State Fair (musical)
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''State Fair'' 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 and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...
with a book by Tom Briggs and Louis Mattioli, lyrics by
Oscar Hammerstein II Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II (; July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was an American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer, and (usually uncredited) director in the musical theater for almost 40 years. He won eight Ton ...
, and music by
Richard Rodgers Richard Charles Rodgers (June 28, 1902 – December 30, 1979) was an American Musical composition, composer who worked primarily in musical theater. With 43 Broadway musicals and over 900 songs to his credit, Rodgers was one of the most ...
.
Phil Stong Philip Duffield Stong (January 27, 1899 – April 26, 1957) was an American author, journalist and Hollywood scenarist. He is best known for the 1932 novel ''State Fair'', which was adapted as a film three times ( 1933, 1945 and 1962) and as a B ...
's original 1932 novel, ''
State Fair A state fair is an annual competitive and recreational gathering of a U.S. state's population, usually held in late summer or early fall. It is a larger version of a county fair, often including only exhibits or competitors that have won in th ...
'', was first adapted for film in 1933 in a production starring
Will Rogers William Penn Adair Rogers (November 4, 1879 – August 15, 1935) was an American vaudeville performer, actor, and humorous social commentator. He was born as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, in the Indian Territory (now part of Oklahoma ...
. In 1945, the film was remade as a musical with original songs by
Rodgers and Hammerstein Rodgers and Hammerstein was a theater-writing team of composer Richard Rodgers (1902–1979) and lyricist-dramatist Oscar Hammerstein II (1895–1960), who together created a series of innovative and influential American musicals. Their popu ...
. This was subsequently remade in 1962 as well as adapted into a made-for-television movie in 1976. The stage production closely follows the plot of its predecessors, providing a glimpse into the life of a farming family, the Frakes, and their three-day adventure at the
Iowa State Fair The Iowa State Fair is an annual state fair held in Des Moines, Iowa in August. It began in 1854 and has been held on the Iowa State Fairgrounds since 1886. It is based in the state capital Des Moines, Iowa over an 11 day period in August. With ...
in
Des Moines Des Moines () is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small part of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines, ...
in 1946. While parents Abel and Melissa are hoping to win a few
blue ribbon The blue ribbon is a symbol of high quality. The association comes from The Blue Riband, a prize awarded for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by passenger liners and, prior to that from Cordon Bleu, which referred to the blue ribbon ...
s, siblings Margy and Wayne are more interested in finding romance on the midway.


