''Do I Hear a Waltz?'' is a

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 Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the characters are interwo ...

with a book by

Arthur Laurents Arthur Laurents (July 14, 1917 – May 5, 2011) was an American playwright, theatre director, film producer and screenwriter. After writing scripts for radio shows after college and then training films for the U.S. Army during World War II ...

, music by

Richard Rodgers Richard Charles Rodgers (June 28, 1902 – December 30, 1979) was an American composer who worked primarily in musical theater. With 43 Broadway musicals and over 900 songs to his credit, Rodgers was one of the most well-known American ...

, and lyrics by

Stephen Sondheim Stephen Joshua Sondheim (; March 22, 1930November 26, 2021) was an American composer and lyricist. One of the most important figures in twentieth-century musical theater, Sondheim is credited for having "reinvented the American musical" with sho ...

. It was adapted from Laurents' 1952 play ''

The Time of the Cuckoo ''The Time of the Cuckoo'' is a play by Arthur Laurents. It focuses on the bittersweet romance between Leona Samish, a single American executive secretary vacationing in Europe and Renato Di Rossi, a shopkeeper she meets in Venice. Di Rossi, trappe ...

'', which was the basis for the 1955 film '' Summertime'' starring

Katharine Hepburn Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was an American actress in film, stage, and television. Her career as a Hollywood leading lady spanned over 60 years. She was known for her headstrong independence, spirited perso ...

Background

Laurents originally conceived the production as a small

chamber music Chamber music is a form of classical music that is composed for a small group of instruments—traditionally a group that could fit in a palace chamber or a large room. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small nu ...

al with music by

, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, and

Mary Martin Mary Virginia Martin (December 1, 1913 – November 3, 1990) was an American actress and singer. A muse of Rodgers and Hammerstein, she originated many leading roles on stage over her career, including Nellie Forbush in ''South Pacific'' (194 ...

in the lead role of spinster Leona Samish. By the time the project began to jell, however, Hammerstein had died, and

was asked by Laurents and

Mary Rodgers Mary Rodgers (January 11, 1931 – June 26, 2014) was an American composer, screenwriter, and author who wrote the novel '' Freaky Friday'', which served as the basis of a 1976 film starring Jodie Foster, for which she wrote the screenplay, as ...

, Richard Rodgers' daughter, to write the lyrics. Even so, Rodgers felt that the original play did not lend itself to musicalization; Sondheim agreed. According to Peter Filichia, "Sondheim didn’t want to do the musical in the first place, but given that Laurents sought him – and had recommended him for 'West Side Story' when he was a novice — he accepted. Also a factor was that his now-deceased mentor Oscar Hammerstein had recommended that he succeed him as Rodgers’ lyricist." Rodgers, who was producing the

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

production, rejected Martin as too old for Leona.

Franco Zeffirelli Gian Franco Corsi Zeffirelli (12 February 1923 – 15 June 2019), was an Italian stage and film director, producer, production designer and politician. He was one of the most significant opera and theatre directors of the post-World War II era, ...

was the first choice for director, and he met with Laurents, Sondheim, and Rodgers, who fell asleep during their discussion. Laurents suspected Rodgers had been drinking, and when he discovered a bottle of

vodka Vodka ( pl, wódka , russian: водка , sv, vodka ) is a clear distilled alcoholic beverage. Different varieties originated in Poland, Russia, and Sweden. Vodka is composed mainly of water and ethanol but sometimes with traces of impuriti ...

secreted in the toilet tank during a later visit to the Rodgers apartment, he realized he had been correct. The composer's chronic drinking proved to be a major problem throughout the rehearsal period and pre-Broadway run at the Colonial Theatre in

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...

and the Shubert Theatre in

New Haven New Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound in New Haven County, Connecticut and is part of the New York City metropolitan area. With a population of 134,023 ...

