Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story
Encyclopedia
Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story is a jukebox musical
in two acts with a book written by Alan Janes, and music and lyrics by a variety of songwriters. Based on the life and career of early rock and roll
er Buddy Holly
, the musical hews closer to Holly's actual life story than the 1978 film version
. One of the first so-called "jukebox musicals," the show consists mostly of the songs of Holly and other early rockers.
The musical was conceived by Londoner Laurie Mansfield, who pitched the idea to film producer Greg Smith and writer Alan Janes in 1988. Paul Elliot, a West End
producer took on the project, and support from Paul McCartney
(who owned the copyrights to Holly's music and objected to inaccuracies in the movie) ensured the show's creation. Opening in 1989, the musical initially ran in London's West End for over 12 years, and also had a brief Broadway production, with numerous subsequent tours and productions continuing to run around the world.
The West End
production, with Paul Hipp
as Holly and directed by Rob Bettinson, opened on 12 October 1989, at the Victoria Palace Theatre
, where it remained for six years before transferring to the Strand Theatre
. It ran for another six years and five months for a total of more than 5,000 performances until 3 March 2002, making it one of the longest-running musicals in London history. Later in the run, Chip Esten
played Holly.
Two London cast albums were released, an original cast recording in 1989, and a live recording made during a performance at the Strand Theatre in 1995. Both were released on the First Night label..
After a Toronto
tryout and 15 previews, the Broadway
production, also directed by Bettinson and starring Hipp, opened on November 4, 1990, at the Shubert Theatre
, where it ran for 225 performances. Jill Hennessey played a number of roles, including Holly's wife Maria Elena
.
Subsequent productions
The show has also toured extensively throughout the UK and U.S.A., as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Holland, Finland, Ireland, Japan, and Singapore. A 27-city U.S. tour was mounted in 2000, and tours were mounted in the UK in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2011.
A U.S. West Coast production, directed by Stephen Moorer
and starring Travis Poelle, opened on June 6, 2003, at the Golden Bough Playhouse
in Carmel
, California
, moving to San Jose
on August 13, playing at the San Jose Stage. The success of the production led to a revival, beginning on June 8, 2004, at the Post St. Theatre in San Francisco, garnering positive reviews and Bay Area Critics' awards for Best Musical, Best Ensemble, and Best Actor in a Musical (Travis Poelle). Maria Elena Holly
attended the show at each location, dancing onstage with the cast at curtain call. This production later returned to Carmel for several runs, most recently in 2008.
The West End London revival opened on August 3, 2007, at The Duchess Theatre
where it ran until 7 February 2009 ensuring that the 50th Anniversary of Holly's death was honoured on 3 February with a special performance incorporating several new numbers for that one night. This version, directed again by Rob Bettinson, is scaled down from its previous incarnations, and the role of Buddy Holly
was equally shared by Dean Elliott and Matthew Wycliffe, who played the role in the 2007 UK touring company. Ritchie Valens was played by Puerto Rican actor Miguel Angel, and J.P. Richardson (aka The Big Bopper
) by actor Lee Ormsby.
The 50th Anniversary Tour played concurrently across the UK and starred Oliver Seymour-Marsh and Glen Joseph as Buddy, with Chris Redmond and Dan Graham as the Crickets
.
Wycliffe and Elliott later reprised their role as Buddy in Lubbock
- Buddy Holly's hometown - in 2009, in a production staged by Lubbock Moonlight Musicals .
To commemorate 50 years since the Day the Music Died
, an Australian tour was also mounted, opening at Star City
's Lyric Theatre
in Sydney
on February 3, 2009, and starring Scott Cameron
as Buddy, Luke Tonkin
as the Big Bopper and Flip Simmons
as Ritchie Valens
. In attendance at the opening night were Bob Montgomery and Peggy Sue
Gerron.
The first UK fringe production Upstairs at the Gatehouse
was produced by Ovation Theatres in spring 2010, featuring Roger Rowley as Buddy Holly (who went on to share the lead role in the 2011 UK tour) and Jos Slovick (Spring Awakening) as Ritchie Valens.
"Buddy", as the show is often abbreviated to, is currently touring the United Kingdom
in 2011, with Buddy being played by both Glen Joseph and Roger Rowley, with Steve Dorsett as the Big Bopper and Miguel Angel as Ritchie Valens.
