Late Nite Comic
Encyclopedia
Late Night Comic was a short-lived stage musical written by playwright Allan Knee and composer/lyricist Brian Gari, which ran for 17 performances on Broadway in 1987.
Gari's score incorporated several songs that he had composed many years earlier, including one entitled 'The best in the business', which he had written (about the subject of music publishers) as far back as 1972. The title song, 'Late Nite Comic', had been written in 1977 for an actual stand-up comic, Larry Cobb, whom Gari knew when they both performed at New York's Comic Strip
in the late 1970s.
, whose previous Broadway musical credits included notable hits such as Purlie
and Shenandoah
as well as flops such as Angel and Amen Corner
. The producer was 25-year-old Rory Rosegarten, who had an interest in comedy and, although he had recently served as executive producer for a comedy record by David Kolin
, had never produced a Broadway musical before (and never would again). It was reported that Rosegarten raised the full production costs of $1.1 million in a single day, when, armed with a copy of the demo tape of the score, he visited the office of an anonymous benefactor (described by Rosegarten only as a “wealthy financier”) who promptly agreed to finance the entire production.
For the title role of stand-up comic David Ackerman, the director and producer sought either a stand-up comic who could sing and dance, or an actor who could sing and be funny – someone, as one reported suggested, like Robert Lindsay
or Jim Dale
. When auditions were held in July 1987 (appropriately enough, at the Comic Strip on 81st Street), more than 400 comedians turned up. The part of David was duly filled by Robert LuPone (then best known as Zach from A Chorus Line
), with Teresa Tracy cast as his dancer girlfriend, Gabrielle. The remaining minor roles – including various friends, club owners, hookers and nightclub personnel – were performed by an ensemble of eleven that included future cabaret artiste Michael McAssey.
In an effort to reduce costs, the show premiered at the Garde Theater in New London, Connecticut, on September 9, 1987. At that time, out-of-town tryouts for Broadway-bound musicals were no longer commonplace (as they had been in the 1950s and '60s), but the American Musical Theater,a non-profit organization based in New London's Garde Theater, was hoping to reinstate the practice to revitalize theatre in New York. During the eleven days that Late Nite Comic played in New London, numerous major revisions were made to the show. The original opening number, 'Stand up' was moved to later in the first act; another song, 'When I am movin' was expanded, and the lyrics to several others were rewritten. Towards the end of the New London run, the song 'Nothing's changing this love' was replaced by 'Having Someone', although the latter would not be orchestrated until the show reached New York. Further changes took place during rehearsals at 890 Broadway, including the excision of a song entitled 'I live in L.A.'. After previews opened on October 2, the title song was cut from the show, only to be reinstated, at Gari's strong insistence, on the night of the official Broadway opening. By that time, director Philip Rose (who suggested many of the revisions) had disassociated himself from the production, and requested that his name be removed from the credits.
The show opened at the Ritz Theatre on October 15, 1987, and closed two days later after only four performances. An unflattering review in the New York Times asserted that: Late Nite Comic has no sense of direction. It also has no sense of book or score. In the course of the show, the hero moves all the way from the Krazy Korn Klub to a tinseled stage in Las Vegas. We are asked to believe that in his rise to fame he has sharpened his comedy act and earned his success. Although the jokes are just as dreadful in the end as in the beginning, when he becomes a success more people on stage laugh at him. This is a musical comedy about a stand-up comic in which the hero tells not a single funny joke.'
Act 2
Cut Songs
, specialised in preserving the scores of short-lived or otherwise little-known stage musicals. Gari proposed a studio cast recording in which, as he later stated in the sleeve notes, 'I will try to present the songs as they were originally written and intended'. The album was co-produced by Brian Gari and producer/arranger Lee Shapiro, a former member of Frankie Valli's Four Seasons. Shapiro also provided new orchestrations for the recording, in the absence of the show's original arranger, Larry Hochman
. Intended as a studio recording rather than an original cast album, the songs were mostly performed by Gari himself, along with Julie Budd, Robin Kaiser and Michael McAssey (who had been in the ensemble of the ill-fated Broadway production). The recording sessions took place in March 1988 in Lee Shapiro's Synclavier Studios in New York City. The LP was released later that year, and subsequently re-issued on compact disc (on the same label) in 1989.
