Musicals set in California?

[Ross Stapleton-Gray]

Sandy and I were talking at the thing last night, and I was noting what seemed like a dearth of musicals set in California, e.g., Flower Drum Song.

Thinking on it during my morning stride up to the Post Office, some more came to mind:
Most Happy Fella
Pipe Dream
Xanadu
City of Angels
Singin' in the Rain

Others?

[Michael Teger]

Mack and Mabel
Bombshell (the musical in SMASH ;-)
Chaplin (? - I haven't seen it)
Paint Your Wagon
Rock of Ages (FWIW)


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[Ross Stapleton-Gray]

Mack and Mabel is set (mostly? entirely?) in Brooklyn, I think.

Oh, and forgot Tales of the City, which was, alas, rather forgettable.

[Michael Teger]

Mack and Mabel starts in NY but moves to CA when Keystone moves to CA - earlyish teens IIr

And yea TOTC was forgettable enough to forget

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[Victoria F. Siegel]

do not forget Colma...

[jof...@juno.com]

My musical CASINO! is 100%  set in Oakland. 

[Michael Teger]

I LOVE COLMA !!

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[jof...@juno.com]

More importantly, does anyone know of a theatre willing to PRODUCE a musical set in California?

 

On Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:08:10 -0800 Ross Stapleton-Gray <ross.stap...@gmail.com> writes:

[Victoria F. Siegel]

Wish I did.

 

Bizarre juxtaposition of things.  No sooner did I write "Colma" in the message about musicals in CA but I got a call from a friend who said very sadly that another friend, former work colleague, I didn't even know was sick, had major surgery and passed away and is being buried Wed. at Colma.

 

It is a place I nearly never think of unless I'm traveling to the airport or Daly City on BART.

 

Weird.

 

V

----- Original Message -----

From: jof...@juno.com

To: Music...@googlegroups.com

Cc: Music...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Monday, November 19, 2012 2:10 PM

Subject: Re: Musicals set in California?

[Ross Stapleton-Gray]

Wonder if it'd be worth trying to write a grant for arts funding, specifically to judge new California-focused musicals, and have them produced. Berkeley hasn't yet gotten to the point where it might be thought of as "Broadway West," but it's got ideas...

Digging down into (perhaps deserved) obscurity, there's "Zorro:" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zorro_%28musical%29

And far less obscure, "Sunset Boulevard." And Irving Berlin's "Follow the Fleet." And then there's 1908's "The Flower of the Ranch:" http://www.ibdb.com/production.php?id=6553

Ross

[jof...@juno.com]

Hi Vicky,

 

                I got a message today from TheatreFirst/Michael that they are taking over Actors Ensemble Theatre?!!  It seems that would be the end of amateur opportunities in Berkeley, and ithe installation of just another ho-hum, male-oriented, I-have-a-great-new-idea-for-Hamlet group. (?)  What's the story?  Jerome is a terrific director!  Stuart and I were mucho impressed with his work.  Judith O.

[Victoria F. Siegel]

A lot is being negotiated.  Theater First has the lease for managing Live Oak Theater.  Actors Ensemble is negotiating terms for what will hopefully be three productions over many weeks.  During those weeks we can also have staged readings, musical nights, etc.  We're getting help from the District council person, Laurie Capitelli to mediate a definite arrangement.  Theater First will be involved in some renovation and they will rent the theater out to many groups.  So it's not necessarily a bad thing.

There may be more opportunities for many theater groups and personnel to work.

 

There's a Berkeley City Council meeting on Nov. 27, essentially to discuss this lease and see if it will be ratified by the council.  Any support for Actors Ensemble will be appreciated and all support really helps.  I think the meeting is at 7 pm, 2180 Milvia but I have to check for sure on where the council meets.

 

Best wishes,

Vicki