Rick Besoyan
Encyclopedia
Richard Besoyan was a singer, actor, playwright, composer and director especially of operetta
and musicals
. He is best remembered for writing the successful satirical
musical Little Mary Sunshine
.
to Amos and Mabel (Madie) Besoyan, on July 2, 1924. In 1928 the family moved to Alameda, California
. Besoyan attended Lincoln School, writing his first song when he was twelve. He graduated from Alameda High School in 1942. While in High School, Besoyan and a few friends wrote and produced a musical, High and Dry. He enrolled at the University of California at Berkeley in 1942, but left during his first semester to volunteer for the army, serving in Europe for three years in the Special Services Division. While overseas, Besoyan attended the London School of Music, studying piano.
Upon his return, Besoyan joined the Bredon-Savoy Light Opera Company, where he performed the role of Ko-Ko in Gilbert and Sullivan
's The Mikado
. Besoyan left the company, after two years, moving to New York. He studied at the American Theater Wing, and then taught musical comedy at Stella Adler
's Theater School.
In 1957, he had mild success with a revival of Cole Porter
's Out of this World
at Actors Playhouse. Then Jim Paul Eilers asked him to write a revue
for his nightclub
The Showplace. In Your Hat was the result. An Act II finale, titled Gems from Little Mary Sunshine, featured some of the themes later to form part of the famous musical.
Little Mary Sunshine opened Off-Broadway
in 1959, and was primarily a takeoff
of old-fashioned operetta. Besoyan won the 1959–1960 Vernon Rice Memorial Award for outstanding theatrical achievement. Besoyan wrote book, music and lyrics for two other shows. The 1963 Broadway production of The Student Gypsy or The Prince of Liederkranz, had just 22 performances. It starred Eileen Brennan
and Dom DeLuise
; however, it opened during negotiations with the musician union, and was also affected by a newspaper strike. Besoyan also wrote the 1964 off-Broadway production of Babes in the Wood starring Ruth Buzzi
, which ran for 45 performances. Neither of these shows has been recorded.
In 1966, William S. Godfrey, Mayor of Alameda, California, proclaimed September 16, "Rick Besoyan Day". In 1969 Besoyan was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
.
In 1970, Besoyan died of internal hemorrhages in Sayville, Long Island
, New York. At his death, he had just completed directing the Sayville Musical Workshop's production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
, and was writing lyrics and music for a dramatization of Paul Gallico
's Mrs. Arris Goes to Paris.
Operetta
Operetta is a genre of light opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter. It is also closely related, in English-language works, to forms of musical theatre.-Origins:...
and musicals
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
. He is best remembered for writing the successful satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
musical Little Mary Sunshine
Little Mary Sunshine
Little Mary Sunshine is a musical that parodies old-fashioned operettas and musicals. The book, music, and lyrics are by Rick Besoyan. The musical should not be confused with the 1916 silent film of the same name ....
.
Life and career
Born in Reedley, CaliforniaReedley, California
Reedley is a city in Fresno County, California, United States. Reedley is located east-southeast of Fresno, at an elevation of 348 feet . The population at the 2010 census was 24,194. Its chief economic source is agriculture, particularly fruit and vegetable cultivation. The city is dubbed as...
to Amos and Mabel (Madie) Besoyan, on July 2, 1924. In 1928 the family moved to Alameda, California
Alameda, California
Alameda is a city in Alameda County, California, United States. It is located on Alameda Island and Bay Farm Island, and is adjacent to Oakland in the San Francisco Bay. The Bay Farm Island portion of the city is adjacent to the Oakland International Airport. At the 2010 census, the city had a...
. Besoyan attended Lincoln School, writing his first song when he was twelve. He graduated from Alameda High School in 1942. While in High School, Besoyan and a few friends wrote and produced a musical, High and Dry. He enrolled at the University of California at Berkeley in 1942, but left during his first semester to volunteer for the army, serving in Europe for three years in the Special Services Division. While overseas, Besoyan attended the London School of Music, studying piano.