Production history

In 1969,
The Muny The St. Louis Municipal Opera Theatre (commonly known as The Muny) is an amphitheater located in St. Louis, Missouri. The theatre seats 11,000 people with about 1,500 free seats in the last nine rows that are available on a first come, first s ...
in St. Louis presented the world stage premiere of ''State Fair'' starring Ozzie and
Harriet Nelson Harriet Nelson (formerly Hilliard; born Peggy Lou Snyder; July 18, 1909 – October 2, 1994) was an American actress and singer. Nelson is best known for her role on the sitcom ''The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet''. Early life and career Ne ...
with
Ron Husmann Ron Husmann (born June 30, 1937) is a retired Americans, American actor who primarily acted in Musical theatre, musicals. In 1961, he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, Tony Award and won a Theatre World Award ...
, Jerry Lanning, Bonnie Schon, Carol Richards, Jack Goode, Tom Pedi,
Tommy Tune Thomas James Tune (born February 28, 1939) is an American actor, dancer, singer, theatre director, producer, and choreographer. Over the course of his career, he has won ten Tony Awards, the National Medal of Arts, and a star on the Hollywood Wal ...
and
Lawrence Leritz Lawrence Leritz (born September 26, 1962) is an American actor, dancer, singer, producer, director, fitness expert and choreographer. Life and career Born in Alton, Illinois, Leritz made his stage debut in the children's chorus of the world st ...
in the children's chorus. The production was directed by
James Hammerstein James Blanchard Hammerstein (March 23, 1931 – January 7, 1999) was an American theatre director and producer. Life and career Hammerstein was the son of interior designer Dorothy Hammerstein (née Blanchard) and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II ...
, supervised by
Richard Rodgers Richard Charles Rodgers (June 28, 1902 – December 30, 1979) was an American Musical composition, composer who worked primarily in musical theater. With 43 Broadway musicals and over 900 songs to his credit, Rodgers was one of the most ...
and also choreographed by
Tommy Tune Thomas James Tune (born February 28, 1939) is an American actor, dancer, singer, theatre director, producer, and choreographer. Over the course of his career, he has won ten Tony Awards, the National Medal of Arts, and a star on the Hollywood Wal ...
. Additional songs included in this production were three from "
Me & Juliet ''Me and Juliet'' is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, and lyrics and book by Oscar Hammerstein II. The sixth stage collaboration by Rodgers & Hammerstein, it tells a story of romance backstage at a long-running musical: assistant stage ...
"; "It's Me!", "Keep It Gay" and "Marriage Type Love" and a new one, "Away From Home." In 1992 a new stage adaptation, by Tom Briggs and Louis Mattioli, was produced as part of the Broadway Preview Series at the North Carolina School of the Arts, and was directed and choreographed by
Randy Skinner Randy Skinner is an American dancer, director and choreographer, primarily for the stage. He has been nominated four times for Tony Awards, three times for Drama Desk Awards, and four times for Outer Critics Circle Awards for choreography. Ear ...
. The show played at the Stevens Center in Winston-Salem from July 17 – August 16, 1992. From North Carolina, the show moved to Long Beach Civic Light Opera in October 1992. A re-staging of the 1992 version played on
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 ...
at the
Music Box Theater The Music Box Theatre is a Broadway theater at 239 West 45th Street ( George Abbott Way) in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1921, the Music Box Theatre was designed by C. Howard Crane in a Palladian-inspir ...
opening March 27, 1996, following to a 23-city tour inaugurated with an engagement at the real Iowa State Fair August 12–20, 1995. The final credit for iconic Broadway producer
David Merrick David Merrick (born David Lee Margoulis; November 27, 1911 – April 25, 2000) was an American theatrical producer who won a number of Tony Awards. Life and career Born David Lee Margulois to Jewish parents in St. Louis, Missouri, Merrick gradua ...
, the 1995-1996 production of ''State Fair'' was co-directed by
James Hammerstein James Blanchard Hammerstein (March 23, 1931 – January 7, 1999) was an American theatre director and producer. Life and career Hammerstein was the son of interior designer Dorothy Hammerstein (née Blanchard) and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II ...
(Oscar's son) and
Randy Skinner Randy Skinner is an American dancer, director and choreographer, primarily for the stage. He has been nominated four times for Tony Awards, three times for Drama Desk Awards, and four times for Outer Critics Circle Awards for choreography. Ear ...
, with the latter doubling as choreographer. The set design was by James Leonard Joy, the costume design by Michael Bottari and Ronald Case, and the lighting design was by
Natasha Katz Natasha Katz is an American lighting designer for the theatre, dance, and opera. Biography Early life and education A New York City native, Katz trained at Oberlin College, and early in her career was mentored by Roger Morgan, a lighting design ...