Act I
In Lubbock, Texas
, 19 year old Buddy Holly
is an up and coming country music
singer
. He and his two friends, Joe and Jerry (The Crickets
), want to experiment with the new and controversial style of music called rock 'n roll. They struggle for a time in Texas and then in Nashville
, where producers want Buddy to record country and western music, ignoring Buddy's pleas to "do it his way". The escalating argument almost results in a fist fight between Buddy and the Decca producer, thus ending Buddy's Decca
relationship. Hipockets Duncan, a local DJ and friend of Buddy's, knowing that Buddy is frustrated, puts him in contact with an up and coming Producer who will let him play "his music, his way."
A contract with pioneering record producer Norman Petty
results in a string of hits, including the 1957 hits "That'll Be the Day
" and "Peggy Sue
" (the latter a last-minute change of title from "Cindy Lou" at the behest of the group's drummer). The group then appears at the Apollo Theater
in Harlem
(where theater musicians and audience are mistakenly expecting a black
group), resulting in The Crickets being the first white group to perform there, where they are enthusiastically received.
Act II
Following these successes, The Crickets begin to record in New York City
, where Buddy meets and impulsively marries Puerto Rican
record publisher receptionist Maria Elena Santiago
.
After a break-up with the Crickets, Buddy starts a solo career, leading to his being signed as one of the headliners on the 1959 "Winter Dance Party". Fed up with the terrible Midwestern
weather and tired of traveling by tour bus, 22-year-old Holly breaks a promise to his pregnant wife not to fly. Following a February 2, 1959 concert at the Surf Ballroom
in Clear Lake, Iowa
, he and two other stars, the Big Bopper
and young Ritchie Valens
(a last minute replacement for another musician), depart on a small plane during a blizzard, a fateful decision that places them in musical history books in an unexpected and tragic way.
Act II
Broadway Production
Jukebox musical
A jukebox musical is a stage or film musical that uses previously released popular songs as its musical score. Usually the songs have in common a connection with a particular popular musician or group — either because they were written by, or for, the artists in question, or were at least...
in two acts with a book written by Alan Janes, and music and lyrics by a variety of songwriters. Based on the life and career of early rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
er Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
, the musical hews closer to Holly's actual life story than the 1978 film version
The Buddy Holly Story
The film was adapted by Robert Gittler from Buddy Holly: His Life and Music, the biography of Holly by John Goldrosen. It was directed by Steve Rash.-Plot:...
. One of the first so-called "jukebox musicals," the show consists mostly of the songs of Holly and other early rockers.
The musical was conceived by Londoner Laurie Mansfield, who pitched the idea to film producer Greg Smith and writer Alan Janes in 1988. Paul Elliot, a West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
producer took on the project, and support from Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
(who owned the copyrights to Holly's music and objected to inaccuracies in the movie) ensured the show's creation. Opening in 1989, the musical initially ran in London's West End for over 12 years, and also had a brief Broadway production, with numerous subsequent tours and productions continuing to run around the world.
Productions
Early productionsThe West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
production, with Paul Hipp
Paul Hipp
-Early years:Paul Hipp was born and raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Hipp left Pennsylvania for New York City immediately after high school, starting his career playing for tips on the streets of Greenwich Village while studying acting with Mira Rostova and at HB Studio with...
as Holly and directed by Rob Bettinson, opened on 12 October 1989, at the Victoria Palace Theatre
Victoria Palace Theatre
Victoria Palace Theatre is a West End theatre in Victoria Street, in the City of Westminster, opposite Victoria Station.-Origins:The theatre began life as a small concert room above the stables of the Royal Standard Hotel, a small hotel and tavern built in 1832 at what was then 522 Stockbridge...
, where it remained for six years before transferring to the Strand Theatre
Novello Theatre
The Novello Theatre is a West End theatre on Aldwych, in the City of Westminster.-History:The theatre was built as one of a pair with the Aldwych Theatre on either side of the Waldorf Hotel, both being designed by W. G. R. Sprague. The theatre opened as the Waldorf Theatre on 22 May 1905, and was...
. It ran for another six years and five months for a total of more than 5,000 performances until 3 March 2002, making it one of the longest-running musicals in London history. Later in the run, Chip Esten
Chip Esten
Charles "Chip" Esten Puskar III is an American comedian, actor and singer known for his appearances on the improvisation show Whose Line Is It Anyway?....
played Holly.