Upon his return, Besoyan joined the Bredon-Savoy Light Opera Company, where he performed the role of Ko-Ko in Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan
Gilbert and Sullivan refers to the Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the librettist W. S. Gilbert and the composer Arthur Sullivan . The two men collaborated on fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which H.M.S...
's The Mikado
The Mikado
The Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, their ninth of fourteen operatic collaborations...
. Besoyan left the company, after two years, moving to New York. He studied at the American Theater Wing, and then taught musical comedy at Stella Adler
Stella Adler
Stella Adler was an American actress and an acclaimed acting teacher, who founded the Stella Adler Studio of Acting in New York City and the The Stella Adler Academy of Acting in Los Angeles with long-time protege Joanne Linville, who continues to teach and furthers Adler's legacy...
's Theater School.
In 1957, he had mild success with a revival of Cole Porter
Cole Porter
Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
's Out of this World
Out of This World (musical)
Out of This World is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter, and the book by Dwight Taylor and Reginald Lawrence. The show, an adaptation of Plautus' comedy Amphitryon, debuted on Broadway in 1950.-Synopsis:...
at Actors Playhouse. Then Jim Paul Eilers asked him to write a revue
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
for his nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
The Showplace. In Your Hat was the result. An Act II finale, titled Gems from Little Mary Sunshine, featured some of the themes later to form part of the famous musical.
Little Mary Sunshine opened Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
in 1959, and was primarily a takeoff
Parody music
Parody music, or musical parody, involves changing or recycling existing musical ideas or lyrics — or copying the peculiar style of a composer or artist, or even a general style of music. Although the result is often funny, and this is the usual intent — the term "parody" in musical terms also...
of old-fashioned operetta. Besoyan won the 1959–1960 Vernon Rice Memorial Award for outstanding theatrical achievement. Besoyan wrote book, music and lyrics for two other shows. The 1963 Broadway production of The Student Gypsy or The Prince of Liederkranz, had just 22 performances. It starred Eileen Brennan
Eileen Brennan
Eileen Brennan is an American actress of film, television, and theater. Brennan is best known for her role as Doreen Lewis in Private Benjamin for which she received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She reprised the role in the TV adaption and won a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy...
and Dom DeLuise
Dom DeLuise
Dominick "Dom" DeLuise was an American actor, comedian, film director, television producer, chef, and author. He was the husband of actress Carol Arthur from 1965 until his death and the father of: actor, director, pianist, and writer Peter DeLuise; actor David DeLuise; and actor Michael DeLuise...
; however, it opened during negotiations with the musician union, and was also affected by a newspaper strike. Besoyan also wrote the 1964 off-Broadway production of Babes in the Wood starring Ruth Buzzi
Ruth Buzzi
Ruth Ann Buzzi is an American comedienne and actress of theatre, film, and television. She is especially known for her performances on the comedy-variety show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In from 1968 to 1973.-Early life:...
, which ran for 45 performances. Neither of these shows has been recorded.
In 1966, William S. Godfrey, Mayor of Alameda, California, proclaimed September 16, "Rick Besoyan Day". In 1969 Besoyan was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Songwriters Hall of Fame is an arm of the National Academy of Popular Music. It was founded in 1969 by songwriter Johnny Mercer and music publishers Abe Olman and Howie Richmond. The goal is to create a museum but as of April, 2008, the means do not yet exist and so instead it is an online...
.
In 1970, Besoyan died of internal hemorrhages in Sayville, Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
, New York. At his death, he had just completed directing the Sayville Musical Workshop's production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is a musical with music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock, and Willie Gilbert, based on Shepherd Mead's 1952 book of the same name....
, and was writing lyrics and music for a dramatization of Paul Gallico
Paul Gallico
Paul William Gallico was a successful American novelist, short story and sports writer. Many of his works were adapted for motion pictures...
's Mrs. Arris Goes to Paris.