''Whoop-Dee-Doo!'' is a deliberately ramshackle musical

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 ...

subtitled "a postage stamp extravaganza". It is named after the 1903 Broadway revue ''Whoop-Dee-Doo''. It was conceived, created and developed by Charles Catanese, Howard Crabtree, Dick Gallagher, Phillip George, Peter Morris and Mark Waldrop. Songs and sketches by Dick Gallagher, Peter Morris and Mark Waldrop. Additional material by Brad Ellis, Jack Feldman, David Rambo,

Bruce Sussman Bruce Howard Sussman (born July 12, 1949) is an American lyricist, and librettist. Though he has collaborated with numerous composers, he is probably best known for his work with his long-time collaborator, Barry Manilow. Together they have writ ...

and Eric Schorr. A co-production of

The Glines Founded in 1976 by John Glines, Barry Laine and Jerry Tobin, The Glines is an American not-for-profit organization based in New York City, New York (state), New York, devoted to creating and presenting gay art to develop positive self-images and d ...

and Postage Stamp Xtravaganzas, it opened at Actors Playhouse, 100 Seventh Avenue South, New York City, June 16, 1993, and closed February 20, 1994, after a run of 271 performances. Director: Phillip George. Musical Director: Fred Barton. Set Design: Bill Wood, Costume Design: Howard Crabtree, Lighting Design: Tracy Dedtrickson. Choreographer: David Lowenstein Cast: Howard Crabtree, Keith Cromwell, Tommy Femia, David Lowenstein, Peter Morris, Jay Rogers, Ron Skobel, Richard Stegman and Alan Tulin. Executive Producers: Charles Catanese,

John Glines John Glines (October 11, 1933 – August 8, 2018) was an American playwright and theater producer. He won a Tony Award and multiple Drama Desk Awards during his producing career. Playwright and producer Born in Santa Maria, California, Glines gra ...

, Michael Wantuck. The songs and sketches are written to showcase extravagant costumes designed by Howard Crabtree. Despite the exuberantly

camp Camp may refer to: Outdoor accommodation and recreation * Campsite or campground, a recreational outdoor sleeping and eating site * a temporary settlement for nomads * Camp, a term used in New England, Northern Ontario and New Brunswick to descri ...

style, the songs belie their surface silliness and the show's apparent amateurishness, and often have a serious point: "Born This Way" is a rousing song about the nature vs. nurture debate of the origins of homosexuality, "Last One Picked" looks at gay schooldays, and "A Soldier's Musical" makes points about gays in the military. ''Whoop-Dee-Doo!'' won 1994

Drama Desk Awards 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 ...

in two categories: Best Musical Revue and Outstanding Costume Design (Howard Crabtree). In 1995 RCA Victor made a "Nearly Original Cast Recording". In 1994 the

Kings Head Theatre The King's Head Theatre, founded in 1970 by Dan Crawford, is an off-West End venue in London. It is the second oldest operating pub theatre in the UK. In 2021, Mark Ravenhill became Artistic Director and the theatre focusses on producing LGBT ...

in London staged a production of the show, with

Christopher Biggins Christopher Kenneth Biggins (born 16 December 1948) is an English actor and television presenter. Early life Biggins was born in Oldham, Lancashire, the son of William and Pamela Biggins. He was brought up in Salisbury, Wiltshire, attended St P ...

taking Jay Rogers' role as the lead cast member always complaining about the quality of the production, and drag performer Earl Grey taking Tommy Femia's role as Judy Garland and other gay icons in the number ''You Are My Idol''. Other cast members included

Ashley Knight Ashley Knight (born 19 August 1959 in Sutton, Surrey, England) is a British actor notable for child roles including Young Claudius in ''I Claudius''; Jim Hawkins in ''Treasure Island'', and Ken in ''Metal Mickey''. His film appearances included ...

, Ray C. Davis, Michael Gyngell and Jon Peterson.

External links

*Stephen Holde
Theater Review: Dusting Off the Spirit of Ziegfeld
''The New York Times'', July 5, 1993. *Greg Evan

''Variety'', August 30, 1993.

1993 musicals Off-Broadway musicals LGBT-related musicals Revues Drama Desk Award winners {{musical-theat-stub