Two London cast albums were released, an original cast recording in 1989, and a live recording made during a performance at the Strand Theatre in 1995. Both were released on the First Night label..
After a Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
tryout and 15 previews, the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production, also directed by Bettinson and starring Hipp, opened on November 4, 1990, at the Shubert Theatre
Shubert Theatre (Broadway)
The Shubert Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 225 West 44th Street in midtown-Manhattan, New York, United States.Designed by architect Henry Beaumont Herts, it was named after Sam S. Shubert, the second oldest of the three brothers of the theatrical producing family...
, where it ran for 225 performances. Jill Hennessey played a number of roles, including Holly's wife Maria Elena
Maria Elena Holly
María Elena Holly is the widow of rock and roll pioneer Buddy Holly. She owns the rights to his name, image, trademarks, and other intellectual property.-Early years:...
.
Subsequent productions
A U.S. West Coast production, directed by Stephen Moorer
Stephen Moorer
Stephen Moorer is a stage actor, director and producer based on the Central California Coast. He founded the only year-round professional theatre in Monterey County, GroveMont Theatre in 1982, renaming the non-profit organization Pacific Repertory Theatre in 1994, when the group acquired the...
and starring Travis Poelle, opened on June 6, 2003, at the Golden Bough Playhouse
Pacific Repertory Theatre
The Pacific Repertory Theatre is a non-profit California corporation, based in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, that produces theatrical productions and events, including the annual Carmel Shake-speare Festival, and is the only year-round professional Equity theatre in the Central California Coast...
in Carmel
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Carmel-by-the-Sea, often called simply Carmel, is a small city in Monterey County, California, United States, founded in 1902 and incorporated in 1916. Situated on the Monterey Peninsula, the town is known for its natural scenery and rich artistic history...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, moving to San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
on August 13, playing at the San Jose Stage. The success of the production led to a revival, beginning on June 8, 2004, at the Post St. Theatre in San Francisco, garnering positive reviews and Bay Area Critics' awards for Best Musical, Best Ensemble, and Best Actor in a Musical (Travis Poelle). Maria Elena Holly
Maria Elena Holly
María Elena Holly is the widow of rock and roll pioneer Buddy Holly. She owns the rights to his name, image, trademarks, and other intellectual property.-Early years:...
attended the show at each location, dancing onstage with the cast at curtain call. This production later returned to Carmel for several runs, most recently in 2008.
The West End London revival opened on August 3, 2007, at The Duchess Theatre
Duchess Theatre
The Duchess Theatre is a West End theatre in the City of Westminster, London, located in Catherine Street, near Aldwych.The theatre opened on 25 November 1929 and is one of the smallest 'proscenium arched' West End theatres. It has 479 seats on two levels....
where it ran until 7 February 2009 ensuring that the 50th Anniversary of Holly's death was honoured on 3 February with a special performance incorporating several new numbers for that one night. This version, directed again by Rob Bettinson, is scaled down from its previous incarnations, and the role of Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
was equally shared by Dean Elliott and Matthew Wycliffe, who played the role in the 2007 UK touring company. Ritchie Valens was played by Puerto Rican actor Miguel Angel, and J.P. Richardson (aka The Big Bopper
The Big Bopper
Jiles Perry "J. P." Richardson, Jr. also commonly known as The Big Bopper, was an American disc jockey, singer, and songwriter whose big voice and exuberant personality made him an early rock and roll star...
) by actor Lee Ormsby.
The 50th Anniversary Tour played concurrently across the UK and starred Oliver Seymour-Marsh and Glen Joseph as Buddy, with Chris Redmond and Dan Graham as the Crickets
The Crickets
The Crickets are a rock & roll band from Lubbock, Texas, formed by singer/songwriter Buddy Holly in the 1950s. Their first hit record was "That'll Be the Day", released in 1957....
.
Wycliffe and Elliott later reprised their role as Buddy in Lubbock
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
- Buddy Holly's hometown - in 2009, in a production staged by Lubbock Moonlight Musicals .
To commemorate 50 years since the Day the Music Died
The Day the Music Died
On February 3, 1959, a small-plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, killed three American rock and roll pioneers: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, as well as the pilot, Roger Peterson. The day was later called The Day the Music Died by Don McLean, in his song...
