening and thoroughly enjoyable. It is not a depressing show about a disturbing subject."[
The ''Variety'' review of the 1998 Los Angeles production called the musical "cathartic and often hilarious musical".][
]
Current status
The show continues to receive productions including such cities as Baltimore (1999); Rochester NY; Uptown Players at Trinity River Arts Center, Dallas in 2002(which also recorded a cast album); Omaha (1999); Denver, Chicago and Indianapolis (which also recorded their own cast album).
Brochu and Schalchlin have created another musical, which, among other things, traces the history of ''The Last Session'' titled ''The Big Voice: God or Merman?''. The musical ran Off-Broadway in 2006.
Composer Steve Schalchlin maintains his online diary called "Living In The Bonus Round".
Awards
*New York Drama League Award - Outstanding Production of a Musical nomination[
*New York ]Outer Critics Circle
The Outer Critics Circle Awards are presented annually for theatrical achievements both on Broadway and Off-Broadway. They are presented by the Outer Critics Circle (OCC), the official organization of New York theater writers for out-of-town newspa ...
- Best Off-Broadway Musical nomination [
* Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Awards - Nominated for Best Musical, Leading Actor/Musical (Stillman), and Featured Actor/Musical (Joel Traywick)][Lefkowitz, David]
"L.A.'s Ovation Awards Announced Nov. 8; David Hyde Pierce Hosts"
Playbill, November 8, 2015
*GLAAD Media Award
The GLAAD Media Award is an accolade bestowed by GLAAD to recognize and honor various branches of the media for their outstanding representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and the issues that affect their liv ...
- Best L.A. Theatrical Production
*LA Drama Critics Circle - Best Score, Best Book, Musical Direction (Barry Fassman and Bob Stillman), Best Supporting Actress Michelle Mais[Shirley, Don]
"Revivals Dominate Drama Critics Circle Awards for '98"
''Los Angeles Times'', March 17, 1999
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Last Session, The
1997 musicals
Off-Broadway musicals
HIV/AIDS in theatre