Xanadu: The Marco Polo Musical
Encyclopedia
Xanadu: The Marco Polo Musical is an original musical written and produced in 1953 by Seventh Army Special Services in Germany, the first of the numerous stage musicals, film musicals and songs inspired in part by the Samuel Taylor Coleridge
poem, Kubla Khan
with its familiar opening lines:
The score was written by a songwriting team, William P. Perry
and William S. Wheeling, both of whom had been drawn into the Armed Forces shortly after their graduation from Harvard University
. The cast and other members of the creative team were transferred from military units all over the world, and in spite of frequent cast changes as draftees were returned home, the show ran for five years and played both civilian and military theatres throughout Europe.
) and the newly-formed Rhythm Aces. But with the encouragement of Lt. General Manton Eddy, General Charles Bolte and particularly General Anthony McAuliffe
, it was decided that the American occupation army should also present a more serious side of American culture. A Seventh Army Symphony was formed, conducted by Corporal Samuel Adler
, and concert soloists, like pianist Amo Cappelli and violinist Peter Schaffer were featured. A Seventh Army String Quartet and other chamber music combinations gave frequent concerts. A legitimate theatre unit included director Adrian Hall
and actor Philip Bosco
.
In 1952 it was determined that Seventh Army should produce an original Broadway-size musical comedy that would tour civilian theatres as well as military bases. Private William Perry, a composer then serving in Berlin, was transferred to Stuttgart and given carte blanche to draw on creative personnel and performers wherever they might be stationed. Perry’s long-time collaborator, lyricist William S. Wheeling, then serving in the Air Force, joined the team as did choreographer and Broadway tap dance star Robert Scheerer
. Private Johnny Gilbert
, who already had established a prominent singing career, was brought in to play the lead.
In the spring of 1953, Xanadu, the story of Marco Polo’s epic but entertaining journey to the court of Kublai Khan, was premiered and warmly received. The first extended tour included performances in Vienna, Trieste in Italy, and throughout Germany, often in famous opera houses. A number of the songs became immediately popular through broadcasts on the Armed Forces Network. Later tours included Great Britain and other parts of Europe, and the show was still being performed five years later.
After leaving the service, members of the original company went on to have successful careers in show business. William Perry received Tony nominations for his 1986 musical, Wind in the Willows, starring Nathan Lane
, and his television productions for PBS have received both Emmy and Peabody awards. Robert Scheerer resumed his Broadway career as second lead to Julie Andrews in The Boy Friend
and later became an important film and television director, three times nominated for Emmy awards. Virginia Boyle, who played the female lead in Xanadu, established a career as a country and western singer and songwriter. Johnny Gilbert became the host or announcer of numerous popular television game shows, and his voice is still heard every night saying, “This … is … Jeopardy!”
SCENE ONE: The Pizzeria of Mama Polo in Venice. 1271,
SCENE TWO: The Border of China.
SCENE THREE: The Pleasure Dome of Kublai Khan
SCENE FOUR: The Peacock Garden
SCENE FIVE: The Jade Pagoda
SCENE SIX: The Streets of Xanadu
SCENE SEVEN: The Pleasure Dome
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Samuel Taylor Coleridge was an English poet, Romantic, literary critic and philosopher who, with his friend William Wordsworth, was a founder of the Romantic Movement in England and a member of the Lake Poets. He is probably best known for his poems The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Kubla...
poem, Kubla Khan
Kubla Khan
Kubla Khan is a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, completed in 1797 and published in Christabel, Kubla Khan, and the Pains of Sleep in 1816...
with its familiar opening lines:
- In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
- A stately pleasure-dome decree
- Where Alph, the sacred river, ran
- Through caverns measureless to man
- Down to a sunless sea.
The score was written by a songwriting team, William P. Perry
William P. Perry
William P. Perry is an American composer and television producer.-Life and career:Born in Elmira, New York in 1930, he attended Harvard University and studied with Paul Hindemith, Walter Piston, and Randall Thompson...
and William S. Wheeling, both of whom had been drawn into the Armed Forces shortly after their graduation from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. The cast and other members of the creative team were transferred from military units all over the world, and in spite of frequent cast changes as draftees were returned home, the show ran for five years and played both civilian and military theatres throughout Europe.