, an Australian tour was also mounted, opening at Star City
Star City Casino
The Star Sydney Casino & Hotel in Pyrmont, Sydney, is the second largest casino in Australia after rival Melbourne's Crown Casino. Overlooking Darling Harbour, The Star Sydney Casino features two gaming floors, eight bars, seven restaurants, 351 hotel rooms and 130 serviced and privately owned...
's Lyric Theatre
Lyric Theatre, Sydney
Lyric Theatre, Sydney, Australia, is part of The Star Casino. It plays host to large scale musicals, theatre productions, opera and ballet.The Lyric Theatre was home to the world premier of Priscilla Queen of the Desert - the Musical....
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
on February 3, 2009, and starring Scott Cameron
Scott Cameron
Scott Cameron is an Olympic swimmer from New Zealand. He swam for New Zealand at the 1996 Olympics.Alongside Trent Bray, John Davis and Danyon Loader he was part of the bronze medal winning 4x200m freestyle relay team at the 1998 Commonwealth Games.-References:...
as Buddy, Luke Tonkin
Luke Tonkin
Luke Tonkin is an Australian actor, who made his professional musical theatre debut in the Helpmann nominated children's musical My Grandma Lived in Gooligulch and toured the show nationally and playing the role of the Big Bopper in the Australian tour of Buddy - The Buddy Holly StoryLuke Tonkin...
as the Big Bopper and Flip Simmons
Flip Simmons
Flip Simmons is an Australian actor and musician. He is a graduate of Brent Street School of Performing Arts.He has performed with artists such as George Benson, John Farnham, Delta Goodrem, Natalie Bassingthwaighte and the Rogue Traders, Christine Anu, Paulini, Sharon and Christine Muscat , Rob...
as Ritchie Valens
Ritchie Valens
Ritchie Valens was a Mexican-American singer, songwriter and guitarist....
. In attendance at the opening night were Bob Montgomery and Peggy Sue
Peggy Sue
"Peggy Sue" is a rock and roll song written by Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison, and Norman Petty, and originally performed, recorded and released as a single by Buddy Holly in early July of 1957. The Crickets are not mentioned on the single but both Joe B. Mauldin and Jerry Allison are known to be...
Gerron.
The first UK fringe production Upstairs at the Gatehouse
Upstairs at The Gatehouse
Upstairs at The Gatehouse is a pub theatre in Highgate in the London Borough of Camden.The venue is a refurbished 1895 auditorium, upstairs from the Gatehouse pub, that has served over the years as a music hall, cinema, Masonic lodge, and a jazz and folk music club that once hosted a performance by...
was produced by Ovation Theatres in spring 2010, featuring Roger Rowley as Buddy Holly (who went on to share the lead role in the 2011 UK tour) and Jos Slovick (Spring Awakening) as Ritchie Valens.
"Buddy", as the show is often abbreviated to, is currently touring the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 2011, with Buddy being played by both Glen Joseph and Roger Rowley, with Steve Dorsett as the Big Bopper and Miguel Angel as Ritchie Valens.
Characters
- Buddy HollyBuddy HollyCharles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
- Hipockets Duncan
- Joe B. MauldinJoe B. MauldinJoe Benson Mauldin, Jr. is ranked among the top rock bassists and became a recording engineer at Gold Star Studios, the Los Angeles studio that became the hit factory for Phil Spector, Brian Wilson and other major 1960s rock performers...
- Jerry AllisonJerry AllisonJ.I. Allison is an American musician, best known for being the drummer for The Crickets and co-writer of their Buddy Holly hit "Peggy Sue"....
- Norman PettyNorman PettyNorman Petty was an American musician, songwriter, and pioneer record producer who helped shape modern popular music, including pop and rock....
- Vi Petty
- Tommy AllsupTommy AllsupTommy Allsup is an American musician.He worked with entertainers such as Buddy Holly and Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys...
, the 'fourth Cricket'
- Maria Elena SantiagoMaria Elena HollyMaría Elena Holly is the widow of rock and roll pioneer Buddy Holly. She owns the rights to his name, image, trademarks, and other intellectual property.-Early years:...