. Laurents suggested that

John Dexter John Dexter (2 August 1925 – 23 March 1990) was an English theatre, opera and film director. Theatre Born in Derby, Derbyshire, England, Dexter left school at the age of fourteen to serve in the British Army during the Second World War. F ...

direct the show, but later regretted the choice. Dexter insisted on giving the lead role of Leona to Elizabeth Allen, who Laurents felt could manage the acting and singing but had a cold personality too contrary to that of the character. Rodgers' mistreatment of Sondheim left the lyricist feeling apathetic if not outright sour about the project, but he maintained his professionalism. The first run-through was disastrous, and Dexter immediately lost interest, leaving most of the work to his assistant-cum-choreographer

Wakefield Poole Walter Wakefield Poole III (February 24, 1936 – October 27, 2021) was an American dancer, choreographer, theatrical director, and pioneering film director in the gay pornography industry during the 1970s and 1980s.

Herbert Ross Herbert David Ross (May 13, 1927 – October 9, 2001) was an American actor, choreographer, director and producer who worked predominantly in theater and film. He was nominated for two Academy Awards and a Tony Award. He is known for directing ...

was called in to work on the dance routines and brought with him his wife

Nora Kaye Nora Kaye-Ross (January 17, 1920 – February 28, 1987) was an American prima-ballerina known for her ability to perform dramatic roles. Called the ''Duse of Dance'' after the acclaimed actress Eleonora Duse, she also worked in films as a chore ...

, who served as a mediator among the warring factions. She was faced with an arduous task, given Rodgers' open dismissal of Sondheim's lyrics as "shit," as well as his eventual ban of Laurents from rehearsals completely.

Productions

The musical opened on Broadway on March 18, 1965 at the

46th Street Theatre The Richard Rodgers Theatre (formerly Chanin's 46th Street Theatre and the 46th Street Theatre) is a Broadway theater at 226 West 46th Street in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1925, it was designed by He ...

and closed on September 25, 1965 after 220 performances. It starred Elizabeth Allen and

Sergio Franchi Sergio Franchi (born Sergio Franci Galli; April 6, 1926 – May 1, 1990) was an Italian-American tenor and actor who enjoyed success in the United States and internationally after gaining notice in Britain in the early 1960s. In 1962, RCA Vict ...

; other principal cast members included

Carol Bruce Carol Bruce (born Shirley Levy; November 15, 1919 – October 9, 2007) was an American band singer, Broadway star, and film and television actress. Early years Bruce was born Shirley Levy in a Jewish family, in Manhattan, to Beatrice and Har ...

Madeleine Sherwood Madeleine Sherwood (born Madeleine Louise Hélène Thornton; November 13, 1922 – April 23, 2016) was a Canadian actress of stage, film and television. She was widely known for her portrayals of Mae/Sister Woman and Miss Lucy in both the Broadwa ...

, Julienne Marie,

Stuart Damon Stuart Damon (born Stuart Michael Zonis; February 5, 1937 June 29, 2021) was an American actor and singer. He was best known for his 30-year portrayal of Dr. Alan Quartermaine on the American soap opera ''General Hospital'', for which he won an ...

, Fleury D'Antonakis, and Jack Manning. Choreography was by

, with scenery and costumes by Beni Montresor and lighting by

Jules Fisher Jules Fisher (born November 12, 1937) is an American lighting designer and producer. He is credited with lighting designs for more than 300 productions over the course of his 50-year career in Broadway and off-Broadway shows, as well extensive ...

."''Do I Hear A Waltz'' Broadway"
Sondheimguide.com, accessed July 18, 2012 Laurents rued the casting - he felt Allen was too young and colorless and Franchi couldn't act - and ignored all the ongoing problems in favor of making his dream a reality, but most of all he regretted the break in his friendship with Sondheim after the show. The musical received three nominations for the

Tony Awards The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual c ...

: Elizabeth Allen was nominated for the

Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical is awarded to the best actress in a musical, whether a new production or a revival. The award has been given since 1948, but the nominees who did not win have only been publicly ...

; nominated for Best Original Score; and nominated for Best Scenic Design, but lost in all three categories. In May 1966, ''Do I Hear a Waltz?'' made its regional theatrical debut at the

Pabst Theater The Pabst Theater is an indoor performance and concert venue and landmark of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. Colloquially known as "the Pabst", the theater hosts about 100 events per year. Built in 1895, it is the fourth-oldest continuously o ...

in Milwaukee (Wisconsin):

Dorothy Collins Dorothy Collins (born Marjorie Chandler;
''

Ron Holgate Ronald Holgate (born May 26, 1937, Aberdeen, South Dakota) is an American actor and opera singer. He won the Tony Award for Best Supporting Actor as Richard Henry Lee in the original Broadway production of ''1776'', a role he reprised in 1972 for ...