. Headlined by John Davidson as Abel,
Kathryn Crosby Kathryn Crosby (born Olive Kathryn Grandstaff; November 25, 1933) is a retired American actress and singer who performed in films under the stage names Kathryn Grant and Kathryn Grandstaff. Life and career Born Olive Kathryn Grandstaff in Wes ...
as Melissa, and
Andrea McArdle Andrea McArdle is an American singer and actress best known for originating the role of Annie in the Broadway musical '' Annie''. Career McArdle was born in Philadelphia. While studying dance as a child, she was spotted by a talent agent who got ...
and Ben Wright as Margy and Wayne, the production also starred
Donna McKechnie Donna McKechnie (born November 16, 1942) is an American musical theater dancer, singer, actress, and choreographer. She is known for her professional and personal relationship with choreographer Michael Bennett, with whom she collaborated on ...
as Emily and
Scott Wise Scott Wise (born October 30, 1958) is an American theatre actor and dancer. He is known for his performances in the 1989 musical ''Jerome Robbins' Broadway'', which earned him a Tony Award, and in the 2002 film ''Chicago''. Wise was nominated f ...
as Pat. When McArdle was sidelined by a foot injury incurred onstage June 5, she was replaced by
Susan Egan Susan Farrell Egan (born February 18, 1970) is an American actress, singer and dancer, known for her work on the Broadway stage. She is best known for originating the role of Belle in the Broadway musical adaptation of ''Beauty and the Beast'' (1 ...
who had played Margy in the 1992 tryout tour of ''State Fair''. The 1996 production received 1996 Tony Award nominations for Best Score and Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Scott Wise. It also received three Drama Desk nominations for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Scott Wise and Ben Wright and Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Donna McKechnie. A box-office disappointment, the Broadway production of ''State Fair'' closed June 20, 1996, after 118 performances at the Music Box. On September 7, 1997, a second tour of the production had its premiere engagement at the Eisenhower Auditorium a
Pennsylvania State University The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a Public university, public Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related Land-grant university, land-grant research university with campuses and facilities throughout Pennsylvan ...
. Headlined by John Davidson as Abel Frake, this reportedly scaled-down production toured for eight months. The
Walnut Street Theatre The Walnut Street Theatre, founded in 1809 at 825 Walnut Street, on the corner of S. 9th Street in the Washington Square West neighborhood of Philadelphia, is the oldest operating theatre in the United States. The venue is operated by the Walnut ...
in
Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
hosted a production of ''State Fair'' September 10-October 19, 2008, which starred
Mark Jacoby Mark Jacoby (born May 21, 1947) is an American musical theatre performer. He has achieved fame from his leading roles on Broadway in ''Show Boat'', ''The Phantom of the Opera'' and ''Ragtime'', among others. He has also performed widely in nat ...
and
Dee Hoty Dee Hoty (born August 16, 1952) is an American actress known for her work in musical theatre. Over the course of her career, she has appeared in numerous Broadway productions and earned three Tony Award nominations for Best Actress in a Musical ...
as Abel and Melissa Frake. Tim Dunleavy of TalkinBroadway.com rated the production as "good ndconsistently enjoyable. his version of ''State Fair''may not be a classic utproves to be a real charmer
ith The Ith () is a ridge in Germany's Central Uplands which is up to 439 m high. It lies about 40 km southwest of Hanover and, at 22 kilometres, is the longest line of crags in North Germany. Geography Location The Ith is immediatel ...
a tone that is sweet, but not too sugary. There may not be much depth to
his His or HIS may refer to: Computing * Hightech Information System, a Hong Kong graphics card company * Honeywell Information Systems * Hybrid intelligent system * Microsoft Host Integration Server Education * Hangzhou International School, in ...
production… but there's nothing cloying or embarrassing about it either. It's got great songs, some funny lines, a terrific cast and a gently nostalgic look at a bygone era. On August 3, 2010, the Finborough Theatre production opened at London's West End Trafalgar Studios 2, directed by Thom Southerland and starring Philip Rham, Karl Clarkson, Laura Main and Susan Travers, in a transfer from the 2009 Finborough production. The show opened to generally positive reviews with ''The Guardian'' quoting "It's a great night out, and as exhilarating as a hoedown". Due to demand the run was extended two weeks to September 11, 2010. The musical had initially opened at the Finborough Theatre in August 2009, with Magnus Gilljam as musical director and pianist. ''The Guardian'' reviewer wrote of the 2009 production: "It may not be one of the great musicals, but, in its melodic paean to middle America, I found this infinitely more enjoyable than some of Rodgers and Hammerstein's later, tendentious excursions into east-west politics."