- The Big BopperThe Big BopperJiles Perry "J. P." Richardson, Jr. also commonly known as The Big Bopper, was an American disc jockey, singer, and songwriter whose big voice and exuberant personality made him an early rock and roll star...
- Ritchie ValensRitchie ValensRitchie Valens was a Mexican-American singer, songwriter and guitarist....
- Dion DiMucciDion DiMucciDion Francis DiMucci , better known as Dion, is an American singer-songwriter whose work has incorporated elements of doo-wop, pop oldies music, rock and R&B styles....
- Niki SullivanNiki SullivanNiki M. Sullivan was an American rock and roll guitar player, born in South Gate, California. He was one of the three original members of Buddy Holly's backing group, The Crickets. Though he lost interest within a year or two of his involvement, his guitar playing was an integral part of Holly's...
- Shirley, Peggy Sue, Mary Lou Sokoloff, Maria Elena's Aunt, Clear Lake MC, Decca Producer, Cindy, Murray Deutch, Jack Daw, Performers at the Apollo, DJs, sound engineers, session musicians, Hayriders, etc.
Synopsis
In Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
, 19 year old Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
is an up and coming country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
. He and his two friends, Joe and Jerry (The Crickets
The Crickets
The Crickets are a rock & roll band from Lubbock, Texas, formed by singer/songwriter Buddy Holly in the 1950s. Their first hit record was "That'll Be the Day", released in 1957....
), want to experiment with the new and controversial style of music called rock 'n roll. They struggle for a time in Texas and then in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, where producers want Buddy to record country and western music, ignoring Buddy's pleas to "do it his way". The escalating argument almost results in a fist fight between Buddy and the Decca producer, thus ending Buddy's Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
relationship. Hipockets Duncan, a local DJ and friend of Buddy's, knowing that Buddy is frustrated, puts him in contact with an up and coming Producer who will let him play "his music, his way."
A contract with pioneering record producer Norman Petty
Norman Petty
Norman Petty was an American musician, songwriter, and pioneer record producer who helped shape modern popular music, including pop and rock....
results in a string of hits, including the 1957 hits "That'll Be the Day
That'll Be the Day
"That'll Be the Day" is a song written by Buddy Holly and Jerry Allison and recorded by various artists including The Crickets and Linda Ronstadt. It was also the first song to be recorded by The Quarrymen, the skiffle group that subsequently became The Beatles...
" and "Peggy Sue
Peggy Sue
"Peggy Sue" is a rock and roll song written by Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison, and Norman Petty, and originally performed, recorded and released as a single by Buddy Holly in early July of 1957. The Crickets are not mentioned on the single but both Joe B. Mauldin and Jerry Allison are known to be...
" (the latter a last-minute change of title from "Cindy Lou" at the behest of the group's drummer). The group then appears at the Apollo Theater
Apollo Theater
The Apollo Theater in New York City is one of the most famous, and older, music halls in the United States, and the most famous club associated almost exclusively with Black performers...
in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
(where theater musicians and audience are mistakenly expecting a black
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
group), resulting in The Crickets being the first white group to perform there, where they are enthusiastically received.
Act II
Following these successes, The Crickets begin to record in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where Buddy meets and impulsively marries Puerto Rican
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
record publisher receptionist Maria Elena Santiago
Maria Elena Holly
María Elena Holly is the widow of rock and roll pioneer Buddy Holly. She owns the rights to his name, image, trademarks, and other intellectual property.-Early years:...
.
After a break-up with the Crickets, Buddy starts a solo career, leading to his being signed as one of the headliners on the 1959 "Winter Dance Party". Fed up with the terrible Midwestern
Midwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
weather and tired of traveling by tour bus, 22-year-old Holly breaks a promise to his pregnant wife not to fly. Following a February 2, 1959 concert at the Surf Ballroom
Surf Ballroom
The Surf Ballroom is a Historic Rock and Roll Landmark at 460 North Shore Drive, Clear Lake, Iowa. The Surf is closely associated with The Day the Music Died - early rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson gave their last performances at the Surf on...
in Clear Lake, Iowa
Clear Lake, Iowa
Clear Lake is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 8,161 at the 2000 census. The city is named for the large lake on which it is located. It is the home of a number of marinas, state parks and tourism-related businesses. Clear Lake is also a major stop on Interstate...