(Collins' husband) as Renato,

Joel Fabiani Joel Fabiani (born September 28, 1936, in Watsonville, California) is an American film, television and theater actor. Known for his leading role in the British TV series '' Department S'', Fabiani has guest starred in '' The FBI'', ''Barnaby Jon ...

as Eddie Yaeger. The production encored at the

Paper Mill Playhouse Paper Mill Playhouse is a regional theater with approximately 1200 seats, located in Millburn, New Jersey on the Rahway River. Due to its relatively close location to Manhattan, it draws from the pool of actors (and audience members) who live i ...

in May–June 1966. Also in the summer of 1966 ''Do I Hear a Waltz'' made its West Coast premiere, with

Anne Jeffreys Anne Jeffreys (born Annie Jeffreys Carmichael; January 26, 1923 – September 27, 2017) was an American actress and singer. She was noted as the female lead in the 1950s TV series '' Topper''. Career Jeffreys was born Annie Jeffreys Carmichae ...

as Leona leading the

Valley Music Theater The Valley Music Theater was a theater-in-the-round performing arts hall located in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California. It was just south of the Ventura Freeway at 20600 Ventura Boulevard, in the Chalk Hills of the western San Fernando Val ...

production in which

Richard Torigi Richard Torigi (October 30, 1917 – April 6, 2010) was an American baritone and voice teacher. He had an active singing career in operas, concerts, and musicals from the 1940s through the 1980s. While still performing, he embarked on a second ...

played Renato and Fleury D'Antonakis again played Giovanna. Dorothy Collins would reprise her role of Leona in the summer of 1967 when ''Do I Hear a Waltz?'' was presented by the St Louis Municipal Opera, with a cast also including Fleury D'Antonakis (reprising her Broadway role as Giovanna),

Clifford David Clifford David (June 30, 1928 – November 30, 2017) was an American actor, singer, and coach. His career began in the 1950s, with early live television appearances leading to roles in Broadway musicals. He also played character roles in tele ...

(Eddie Yaeger), Enzo Stuarti (Renato), Monique van Vooren (Fioria) and

Karin Wolfe Karin Wolfe (born April 6, 1944, in Dallas, Texas) is an American actress. She is probably best known for her role of Mary Anderson on the soap opera ''Days of Our Lives''. Wolfe played the title role in the original Broadway production of the m ...

(Jennifer Yaeger). With Holgate encoring as Renato opposite Collins as Leona, the production was scheduled for two subsequent

-area engagements of ''Do I Hear a Waltz?'' that summer: however Collins' maternity leave mandated Julia Meade instead headlining those two engagements opposite Holgate. Also in the summer of 1967 Monique van Vooren encored as Fioria in the Kenley Players of Dayton (Ohio) production of ''Do I Hear a Waltz?'' which starred

Anita Bryant Anita Jane Bryant (born March 25, 1940) is an American singer known for anti-gay activism. She scored four "Top 40" hits in the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including " Paper Roses" which reached No. 5 on the charts. She was t ...

as Leona and featured

Don Amendolia Don Amendolia (born February 1, 1945 in Glassboro, New Jersey) is an American actor. Career He played Big Al Kennedy in NBC's soap opera '' Sunset Beach'', had a recurring role on ''Twin Peaks'', and appeared in one episode of ''Cheers''. Am ...

as Vito (Carol Bruce had originally been announced as encoring her Broadway role of Fioria for Kenley Players). In the summer of 1972 Ronald Holgate again encored as Renato in a tour of ''Do I Hear a Waltz?'' with

Patrice Munsel Patrice Munsel (born Patrice Beverly Munsil; May 14, 1925 – August 4, 2016) was an American coloratura soprano. Nicknamed "Princess Pat", she was the youngest singer ever to star at the Metropolitan Opera. Early years An only child, Patrice ...

headlining as Leona: also in the cast were

Richard Kline Richard Kline (born April 29, 1944) is an American actor and television director. His roles include Larry Dallas on the sitcom '' Three's Company'', Richie in the later seasons of ''It's a Living'' and Jeff Beznick in ''Noah Knows Best''. Early ...

