Soon is a rock opera

Rock opera

A rock opera is a work of rock music that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections in the manner of opera. A rock opera differs from a conventional rock album, which usually includes songs that are not unified by a common theme or narrative. More recent developments include...

 with a music by Joseph M. Kookolis and Scott Fagan, lyrics by Fagan, and a book by Martin Duberman

Martin Duberman

Martin Bauml Duberman is an American historian, playwright, and gay-rights activist. He is Professor of History Emeritus at Lehman College and the Graduate School of the City University of New York and was the founder of the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies at the CUNY Graduate School...

 and Robert Greenwald

Robert Greenwald

Robert Greenwald is an American film director, film producer, and political activist.-Early life:Greenwald was born and raised in New York City, the son of Ruth and Harold Greenwald. He attended the city's High School of Performing Arts...

. It is based on a story by Fagan and Kookolis.

The story is about a group of young musicians achieve success in New York City, but pay the price. It was an attack on the record industry, which apparently caused Fagan and Kookolis to be blacklisted.

Act I

• Let the World Begin Again
• In Your Hands
• I See the Light/ Gentle Sighs
• Roll Out the Morning
• Everybody's Running
• Henry Is Where It's At
• Music, Music
• Glad to Know Ya
• Rita Cheeta
• Henry's Dream Theme
• To Touch the Sky
• Everybody's Running (Reprise)
• Marketing, Marketing
• Sweet Henry Loves You
• One More Time
• Straight
• Wait

Act II

Song List

• Faces, Names and Places
• Annie's Thing
• Doing the High
• Soon
• Country Store Living
• What's Gonna Happen to Me
• On the Charts
• Molecules
• So Much That I Know
• Child of Sympathy
• Frustration
• Doing the High (Reprise)
• It Won't Be Long

Productions

The 1971 Broadway show opened on January 12 after 21 previews at the Walter Kerr Theatre

Ritz Theatre

Ritz Theatre or Ritz Theater is the name of several facilities in the United States:*Ritz Theatre , Duval County, Florida*Wayne Densch Performing Arts Center, Sanford, Seminole County, Florida, formerly the Ritz Theater, the Milane Theatre, and the Helen Stairs Theatre*Ritz Theatre *Ritz Theater ,...

, and closed after three performances on January 13.

The show was musically directed by Louis St. Louis

Louis St. Louis

Louis St. Louis is an American songwriter, famous for songs written for Grease, particularly the song "Sandy" , which was a hit for John Travolta.-Works:*Jesus Christ Superstar GOSPEL - Arranger...

, set design Kert F. Lundell, costume design David Chapman, lighting design Jules Fisher

Jules Fisher

Jules Fisher is a lighting designer and producer. He is credited with lighting designs for more than 200 productions over the course of his 45 year career in Broadway and off-Broadway shows, as well extensive work in film, ballet, opera, television, and rock and roll concert tours...

, audio design Jack Shearing, vocal arrangements by Louis and Jacqueline Penn, orchestrations by Howard Wyeth

Howard Wyeth

Howard Pyle Wyeth , also known as Howie Wyeth, was an American drummer and pianist. Wyeth is remembered for work with the saxophonist James Moody, the rockabilly singer Robert Gordon, the electric guitarist Link Wray, the rhythm and blues singer Don Covay, and the folk singer Christine Lavin...

 and Jon Huston, additional staging by Gerald Freedman

Gerald Freedman

Gerald Freedman is an American theatre director, librettist, and lyricist, and a college dean.Born in Lorain, Ohio, Freedman was educated at Northwestern University, where he received both BA and MA degrees. He began his career as assistant director of such projects as Bells Are Ringing, West Side...

, and choreography by Fred Benjamin. The band included Louis on piano, Richard Apuzzo on guitar and electric guitar, Adam Ippolito on organ and tuba, John Trivers

John Trivers

John Trivers is an American songwriter and musician, the recipient of gold and platinum records for his involvement with Blue Öyster Cult and Tina Turner, and the co-writer with his wife and partner Elizabeth Myers of several popular themes for commercials, television programs, and film scores.-...

 fender bass and guitar, and Tim Case on drums.

The original cast featured Peter Allen

Peter Allen

Peter Allen was an Australian songwriter and entertainer. His songs were made popular by many recording artists, including Elkie Brooks, Melissa Manchester and Olivia Newton-John, with one, Arthur's Theme, winning an Academy Award in 1981...

 (Henry), Dennis Belline (Wilson Wilson), Barry Bostwick

Barry Bostwick

Barry Knapp Bostwick is an American actor and singer. He is known for playing Brad Majors in the 1975 cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, replacing Peter Scolari as Mr. Tyler in the sitcom What I Like About You, and playing mayor Randall Winston in the sitcom Spin City...

 (Kelly), Pendleton Brown (Psychedelic Necktie), Angus Cairns (Record Company Executive), Joseph Campbell Butler

Joseph Campbell Butler

Joseph Campbell Butler is a founding member of The Lovin' Spoonful.-Biography:Joe Butler was born 16 September 1941, in Long Island, New York....

 (Neil), Nell Carter

Nell Carter

Nell Carter was an American singer, and film, stage, and television actress. She won a Tony Award for her performance in the Broadway musical Ain't Misbehavin, as well as an Emmy Award for her reprisal of the role on television...

 (Sharon), Paul Eichel (Record Company Executive), Leata Galloway (Faith), Richard Gere

Richard Gere

Richard Tiffany Gere is an American actor. He began acting in the 1970s, playing a supporting role in Looking for Mr. Goodbar, and a starring role in Days of Heaven. He came to prominence in 1980 for his role in the film American Gigolo, which established him as a leading man and a sex symbol...

 (Michael), Marta Heflin (Annie), Del Hinkley (Record Company Executive), Michael Jason (Henry's Friend), Tony Middleton

Tony Middleton (singer)

Tony Middleton was born June 26, 1934. Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia and in the mid-1950s, Middleton moved to New York with his mother. He surpassed others with his skills in various sports and started to box as an amateur in his late 20s...

 (Songwriter), John C. Nelson (Henry's Friend), Pamela Pentony (Rita), Marion Ramsey

Marion Ramsey

Marion Ramsey in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is an American actress. She was a regular on the series Cos but is best known for her role as the timid Officer Laverne Hooks in the Police Academy movies...

 (Hope), Vicki Sue Robinson

Vicki Sue Robinson

Vicki Sue Robinson was an American theatre and film actress and singer, closely associated with the disco era of late 1970s pop music; she is most famous for her 1976 hit, "Turn the Beat Around."-Early life and career:...

 (Charity), Larry Spinelli (Record Company Executive), and Singer Williams (Henry's Friend).

Reception

Martin Brookspan said "The tide of Rock musicals reaches it's high water mark in Soon… an inventive, imaginative, brilliantly realized creation." Emory Lewis said "Soon is a hallelujah blessing, glorious music easily the best score of the season… I loved every rocking minute." John Schubeck

John Schubeck

John Schubeck was an American television reporter and anchor, and one of the few to anchor newscasts on all three network owned-and-operated stations in one major market....

said "Staggering shots of meaning. Dynamite in so many ways."