, he and two other stars, the Big Bopper
The Big Bopper
Jiles Perry "J. P." Richardson, Jr. also commonly known as The Big Bopper, was an American disc jockey, singer, and songwriter whose big voice and exuberant personality made him an early rock and roll star...
and young Ritchie Valens
Ritchie Valens
Ritchie Valens was a Mexican-American singer, songwriter and guitarist....
(a last minute replacement for another musician), depart on a small plane during a blizzard, a fateful decision that places them in musical history books in an unexpected and tragic way.
Song list
Act I- Rose of Texas (Music and Lyrics By Paul Jury)
- Flower of My Heart (Music and Lyrics By Paul Jury)
- Rip It Up (UK version) (Music and Lyrics By Robert Blackwell and John Marascalco) /Ready Teddy (U.S. version) (Music and Lyrics By Robert Blackwell and John Marascalco)
- Changing All Those Changes (Music and Lyrics By Buddy Holly)
- That'll Be The DayThat'll Be the Day"That'll Be the Day" is a song written by Buddy Holly and Jerry Allison and recorded by various artists including The Crickets and Linda Ronstadt. It was also the first song to be recorded by The Quarrymen, the skiffle group that subsequently became The Beatles...
(Music and Lyrics By Norman PettyNorman PettyNorman Petty was an American musician, songwriter, and pioneer record producer who helped shape modern popular music, including pop and rock....
, Jerry Allison, and Buddy Holly) - Brown Eyed Handsome Man (Music and Lyrics By Chuck BerryChuck BerryCharles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
) - EverydayEveryday (Buddy Holly song)"Everyday" is a song written by Buddy Holly and Norman Petty, recorded by Buddy Holly and the Crickets on May 29, 1957 and released on September 20, 1957 as the B-side to "Peggy Sue". On the original single the Crickets are not mentioned, but it is known that Holly plays acoustic guitar; drummer...
(Music and Lyrics By Charles Hardin (Buddy Holly) and Norman Petty) - Shout (UK tour) (Music and Lyrics By Kelly Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley)
- Good Time (U.S. version) (Music and Lyrics By Paul Jury)
- Party (Music and Lyrics By Paul Jury)
- Not Fade AwayNot Fade Away (song)"Not Fade Away" is a song credited to Buddy Holly and Norman Petty and first recorded by Holly's band The Crickets in Clovis, New Mexico, on May 27, 1957...
(Music and Lyrics By Charles Hardin and Norman Petty) - Peggy SuePeggy Sue"Peggy Sue" is a rock and roll song written by Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison, and Norman Petty, and originally performed, recorded and released as a single by Buddy Holly in early July of 1957. The Crickets are not mentioned on the single but both Joe B. Mauldin and Jerry Allison are known to be...
(Music and Lyrics By Norman Petty, Jerry Allison, and Buddy Holly) - Words Of Love (Music and Lyrics by Buddy Holly)
- Oh, Boy (Music and Lyrics By Norman Petty and Bill Tilghman)
Act II
- Think It Over (Music and Lyrics By Jerry Allison, Norman Petty, and Buddy Holly)
- True Love Ways (Music and Lyrics By Norman Petty and Buddy Holly)
- Star Spangled Banner
- Why Do Fools Fall in LoveWhy Do Fools Fall in Love (song)"Why Do Fools Fall in Love" is a song that was originally a hit for early New York City-based rock and roll group Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers in 1956. It reached No. 1 on the R&B chart, No. 6 on Billboards Pop Singles chart, and number one on the UK Singles Chart...
(Music and Lyrics By Frankie LymonFrankie LymonFranklin Joseph "Frankie" Lymon was an American rock and roll/rhythm and blues singer and songwriter, best known as the boy soprano lead singer of a New York City-based early rock and roll group, The Teenagers. The group was composed of five boys, all in their early to mid teens...
and Morris LevyMorris LevyMorris Levy was an American music industry executive, best known as the founder and owner of Roulette Records...
) - Chantilly LaceChantilly Lace (song)"Chantilly Lace" is the name of a rock and roll song, written and originally performed by The Big Bopper in 1958. The Co-writers of the song were Jerry Foster and Bill Rice...