(Eddie Yaeger) and

Denise Lor Denise Lor (born Denise Jeanne Briault; May 3, 1929 – September 27, 2015) was an American popular singer and actress. She was a featured artist on ''The Garry Moore Show''. In 1951, she appeared in the short-lived variety show '' Seven at Elev ...

(Fioria). In March 1975

Rosalind Harris Rosalind Harris (born December 22, 1946) is an American theater and film actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Tzeitel, the eldest daughter of Tevye, in the 1971 film version of ''Fiddler on the Roof''. She also starred as Tzeitel in t ...

starred as Leona in a revival of ''Do I Hear a Waltz?'' by the

Equity Library Theatre The Equity Library Theatre (ELT) was a New York City theatre company active from 1943 until 1989. The original company Founded in 1943 by Sam Jaffe, representing Actors' Equity, and George Freedley, at the time curator of the New York Public Libra ...

of the New York ityPublic Library whose cast also included Melanie Chartoff (Jennifer Yaeger) and

Barbara Lea Barbara Lea (April 10, 1929 – December 26, 2011) was an American jazz singer. Music career Lea was born and raised in Detroit. Her father was a clarinetist before becoming attorney general of Michigan. He changed the family name from LeCocq t ...

(Fioria). In 1997, Sondheim was sent a recording of a concert version of ''Do I Hear a Waltz?'' that had been presented in London. It was then he realized the original play did lend itself to musical adaptation, but the score Rodgers composed wasn't very good. He enthusiastically contacted Laurents and the two discussed changes that could be made to improve the show. A revised production was staged at the George Street Playhouse,

New Brunswick, New Jersey New Brunswick is a city in and the seat of government of Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.Penny Fuller as Leona and

Charles Cioffi Charles M. Cioffi (born October 31, 1935) is an American film and television actor best known as Lt. Matt Reardon in '' Get Christie Love!'' opposite co-star Teresa Graves. Born in New York City, he attended Michigan State University, where h ...

as Renato, the cast also featuring

Anna Belknap Anna C. Belknap is an American actress. She is known for her role as Detective Lindsay Monroe Messer on ''CSI: NY''. Early life Belknap was born in Damariscotta, Maine. She is a daughter of David and Louise Belknap. She attended Lincoln Academ ...

(Jennifer),

Lynn Cohen Lynn Harriette Cohen (née Kay; August 10, 1933 – February 14, 2020) was an American actress known for her roles in film, television and theater. She was especially known for her role as Magda in the HBO series ''Sex and the City'', which she ...

(Fioria) and

Carla Bianco Carla Bianco is an American singer-songwriter, pianist and actor. Career Of Italian descent, Carla Bianco grew up singing at family parties, and began writing songs at the age of 10 on the piano. In 1990, she worked with Jellybean Benitez of ...

(Giovanna). For this production the dropped song "Everybody Loves Leona" was restored, lyrics were altered or added, and Laurents "revamped quite a bit of the book." A 2001 revival of the musical was staged at the

Pasadena Playhouse The Pasadena Playhouse is a historic performing arts venue located 39 S. El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California, United States. The 686-seat auditorium produces a variety of cultural and artistic events, professional shows, and community engage ...

, Pasadena, California, where it ran from July 15 through August 19: with stage musical icon

Carol Lawrence Carol Lawrence (born Carolina Maria Laraia; September 5, 1932) is an American actress, appearing in musical theatre and on television. She is known for creating the role of Maria on Broadway in the musical '' West Side Story'' (1957), receivin ...

as Fioria, the cast also included

Anthony Crivello Anthony Crivello (born August 2, 1955) is an American actor who has appeared in the original cast of several Broadway shows, including ''Les Misérables'', '' Kiss of the Spider Woman'', '' Golden Boy'', '' Marie Christine'', and '' The News''. ...