In 1992, Brian Gari released a solo album, also on the Original Cast label, entitled Songs from Future Musicals, which included three songs that had been cut from the Broadway production of Late Nite Comic.
In 2007, the twentieth anniversary of the original Broadway production was marked by the release of a new studio recording performed by an all-star cast that included Tony Roberts
, Rupert Holmes
, Chip Zien
, Karen Ziemba
, Liz Callaway
and Jason Graae
. This recording used Larry Hochman's original orchestrations, and included several cut songs amongst 23 total tracks.
Origins
In 1976, singer-songwriter Brian Gari wrote a song entitled “Dance”, inspired by a five-year relationship that he had with a ballet dancer. As he later told a journalist: “'she left dancing, married someone else, had a kid and lives in Forest Hills - but I haven't gotten her out of my heart". Two years later, Gari came up with the idea of developing the theme into a semi-autobiographical stage musical, concentrating on the relationship between a songwriter, a ballet dancer, and a struggling stand-up comedian who was the songwriter's best friend. Gari wrote the entire first act himself, but the oprem languished until 1984, when he met an agent who liked the songs and introduced him to playwright Allan Knee as a potential collaborator. Within two years, the show had been substantially re-written, and now concentrated on the relationship between a stand-up comic and a dancer.Gari's score incorporated several songs that he had composed many years earlier, including one entitled 'The best in the business', which he had written (about the subject of music publishers) as far back as 1972. The title song, 'Late Nite Comic', had been written in 1977 for an actual stand-up comic, Larry Cobb, whom Gari knew when they both performed at New York's Comic Strip
Comic Strip Live
The Comic Strip Live is the oldest stand-up comedy showcase club in New York City and the world. Located at 1568 Second Avenue .-Beginnings:...
in the late 1970s.
Production
Dissatisfied with his agent's subsequent lack of enthusiasm, Gari took control of the project himself. He later recalled that, 'like a fairy tale', the first director and the first producer that he approached both agreed to become involved. The former was Philip RosePhilip Rose (theatrical producer)
Philip Rose was a Broadway theatrical producer of such productions as A Raisin in the Sun, The Owl and the Pussycat, Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?, Purlie, and Shenandoah...
, whose previous Broadway musical credits included notable hits such as Purlie
Purlie
Purlie is a musical with a book by Ossie Davis, Philip Rose, and Peter Udell, lyrics by Udell, and music by Gary Geld. It is based on Davis' 1961 play Purlie Victorious, which was later made into the 1963 film Gone Are the Days! and which included all of the original Broadway cast, including Ruby...
and Shenandoah
Shenandoah
Shenandoah is a Native American word. It has several different meanings including: "daughter of the stars" and "deer in the woods".Shenandoah may also refer to the following:-United States:Virginia and West Virginia...
as well as flops such as Angel and Amen Corner
Amen Corner (musical)
Amen Corner is a musical with a book by Philip Rose and Peter Udell, lyrics by Udell, and music by Garry Sherman, based on the 1965 play of the same title by James Baldwin...
. The producer was 25-year-old Rory Rosegarten, who had an interest in comedy and, although he had recently served as executive producer for a comedy record by David Kolin
David Kolin
David Kolin , better known as Dr. Dave, is a TV and radio veteran and former orthodontist who first became an on-air talent on the show “Made In New York” with Matt Lauer and Jill Rappaport. Kolin is known for his radio and comedy companies he created: DB Communications and United Stations Radio...
