The Race to Urga
Encyclopedia
The Race to Urga is a musical theatre
play.
The musical started in 1968 as an adaptation of the Bertolt Brecht
play The Exception and the Rule
, with the project soon renamed to A Pray by Blecht. The theme of Brecht's play was the exploitation of capitalism
of the working class in the 1930s.
Jerome Robbins
asked John Guare
to write the adaptation. Leonard Bernstein
was to compose the music, with Stephen Sondheim intending to write the lyrics. The musical was announced for a production at Lincoln Center for January 1969, but during cast auditions Robbins left the production and it was not produced.
The show was never completed, but in April-May 1987 a workshop production was presented at the Mitzi Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center. Direction and choreography were by Jerome Robbins
.
There is no known recording of this show, although there was a demonstration recording done in 1968.
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...
play.
The musical started in 1968 as an adaptation of the Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht
Bertolt Brecht was a German poet, playwright, and theatre director.An influential theatre practitioner of the 20th century, Brecht made equally significant contributions to dramaturgy and theatrical production, the latter particularly through the seismic impact of the tours undertaken by the...
play The Exception and the Rule
The Exception and the Rule
The Exception and the Rule is a short play by German playwright Bertolt Brecht and is one of several Lehrstücke he wrote around 1929/30...
, with the project soon renamed to A Pray by Blecht. The theme of Brecht's play was the exploitation of capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
of the working class in the 1930s.
Jerome Robbins
Jerome Robbins
Jerome Robbins was an American theater producer, director, and choreographer known primarily for Broadway Theater and Ballet/Dance, but who also occasionally directed films and directed/produced for television. His work has included everything from classical ballet to contemporary musical theater...
asked John Guare
John Guare
John Guare is an American playwright. He is best known as the author of The House of Blue Leaves, Six Degrees of Separation, and Landscape of the Body...
to write the adaptation. Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
was to compose the music, with Stephen Sondheim intending to write the lyrics. The musical was announced for a production at Lincoln Center for January 1969, but during cast auditions Robbins left the production and it was not produced.
The show was never completed, but in April-May 1987 a workshop production was presented at the Mitzi Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center. Direction and choreography were by Jerome Robbins
Jerome Robbins
Jerome Robbins was an American theater producer, director, and choreographer known primarily for Broadway Theater and Ballet/Dance, but who also occasionally directed films and directed/produced for television. His work has included everything from classical ballet to contemporary musical theater...
.
There is no known recording of this show, although there was a demonstration recording done in 1968.
Song list (Workshop)
- Prologue Marches
- Intro / In Seven Days Flat
- You're In Hann
- The Secret
- The Suspicion Song
- Coolie's Dilemma (lyrics by Jerry Lieber)
- Doors to Urga
- Get Your Ass In There
- Coolie's Prayer
- Number One
- The Zorba's Dance