Plot

Act I It is a Tuesday afternoon in summer 1946 on the Frake family farm in Brunswick, Iowa, as the family prepares to leave for the
Iowa State Fair The Iowa State Fair is an annual state fair held in Des Moines, Iowa in August. It began in 1854 and has been held on the Iowa State Fairgrounds since 1886. It is based in the state capital Des Moines, Iowa over an 11 day period in August. With ...
. The family patriarch, Abel, is hoping that his prized boar, Blue Boy, will win the livestock sweepstakes. Abel's wife, Melissa, has her heart set on ribbons for her mincemeat and sour pickles, while their son, Wayne, is practicing throwing hoops, hoping to win prizes from the midway games (“Opening (Our State Fair)”). Wayne is suddenly saddened when he learns that his girlfriend, Eleanor, was accepted to college, and she cannot go to the fair with him. Local shopkeeper Dave Miller is skeptical about the family's hopes. He makes a $5 bet that something is bound to go wrong for Blue Boy or the family. Abel accepts. Meanwhile, The Frakes' daughter, Margy, is feeling down and doesn't understand why (“It Might as Well Be Spring”). Her boyfriend, Harry, arrives at the farm and presses her for an answer to his marriage proposal; she agrees to give him an answer when she returns home. That night, the family leaves for the fair, awaiting the surprises that lie ahead (“Driving at Night/Our State Fair”). After arriving at the fair on Wednesday morning, Wayne heads straight for the midway, where he is hustled by a carnie at a ring-throwing game. A beautiful mysterious woman defends on Wayne's behalf, and he falls head over heels in love before he even knows her name (“That’s for Me”). Later that afternoon, Abel and his farmer buddies are at the beer tent and trading stories about their prized pigs (“More Than Just a Friend”). Meanwhile, Pat Gilbert, a former
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
reporter, arrives with Charlie, a photographer, to cover the fair for the ''
Des Moines Register ''The Des Moines Register'' is the daily morning newspaper of Des Moines, Iowa. History Early period The first newspaper in Des Moines was the ''Iowa Star''. In July 1849, Barlow Granger began the paper in an abandoned log cabin by the junction ...
''. He runs into Margy, whom he repeatedly tries to court, and she remains forbidding until he begins to win her over (“Isn’t It Kinda Fun?”). That night, Wayne heads to the Starlight Dance Meadow in time to catch a show. The performer is a singer named Emily Arden, who happens to be the woman he met earlier in the day (“You Never Had it So Good”). She buys him a drink, and tells Wayne that her dream is to become a Broadway star. He charmingly asks her out. She agrees, but only on the bounds that their relationship only lasts for the rest of the fair. Thursday morning arrives and Margy complains to Melissa about Harry (“It Might as Well Be Spring (Reprise)”). Abel walks in, overjoyed at the promise of victory and winning, and he proposes an evening of fun and dancing with his family (“When I Go Out Walking With My Baby”). At the Exhibit Hall that afternoon, the pickles and mincemeat are being judged. Unknowingly, Abel spiked Melissa's with a full bottle of brandy, sending the judges into a drunken fit of giggles and tipsiness. Melissa wins the blue ribbon and a special plaque. Pat and Charlie capture the euphoric moment. From a quiet hillside, Wayne and Emily watch the midway below. He wants to further continue their relationship, telling her that they have so many more memories to make, but she remains unsettled (“So Far”). At the Starlight Dance Meadow that night, fairgoers gather for a dreamy waltz. Abel and Melissa dance romantically, Wayne and Emily arrive with a distinctive glow, and Pat and Margy share a passionate kiss when, to Margy's shock, Harry arrives at the fair (“A Grand Night for Singing”). Act II It is now Friday, the last day of the fair. Despite Harry's presence, Pat and Margy are growing closer and more in love. While walking the midway alone, Pat runs into Jeanne and Vivian, two dancers whom he formerly shared intimate relationships with. They both try to flirt with him, but they notice that Pat has changed, as he admits that he has finally found real love (“The Man I Used to Be”). Blue Boy is declared the winner of the livestock sweepstakes, and the livestock tent turns into a celebration led by Abel (“All I Owe Ioway”). Afterwards, Charlie tells Pat that he has landed a job interview with the ''
Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...
'', but it would mean catching the first train out of Iowa (“The Man I Used to Be (Reprise)”). Reluctant to leave Margy in the high point, he leaves just as she arrives for their night out (“Isn’t it Kinda Fun? (Reprise)”). The scene shifts to the Starlight Dance Meadow for the closing performance of the fair, headlined by Emily (“That’s the Way It Happens”). Wayne proclaims his love for Emily that night, but she breaks it off, revealing that she is married and was abandoned by her husband, making her scared to fall in love again. Back at the campsite, Abel and Melissa are watching the stars together. Melissa is concerned about the children growing up too fast, but Abel assures her that they raised Wayne and Margy well, and that when the children do move out, the couple will always be there for each other (“Boys and Girls Like You and Me”). On the darkened midway, the fair is over, and being dismantled. Margy is waiting for Pat, remembering that he said he wouldn't break it off, he just wouldn't be around (“The Next Time it Happens”). Harry enters, pleading to Margy for her hand in marriage, though her refusal finally leads him to realize that she simply just doesn't love him. Upon returning to the family farm on Saturday morning, there is a full spread in the local newspaper detailing their experience at the Fair word-by-word, with extra emphasis on Margy, secretly written by Pat. Dave Miller returns, Abel pleads for him to cough up the money, but Dave reminds Abel that the bet was not about victory, but happiness. He emphasizes to Abel that he won't pay up until he is certain that everyone enjoyed themselves at the fair. Wayne and Eleanor have become engaged. Margy, however, has come in moping, saying that she has outgrown the fair. Shockingly, Pat has arrives at the Frake house, apologizing to Margy about leaving early, he reveals that he has been hired for the job in Chicago and he wants Margy to come with him. He gets down on one knee and proposes, Margy accepts. Dave Miller begrudgingly hands a $5 bill to Abel, and the two men shake hands and walk inside the house together ("Finale Ultimo").