(Renato),

Eddy Martin Eddy Martin (born September 10, 1990) is an American actor and musician. He is best known for his roles as One Love in the movie '' Rebound'', and as Joaquin in the Nickelodeon original show ''Just Jordan''. He sings a variety of music includi ...

(Mauro),

Alyson Reed Alyson Reed is an American dancer and actress. Life and career Alyson Reed was born in Fullerton and grew up in Anaheim, California. She began ballet at age 4, started performing in musicals at age 7, and was working professionally by age 12. R ...

(Leona), Jack Riley (Mr. McIlhenny),

Elmarie Wendel Elmarie Louise Wendel (November 23, 1928 – c. July 21, 2018) was an American actress and singer best known as Mamie Dubcek on the NBC sitcom ''3rd Rock from the Sun''. Early life Born on a farm in Howard County, Iowa, one of five siblings, ...

(Mrs. McIlhenny), and

Annie Wersching Annie Wersching (March 28, 1977 – January 29, 2023) was an American actress. She was known for her television roles as Renee Walker in '' 24'', Julia Brasher in '' Bosch'', and Emma Whitmore in '' Timeless'', as well as the voice and performan ...

(Jennifer Yaeger). The production was well received by the critics, and a cast recording was subsequently released on the Fynsworth Alley label. In 2003, the

Landor Theatre The Landor Theatre is a pub theatre in Clapham, South London. Originally the Cage Theatre upon its opening in 1994, the Landor became "Upstairs at the Landor" in 1995 and finally the Landor Theatre in 1998, following a refit of the building. I ...

in London staged the musical and in March 2014, Charles Court Opera further revived the show at Park Theatre in

Finsbury Park Finsbury Park is a public park in the London neighbourhood of Harringay. It is in the area formerly covered by the historic parish of Hornsey, succeeded by the Municipal Borough of Hornsey. It was one of the first of the great London parks ...

. The musical was presented by

Encores! Encores! is a Tony-honored concert series dedicated to performing rarely heard American musicals, usually with their original orchestrations. Presented by New York City Center since 1994, Encores! has revived shows by Irving Berlin, Rodgers & ...

New York City Center New York City Center (previously known as the Mecca Temple, City Center of Music and Drama,. The name "City Center for Music and Drama Inc." is the organizational parent of the New York City Ballet and, until 2011, the New York City Opera. and t ...

in May 2016. It was directed by Evan Cabnet and starred

Melissa Errico Melissa Errico (born March 23, 1970)"Melissa Errico"
profile,

(Leona),

Claybourne Elder Claybourne Elder (born April 21, 1982) is an American actor, singer, and writer who is best known for his work on television and on Broadway. Biography Elder is from Springville, Utah. His mother is a schoolteacher and father a carpenter, an ...

(Eddie Yaeger),

Sarah Stiles Sarah Grace Stiles (born June 20, 1979) is an American singer and actress known for her work in Off-Broadway and Broadway theatre. She performed the role of Kate Monster/Lucy the Slut in ''Avenue Q'', and performed in the musical '' Vanities'', ...

(Giovanna) and

Richard Troxell Richard Troxell is an American operatic tenor who has sung leading roles in the opera houses of North America, Europe, and Asia since his professional debut in 1993. His signature roles include Lt. Pinkerton, which he sang in Frédéric Mitterran ...

(Renato De Rossi). The

42nd Street Moon 42nd Street Moon is a professional theatre company in San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern Californi ...

company of

San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17t ...

has mounted two revivals of ''Do I Hear a Waltz?'', the first in 1998 with

Darren Criss Darren Everett Criss (born February 5, 1987) is an American actor, singer, and songwriter. He rose to fame starring on the television series '' Glee'' (2010–2015) and received Emmy and Golden Globe acting awards for his leading role as spree ...

as Mauro, the second in 2014 with Emily Skinner as Leona.

Synopsis

New York City secretary Leona Samish arrives in

Venice Venice ( ; it, Venezia ; vec, Venesia or ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands that are separated by canals and linked by over 400 ...