, had never produced a Broadway musical before (and never would again). It was reported that Rosegarten raised the full production costs of $1.1 million in a single day, when, armed with a copy of the demo tape of the score, he visited the office of an anonymous benefactor (described by Rosegarten only as a “wealthy financier”) who promptly agreed to finance the entire production.
For the title role of stand-up comic David Ackerman, the director and producer sought either a stand-up comic who could sing and dance, or an actor who could sing and be funny – someone, as one reported suggested, like Robert Lindsay
Robert Lindsay (actor)
Robert Lindsay is an English actor who is best known for his television work, especially his roles of Wolfie Smith in Citizen Smith, Michael Murray in G.B.H., Captain Sir Edward Pellew in Hornblower and Ben Harper in My Family which has been on television screens since 2000.-Early life:Lindsay was...
or Jim Dale
Jim Dale
Jim Dale, MBE is an English actor, voice artist, singer and songwriter. He is best known in the United Kingdom for his many appearances in the Carry On series of films and in the US for narrating the Harry Potter audiobook series, for which he received two Grammy Awards, and the ABC series Pushing...
. When auditions were held in July 1987 (appropriately enough, at the Comic Strip on 81st Street), more than 400 comedians turned up. The part of David was duly filled by Robert LuPone (then best known as Zach from A Chorus Line
A Chorus Line
A Chorus Line is a 1975 musical about Broadway dancers auditioning for spots on a chorus line. The book was authored by James Kirkwood, Jr. and Nicholas Dante, lyrics were written by Edward Kleban, and music was composed by Marvin Hamlisch....
), with Teresa Tracy cast as his dancer girlfriend, Gabrielle. The remaining minor roles – including various friends, club owners, hookers and nightclub personnel – were performed by an ensemble of eleven that included future cabaret artiste Michael McAssey.
In an effort to reduce costs, the show premiered at the Garde Theater in New London, Connecticut, on September 9, 1987. At that time, out-of-town tryouts for Broadway-bound musicals were no longer commonplace (as they had been in the 1950s and '60s), but the American Musical Theater,a non-profit organization based in New London's Garde Theater, was hoping to reinstate the practice to revitalize theatre in New York. During the eleven days that Late Nite Comic played in New London, numerous major revisions were made to the show. The original opening number, 'Stand up' was moved to later in the first act; another song, 'When I am movin' was expanded, and the lyrics to several others were rewritten. Towards the end of the New London run, the song 'Nothing's changing this love' was replaced by 'Having Someone', although the latter would not be orchestrated until the show reached New York. Further changes took place during rehearsals at 890 Broadway, including the excision of a song entitled 'I live in L.A.'. After previews opened on October 2, the title song was cut from the show, only to be reinstated, at Gari's strong insistence, on the night of the official Broadway opening. By that time, director Philip Rose (who suggested many of the revisions) had disassociated himself from the production, and requested that his name be removed from the credits.
The show opened at the Ritz Theatre on October 15, 1987, and closed two days later after only four performances. An unflattering review in the New York Times asserted that: Late Nite Comic has no sense of direction. It also has no sense of book or score. In the course of the show, the hero moves all the way from the Krazy Korn Klub to a tinseled stage in Las Vegas. We are asked to believe that in his rise to fame he has sharpened his comedy act and earned his success. Although the jokes are just as dreadful in the end as in the beginning, when he becomes a success more people on stage laugh at him. This is a musical comedy about a stand-up comic in which the hero tells not a single funny joke.'