Musical numbers

;Act I *Overture – Orchestra * Opening (Our State Fair) – Abel, Melissa, and Wayne *
It Might as Well Be Spring "It Might as Well Be Spring" is a song from the 1945 film ''State Fair''. which features the only original film score by the songwriting team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. "It Might as Well Be Spring" won the Academy Award for Best ...
* – Margy * Driving at Night/Our State Fair* – Abel, Melissa, Wayne, Margy, and Company *
That's for Me "That's For Me" is a popular song, written by Richard Rodgers, with the lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. The song was published in 1945 and included in the 1945 version of the musical film ''State Fair.'' Popular recordings in 1945 were made ...
* – Wayne * More Than Just a Friend* – Abel, Hank, Lem, and Clay * Isn't It Kinda Fun?* – Pat and Margy * You Never Had It So Good (cut from ''
Me and Juliet ''Me and Juliet'' is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, and lyrics and book by Oscar Hammerstein II. The sixth stage collaboration by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Rodgers & Hammerstein, it tells a story of romance backstage at a long-running mu ...
'') – Emily and the Fairtones * It Might as Well Be Spring (Reprise) – Margy * When I Go Out Walking With My Baby (cut from ''
Oklahoma! ''Oklahoma!'' is the first musical theater, musical written by the duo of Rodgers and Hammerstein. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, ''Green Grow the Lilacs (play), Green Grow the Lilacs''. Set in farm country outside the town of ...
'') – Abel and Melissa * So Far (from ''
Allegro Allegro may refer to: Common meanings * Allegro (music), a tempo marking indicate to play fast, quickly and bright * Allegro (ballet), brisk and lively movement Artistic works * L'Allegro (1645), a poem by John Milton * ''Allegro'' (Satie), an ...
'') – Wayne and Emily * It's a Grand Night for Singing* – Company ;Act II *Entr'acte – Orchestra * The Man I Used to Be (from ''
Pipe Dream Pipe dream may refer to: Music * ''Pipe Dream'' (John Williamson album), 1997, or the titular song * ''Pipedream'' (Alan Hull album), 1973 * ''Pipe Dreams'' (Murray Head album), 1995 * "Pipe Dreams" (Nelly Furtado song), 2016 * ''Pipe Dream ...
'') – Pat, Vivian, and Jeanne * All I Owe Ioway* – Abel and Company * The Man I Used to Be (Reprise) – Pat * Isn't It Kinda Fun?* (Reprise) – Margy * That's the Way It Happens (from ''
Me and Juliet ''Me and Juliet'' is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, and lyrics and book by Oscar Hammerstein II. The sixth stage collaboration by Rodgers and Hammerstein, Rodgers & Hammerstein, it tells a story of romance backstage at a long-running mu ...
'') – Emily and the Fairtones * Boys and Girls Like You and Me (cut from ''
Oklahoma! ''Oklahoma!'' is the first musical theater, musical written by the duo of Rodgers and Hammerstein. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, ''Green Grow the Lilacs (play), Green Grow the Lilacs''. Set in farm country outside the town of ...
''"Rodgers and Hammerstein listing, History"
rnh.com, accessed May 17, 2013
and included in some productions of ''
Cinderella "Cinderella",; french: link=no, Cendrillon; german: link=no, Aschenputtel) or "The Little Glass Slipper", is a folk tale with thousands of variants throughout the world.Dundes, Alan. Cinderella, a Casebook. Madison, Wis: University of Wisconsi ...
'', though not the original) – Abel and Melissa * Next Time It Happens (from ''
Pipe Dream Pipe dream may refer to: Music * ''Pipe Dream'' (John Williamson album), 1997, or the titular song * ''Pipedream'' (Alan Hull album), 1973 * ''Pipe Dreams'' (Murray Head album), 1995 * "Pipe Dreams" (Nelly Furtado song), 2016 * ''Pipe Dream ...
'') – Margy * Finale Ultimo – Company ;Notes on the music The six songs from the original 1945 film score were supplemented by others that were either featured in, or cut from, other Rodgers and Hammerstein shows. One, "More Than Just a Friend," was written by Rodgers for the 1962 film remake after Hammerstein's death. "Driving at Night" was created by co-director James Hammerstein and the production's orchestrator, Bruce Pomahac, with music from a song that had been cut from ''Allegro'' entitled "Two Short Years".''New York Times'', Vincent Canby, March 28, 1996 The starred songs (above) were in the original 1945 or 1962 films.


Cast (1996 Broadway)


Recording

The 1996 Original Broadway Cast recording is on DRG Records 94765 (CD/CS).


Accolades



References


External links


Internet Broadway database listingRNH Theatricals Listing, 'State Fair'
{{Authority control 1996 musicals Broadway musicals Musicals by Rodgers and Hammerstein Musicals based on films Musicals based on novels State Fair (franchise) Fiction set in 1946 Plays set in Iowa