("Someone Woke Up"), where she is staying at the Pensione Fioria, where she is greeted by owner Fioria ("This Week Americans"). There she meets Americans Eddie and Jennifer Yaeger, who are living in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus ( legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

and have come to Venice for a vacation, and the McIlhennys, an older couple on a package tour ("What Do We Do? We Fly!"). While shopping, Leona sees a ruby glass goblet in a store window and goes inside to inspect it. The owner, Renato di Rossi, tells her it is an authentic 18th-century piece, not a reproduction. He offers not only to find her a matching glass to make up a pair, but to show her the sights of the city, as well. Leona refuses his offer and leaves, but returns the next day to buy the goblet. Later that day, a package with a second goblet is delivered to the hotel. Soon after, Renato arrives to invite Leona to join him for coffee in

Piazza San Marco Piazza San Marco (; vec, Piasa San Marco), often known in English as St Mark's Square, is the principal public square of Venice, Italy, where it is generally known just as ''la Piazza'' ("the Square"). All other urban spaces in the city (exc ...

that evening. When the McIlhennys show her their purchase of a set of glasses exactly like hers, Leona believes Renato misrepresented their value, but Signora Fioria assures her they are

antique An antique ( la, antiquus; 'old', 'ancient') is an item perceived as having value because of its aesthetic or historical significance, and often defined as at least 100 years old (or some other limit), although the term is often used loosely ...

s. Later in the day, Renato's son Vito comes to tell Leona that Renato will be late for their meeting because one of his children is ill and needs to see a doctor. Realizing Renato is married, she cancels their rendezvous. He comes to the pensione and explains he and his wife have not loved each other for years but divorce is not an option, not only because the country doesn't permit it, but because they have their children to consider as well. To Leona, his casual attitude about extramarital affairs is wrong, but she still finds herself attracted to him, and agrees to keep their date. Meanwhile, the Yaegers are facing problems of their own. Eddie, finding himself enamoured with Signora Fioria, announces he wants to put distance between himself and the woman by returning to the United States. Renato arrives with a

garnet Garnets () are a group of silicate minerals that have been used since the Bronze Age as gemstones and abrasives. All species of garnets possess similar physical properties and crystal forms, but differ in chemical composition. The different ...

necklace for Leona, who is thrilled with his gift and agrees to extend her stay in Venice. She hosts a party in the garden of the pensione, and as the party is in progress, Renato's son Vito comes to tell his father that the jeweler wants his money; overhearing this, Leona happily gives him the money. However, when she discovers Renato has received a commission on the sale of the necklace, she accuses him of being interested only in her money, and he leaves. Fioria and Jennifer attempt to comfort Leona, who drunkenly reveals Eddie and Fioria spent the previous evening together, only to immediately regret her words ("Everyone Loves Leona"). The following day both the Yaegers and the McIlhennys check out of the pensione as Fioria is happy that everyone is leaving and making way for the next group of guests ("Last Week Americans"). On hearing Renato had been there before she awoke, Leona goes to his store to make amends, but he tells her a relationship with her would be impossible because of her complicated outlook on life. His affection for her is gone, and they part as friends ("Thank You So Much").

Original Broadway cast

* Elizabeth Allen – Leona Samish *

– Renato Di Rossi *

– Signora Fioria *

– Eddie Yaeger *

Julienne Marie Julienne Marie Hendricks (born March 21, 1937),Profi ...

– Jennifer Yaeger * Jack Manning – Mr. McIlhenny *

– Mrs. McIlhenny * Fleury D'Antonakis – Giovanna * James Dybas – Vito * Christopher Votos – Mauro

Paper Mill Playhouse cast (1966)

Dorothy Collins Dorothy Collins (born Marjorie Chandler;
''

Ronald Holgate Ronald Holgate (born May 26, 1937, Aberdeen, South Dakota) is an American actor and opera singer. He won the Tony Award for Best Supporting Actor as Richard Henry Lee in the original Broadway production of ''1776'', a role he reprised in 1972 for ...