(Music and Lyrics By J. P. Richardson) - Maybe Baby (Music and Lyrics By Norman Petty and Buddy Holly)
- Peggy Sue Got Married (Music and Lyrics by Buddy Holly)
- Heartbeat (Music and Lyrics By Norman Petty and Bob MontgomeryBob Montgomery (musician)Bob Montgomery is an American singer, songwriter, and music producer/publisher.Montgomery was born in Lampasas, Texas. He was a songwriting partner and best friend of Buddy Holly, performing together as the duo "Buddy and Bob" while teenagers in high school...
) - La BambaLa Bamba (song)"La Bamba" is a Mexican folk song, originally from the state of Veracruz, best known from a 1958 adaptation by Ritchie Valens, a top 40 hit in the U.S. charts and one of early rock and roll's best-known songs...
(Traditional, Adapted by Ritchie Valens) - Raining in My HeartRaining in My Heart"Raining in My Heart" is a popular rock and roll ballad recorded by Buddy Holly with the orchestral backing by Dick Jacobs. The music and lyrics are written by the songwriting team of Felice Bryant and Boudleaux Bryant. It was released as a single on Coral Records in 1959, peaking at #88 on the...
(Music and Lyrics By Felice Bryant and Boudleaux Bryant) - It Doesn't Matter AnymoreIt Doesn't Matter Anymore"It Doesn't Matter Anymore" is a pop ballad written by Paul Anka and recorded by Buddy Holly in 1958. The song reached #13 as a posthumous hit on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in early 1959 shortly after Holly was killed in a plane crash on February 3, 1959. The single was a two-sided hit, backed...
(Music and Lyrics By Paul AnkaPaul AnkaPaul Albert Anka, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actor.Anka first became famous as a teen idol in the late 1950s and 1960s with hit songs like "Diana'", "Lonely Boy", and "Put Your Head on My Shoulder"...
) - Rave OnRave On"Rave On" is a 1958 song written by Sonny West, Bill Tilghman and Norman Petty, first recorded by Sonny West . It was also recorded by Buddy Holly, and was one of his last hits during his lifetime...
(Music and Lyrics By Norman Petty and Bill Tilghman) - Johnny B. GoodeJohnny B. Goode"Johnny B. Goode" is a 1958 rock and roll song written and originally performed by American musician Chuck Berry. The song was a major hit among both black and white audiences peaking at #2 on Billboard magazine's Hot R&B Sides chart and #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.The song is one of Chuck Berry's...
(Music and Lyrics By Chuck BerryChuck BerryCharles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
) - Oh, Boy (encore) (Music and Lyrics By Norman Petty and Bill Tilghman)
Cast list
West End Revival- Buddy Holly - Matthew Wycliffe
- Buddy Holly - Dean Elliott
- Joe B Mauldin - Greg Last
- Jerry Allison - Nick Sayce
- HiPockets Duncan - Mike Lloyd
- Norman Petty - Sean Needham
- Vi Petty - Kerry James
- The Big Bopper & Decca Producer - Lee Ormsby
- Ritchie Valens - Miguel Angel
- Murray Deutch & Clearlake MC - Gavin Barnes
- Apollo DJ - Chris Grahamson
- Mary Lou Sokoloff & Shirley - Wendy Paver
- Apollo Performer - Hayley Berkeley
- Musician - John Banister
- Swing - Joanna Heap
Awards and Nominations
London Production- Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical 1991 (nominee)
- Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Performance of the Year by an Actor in a Musical 1991 (Hipp, nominee)
- Manchester Evening NewsManchester Evening NewsThe Manchester Evening News is a regional daily newspaper covering Greater Manchester in the United Kingdom. It is published every day except Sunday and is owned by Trinity Mirror plc following its sale by Guardian Media Group in early 2010. It has an average daily circulation of 90,973 copies...
Best Actor in a Musical and Best Touring Musical (nominees) 1992 - What's On Stage Theatregoers Awards Best Musical Revival 2008 (nominee)
Broadway Production
- Tony AwardTony AwardThe Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
for Best Actor in a Musical (Hipp, nominee) - Drama Desk AwardDrama Desk AwardThe Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
for Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Hipp, nominee) - Theatre World AwardTheatre World AwardThe Theatre World Award, first awarded for the 1945-46 season, is an American honor presented annually to actors and actresses in recognition of an outstanding New York City stage debut performance, either on Broadway or off-Broadway.-History:...
(Hipp, winner)