''The Night That Made America Famous'' is a 1975
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 ...
revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own duri ...
featuring the songs of
Harry Chapin
Harold Forster Chapin (; December 7, 1942 – July 16, 1981) was an American singer-songwriter, philanthropist, and hunger activist best known for his folk rock and pop rock songs. He achieved worldwide success in the 1970s. Chapin, a Grammy ...
. The music consists of a combination of songs written for the musical and songs from Chapin's previous albums, the latter including "
What Made America Famous?", a song about a plumber who rescues a group of hippies from a fire, which includes the lyric that gave the musical its title.
Chapin appeared in the musical, alongside a cast that included a young
Lynne Thigpen
Cherlynne Theresa Thigpen (December 22, 1948 – March 12, 2003) was an American actress of stage and screen. She was known for her role as "The Chief" of ACME Crimenet in the game show '' Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?'' and various spi ...
. Chapin's brothers
Tom and
Stephen
Stephen or Steven is a common English first name. It is particularly significant to Christians, as it belonged to Saint Stephen ( grc-gre, Στέφανος ), an early disciple and deacon who, according to the Book of Acts, was stoned to death; ...
, in addition to being featured performers, were also in the pit. The production was directed by
Gene Frankel
Eugene V. Frankel (December 23, 1919 – April 20, 2005) was an American actor, theater director, and acting teacher especially notable in the founding of the off-Broadway scene. Frankel served in the Army during World War II in entertainment and ...
. It opened at the
Ethel Barrymore Theatre
The Ethel Barrymore Theatre is a Broadway theater at 241 West 47th Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1928, it was designed by Herbert J. Krapp in the Elizabethan, Mediterranean, and Adam styles ...
in New York on February 26, 1975, after fourteen previews, and closed on April 5, 1975 after 47 performances.
''The Night That Made America Famous'' listing
playbillvault.com, accessed December 15, 2014
Awards and nominations
1975 Tony Award nominations
* Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical
This is a list of the winners and nominations of Tony Award for the Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical. The award has been given since 1947, but the nominees who did not win have only been publicly announced since 1956.
Winner and ...
- Gilbert Price
Gilbert Price (September 10, 1942 – January 2, 1991) was an American operatic baritone and actor.
Price was a protégé of Langston Hughes. He was a life member of New York's famed Actors Studio. Price first gained notice in 1964, for his ...
* Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical
The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical has been presented since 1950. The award was not given at the first three Tony Award ceremonies. Nominees were not announced publicly until 1956.
Winners and nominees
1950s
...
- Kelly Garrett
1975 Drama Desk Award nominations
* Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Award is an annual prize recognizing excellence in New York theatre. First bestowed in 1955 as the Vernon Rice Award, the prize initially honored Off-Broadway productions, as well as Off-off-Broadway, and those in the vicinity. Fo ...
for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical - Gilbert Price
* Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical - Kelly Garrett
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Night That Made America Famous, The
Broadway musicals
1975 musicals
Jukebox musicals