- Renato Di Rossi * Dorothy Stinette - Signoria Fioria *

- Eddie Yaeger * Gay Edmond - Jennifer Yaeger * Avril Gentles - Mrs. McIlhenny * William Martel - Mr. McIlhenny * Fleury D'Antonakis - Gionanna * Andrew Amic-Angelo - Vito * Jomar Cidoni - Mauro * Hank Selvitelle - Alfredo * Jacque Dean - Mrs. Victoria Haslem * Nick Athos - Man on Bridge

Song list

; Act I * Overture * "Someone Woke Up" – Leona Samish * "This Week Americans" – Signora Fioria * "What Do We Do? We Fly!" – Leona Samish, Mrs. McIlhenny, Mr. McIlhenny, Eddie Yaeger and Jennifer Yaeger * "Someone Like You" – Renato Di Rossi * "Bargaining" – Renato Di Rossi * "Here We Are Again" – Leona Samish, Vito and Ragazzi * "Thinking" – Renato Di Rossi and Leona Samish * "No Understand" – Signora Fioria, Eddie Yaeger and Giovanna * "Take the Moment" – Renato Di Rossi ; Act II * "Moon in My Window" – Jennifer Yaeger, Signora Fioria and Leona Samish * "We're Gonna Be Alright" evised– Eddie Yaeger and Jennifer Yaeger * "Do I Hear a Waltz?" – Leona Samish and Company * "Stay" – Renato Di Rossi * "Perfectly Lovely Couple" – Leona Samish, Renato Di Rossi, Mr. McIlhenny, Mrs. McIlhenny, Jennifer Yaeger, Eddie Yaeger, Giovanna and Signora Fiora * "Thank You So Much" – Renato Di Rossi and Leona Samish * Finale ; Cut songs * "Two by Two" - Leona, Vito, girl, Eddie, Jennifer, Fioria, male companion, Mr. McIlhenny, Mrs. McIlhenny * "We're Gonna Be Alright" riginal– Eddie Yaeger and Jennifer Yaeger * "Everybody Loves Leona" - Leona (restored in the George Street Playhouse production) * "Perhaps" * "Philadelphia"

Critical response

The original production received mixed reviews.

Howard Taubman Hyman Howard Taubman (July 4, 1907 – January 8, 1996) was an American music critic, theater critic, and author. Biography Born in Manhattan, Taubman attended DeWitt Clinton High School and then won a four-year scholarship to Cornell Universit ...

of ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' observed, "The authors . . . have accomplished their conversion from the play with tact and grace. They have not attempted a complete transformation. On the other hand, they have not cheapened or falsified the play . . . They were wise not to overload the musical with production numbers; their taste was unexceptionable when they chose not to turn their work into a brash, noisy affair, which would have been out of keeping with their theme. At the same time one cannot suppress a regret that they failed to be bolder. For there are times, particularly in the early stages, when the songs are merely a decoration. They give the impression that they are there because a musical requires music. They do not translate the story into the fresh and marvelous language that the rich resources of the musical stage make possible."Taubman, Howar
"Theater: 'Do I Hear a Waltz?' Opens"
''The New York Times'', March 19, 1965 William Ruhlmann wrote: "Despite the pedigrees of the creators, the show opened to negative reviews, which is explained only partly by the score as heard on this cast recording. Elizabeth Allen, in the lead role, was criticized with backhanded compliments for being too young and attractive for the part, flaws not apparent on the album. Sergio Franchi, as her romantic partner, also came in for criticism, but comes off much better here. And the small supporting cast, featuring Carol Bruce as the proprietor of a pension, is also impressive. But the songs, for the most part, are not memorable." The production did not recoup its investment, but several songs, including the title song, received radio play. RCA released a single (RCS 47-8552) of two of the songs recorded by

("Someone Like You" and "Take The Moment"); and he sang them on several televised shows. Franchi generally received excellent reviews of his singing performance on this show, his Broadway debut.