Songs
Act 1- 'Gabrielle' – David
- 'The Best in the Business' – club owners
- 'Clara's Dancing School' - Gabrielle
- 'This Lady Isn't Right for Me' – David
- 'Having Someone' – David and Club Owners
- 'Stand-Up' – David
- 'The Best in the Business (Reprise)' – David
- 'Late Nite Comic' – David
- 'Stand-Up (Reprise)' – David
- 'It Had to Happen Sometime' – David and Gabrielle
- 'When I Am Movin' – Gabrielle
- 'Think Big' – David
Act 2
- 'Relax With Me, Baby' – David, Bartender and Hookers
- 'Dance' – David and Gabrielle
- 'Late Nite Comic' – David
- 'It's Such a Different World' – David, Vegas Girls and Vegas Guys
- 'It Had to Happen Sometime (Reprise)' – David and Gabrielle
- 'Gabrielle/Yvonne (Reprise)' – David
Cut Songs
- 'Nothing's changing this love' – David
- 'Obsessed' – David
- 'Gabby, are you sleeping yet?' – David
- 'David, are you sleeping yet?' – Gabrielle
- 'I live in L.A.' – Gabrielle
- 'I wonder if I'll ever be a father/mother' – David and Gabrielle
Recordings
As the Broadway production ran for only seventeen performances, it seemed unlikely that an original cast album would ever be recorded. However, Gari subsequently negotiated with record producer Bruce Yeko, whose label, Original Cast RecordsOriginal Cast (record label)
Original Cast Records is a record label based in Georgetown, Connecticut, that specialises in obscure theatre recordings, primarily cast albums from little-known Broadway, off-Broadway, off-off-Broadway and other stage productions, but also theatre-related film scores, cabaret, concert and solo...
, specialised in preserving the scores of short-lived or otherwise little-known stage musicals. Gari proposed a studio cast recording in which, as he later stated in the sleeve notes, 'I will try to present the songs as they were originally written and intended'. The album was co-produced by Brian Gari and producer/arranger Lee Shapiro, a former member of Frankie Valli's Four Seasons. Shapiro also provided new orchestrations for the recording, in the absence of the show's original arranger, Larry Hochman
Larry Hochman
Larry Hochman is an American orchestrator and composer. He has won four Emmy Awards for his original music on the TV series The Wonder Pets, and a Tony Award for his orchestrations for The Book of Mormon....
. Intended as a studio recording rather than an original cast album, the songs were mostly performed by Gari himself, along with Julie Budd, Robin Kaiser and Michael McAssey (who had been in the ensemble of the ill-fated Broadway production). The recording sessions took place in March 1988 in Lee Shapiro's Synclavier Studios in New York City. The LP was released later that year, and subsequently re-issued on compact disc (on the same label) in 1989.
In 1992, Brian Gari released a solo album, also on the Original Cast label, entitled Songs from Future Musicals, which included three songs that had been cut from the Broadway production of Late Nite Comic.
In 2007, the twentieth anniversary of the original Broadway production was marked by the release of a new studio recording performed by an all-star cast that included Tony Roberts
Tony Roberts (actor)
David Anthony "Tony" Roberts is an American actor. He is best known for his roles in several Woody Allen movies, usually cast as Allen's best friend.-Early life:...
, Rupert Holmes
Rupert Holmes
Rupert Holmes is an American-British composer, singer-songwriter, musician and author of plays, novels and stories. He is best known for his number one pop hit "Escape " and the song "Him", which reached the number 6 position on the Hot 100 U.S. pop chart in 1980...
, Chip Zien
Chip Zien
Chip Zien is an American actor. He is best known for playing the lead role of the Baker in the original Broadway production of Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim...
, Karen Ziemba
Karen Ziemba
Karen Ziemba is an American actress, singer and dancer, best known for her work in musical theatre.-Biography:Ziemba was born in St. Joseph, Michigan, and went on to attend the University of Akron , where she studied dance and joined the Ohio Ballet in her sophomore year.Her Broadway debut was in...
, Liz Callaway
Liz Callaway
Liz Callaway is an American actress and singer, famous for providing the singing voices of many female characters in films, such as Anya in Anastasia, Odette in The Swan Princess, and Kiara in The Lion King II:Simba's Pride....
and Jason Graae
Jason Graae
Jason Graae is an American actor noted for his musical theater performances but with a varied career spanning Broadway, opera, television and film...
. This recording used Larry Hochman's original orchestrations, and included several cut songs amongst 23 total tracks.