Post mortem

With the passage of time, Sondheim, the longest surviving member of the original creative team, has reflected on what went wrong with ''Do I Hear a Waltz?'' To begin with, his reasons for collaborating with Rodgers were prompted out of obligations to others rather than a belief in the material. In his final meeting with Hammerstein, the dying lyricist recommended that Sondheim collaborate with Rodgers. Additionally, Mary Rodgers (the composer's daughter) was a good friend of Sondheim and forcefully urged him to consider a collaboration.Stephen Sondheim, "Do I Hear a Waltz?" ''Finishing the Hat'' (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2010), p. 141-43. In getting to know Rodgers, Sondheim found a "funny, dour, difficult fellow" who was plagued with self-doubt, thinking that his musical abilities were failing him. This manifested itself in the composer's adamant unwillingness to consider rewriting anything. Sondheim considered "What Do We Do? We Fly" and "Bargaining" to be repetitive songs; victims of the lack of desire to rewrite, a type of song he named "mechanicals." Sondheim felt that Rodgers need not have been so self-doubting "as songs like "Take the Moment" and the show's title tune attest." Eventually Rodgers' self-doubt grew into paranoia with his thinking that Sondheim and Arthur Laurents were plotting against him. Optimistic at a chance to do something unusual, Sondheim thought that Leona--the lonely and uptight American--should not sing until the end of the show. Rodgers refused to consider such an innovation, bringing Sondheim to recognize that in the Rodgers and Hammerstein collaboration, it was Hammerstein that was the pathbreaker, because Rodgers was an "archconservative" whose innovations were restricted to superficial gimmicks (for example, no string instruments in ''No Strings''). Sondheim felt that Rodgers was not able to write a story in song so he ended up writing many of the lyrics first. Unlike his other partnerships in which composers responded with a collaborative give-and-take between lyrics and music, Sondheim felt that working with Rodgers was like "a set of assignments, either from me to Rodgers or Rodgers to me." One particular incident involved an infamous lyric change referring to a married couple in the song ''We're Gonna Be All Right''. Sondheim's lyrics for the song tended to lean toward a more cynical view of marriage and his suggestion that the husband and wife might find consolation by having separate affairs, even a homosexual one, was quite revolutionary for 1965. He recalls, "I wrote lyrics which had some bite to them and Dick Rodgers thought the song was wonderful. Next day he called a lunch and kept slamming the lyrics against my forearm and saying, 'This will not do, this will not do,' and I kept asking, 'Why?' The truth was, he'd shown the lyrics to his wife and she did not like it. He probably showed it to her out of enthusiasm. But you know, it's got stuff about sexuality in it." Ultimately Sondheim understood the failure of ''Do I Hear a Waltz?'' in the context of Mary Rodgers's formulation of what she called a "Why? musical". Such a musical is usually based on good source material but raises the question as to what the addition of music does to enhance the original. With rare exceptions (Sondheim cited ''

My Fair Lady ''My Fair Lady'' is a musical based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 play '' Pygmalion'', with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The story concerns Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons ...

'' as such an exception because its creators loved and respected the story), "Why? musicals" gain nothing from having music added, usually resulting in a dilution of the original material. Sondheim accepted responsibility for being naive in thinking that his participation in ''Do I Hear a Waltz?'' was a quick way to make money off of good source material—an effort that failed.

Recordings

The

original cast recording Originality is the aspect of created or invented works that distinguish them from reproductions, clones, forgeries, or substantially derivative works. The modern idea of originality is according to some scholars tied to Romanticism, by a notion t ...

was released by

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. It was founded on January 15, 1889, evolving from the A ...

in 1965, and was chosen by ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large adverti ...

'' as an Original Cast Spotlight Album. A remastered version was released on compact disc and cassette tape by Sony Broadway in 1992. A KeelanMusic review gives a very favorable review to the Original Cast recordings, irrespective of the Broadway criticisms. The 13 March 1975 performance of the 1975 Equity Library production was recorded on audiocassette and is held in the Equity Library Theatre collection. A recording of the Pasadena Playhouse production was released by Fynsworth Alley in 2001. Musical excerpts (not included on the original cast recording) include the overture, Lezione in Inglese, We're Going to the Lido, Everybody Loves Leona.''Do I Hear a Waltz?'' Fynsworth Alley, 3020621262, 2001.

Awards and nominations

Original Broadway production

References

External links

*
''Do I Hear a Waltz'' at the Stephen Sondheim Reference Guide

Background information and production details at RNH theatricals

{{Authority control 1965 musicals Broadway musicals Musicals based on plays Musicals by Stephen Sondheim Compositions by Richard Rodgers Musicals by Arthur Laurents