History of the show
In the early 1950’s, Seventh Army Special Services, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany, was a lively center of entertainment, sending out soldier variety shows featuring singers like Private Vito Farinola (Vic DamoneVic Damone
Vic Damone is an American singer and entertainer.- Early life :Damone was born Vito Rocco Farinola in Brooklyn, New York to French-Italian immigrants based in Bari, Italy—Rocco and Mamie Farinola. His father was an electrician; and his mother taught piano. His cousin was the actress and singer...
) and the newly-formed Rhythm Aces. But with the encouragement of Lt. General Manton Eddy, General Charles Bolte and particularly General Anthony McAuliffe
Anthony McAuliffe
General Anthony Clement "Nuts" McAuliffe was the United States Army general who commanded the 101st Airborne Division troops defending Bastogne, Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II...
, it was decided that the American occupation army should also present a more serious side of American culture. A Seventh Army Symphony was formed, conducted by Corporal Samuel Adler
Samuel Adler (composer)
Samuel Hans Adler is an American composer and conductor.-Biography:Adler was born to a Jewish family in Mannheim, Germany, the son of Hugo Chaim Adler, a cantor and composer, and Selma Adler. The family fled to the United States in 1939, where Hugo became the cantor of Temple Emanuel in...
, and concert soloists, like pianist Amo Cappelli and violinist Peter Schaffer were featured. A Seventh Army String Quartet and other chamber music combinations gave frequent concerts. A legitimate theatre unit included director Adrian Hall
Adrian Hall (director)
Adrian Hall ia an American theatre director. In his career, he has seen his belief in the primacy of the artist and in the value of the confrontation between actor and audience come to full fruition...
and actor Philip Bosco
Philip Bosco
-Personal life:Bosco was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, the son of Margaret Raymond , a policewoman, and Philip Lupo Bosco, a carnival worker. Bosco went to high school at St. Peter's Preparatory School in Jersey City. He attended the Catholic University of Washington, D.C. Bosco married Nancy...
.
In 1952 it was determined that Seventh Army should produce an original Broadway-size musical comedy that would tour civilian theatres as well as military bases. Private William Perry, a composer then serving in Berlin, was transferred to Stuttgart and given carte blanche to draw on creative personnel and performers wherever they might be stationed. Perry’s long-time collaborator, lyricist William S. Wheeling, then serving in the Air Force, joined the team as did choreographer and Broadway tap dance star Robert Scheerer
Robert Scheerer
Robert Scheerer is an American film and television director, actor and producer. His most notable work includes directing Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager. He has received three Emmy Award nominations for directing Fame...
. Private Johnny Gilbert
Johnny Gilbert
John L. "Johnny" Gilbert III is an American show business personality who has worked mainly on television game shows. Originally a nightclub singer and entertainer, he has hosted and announced a number of game shows from various eras, dating as far back as the 1950s...
, who already had established a prominent singing career, was brought in to play the lead.
In the spring of 1953, Xanadu, the story of Marco Polo’s epic but entertaining journey to the court of Kublai Khan, was premiered and warmly received. The first extended tour included performances in Vienna, Trieste in Italy, and throughout Germany, often in famous opera houses. A number of the songs became immediately popular through broadcasts on the Armed Forces Network. Later tours included Great Britain and other parts of Europe, and the show was still being performed five years later.
After leaving the service, members of the original company went on to have successful careers in show business. William Perry received Tony nominations for his 1986 musical, Wind in the Willows, starring Nathan Lane
Nathan Lane
Nathan Lane is an American actor of stage and screen. He is best known for his roles as Mendy in The Lisbon Traviata, Albert in The Birdcage, Max Bialystock in the musical The Producers, Ernie Smuntz in MouseHunt, Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to...
, and his television productions for PBS have received both Emmy and Peabody awards. Robert Scheerer resumed his Broadway career as second lead to Julie Andrews in The Boy Friend
The Boy Friend
The Boy Friend is a musical by Sandy Wilson. The musical's original 1954 London production ran for 2,078 performances, making it briefly the third-longest running musical in West End or Broadway history until it was surpassed by Salad Days...
and later became an important film and television director, three times nominated for Emmy awards. Virginia Boyle, who played the female lead in Xanadu, established a career as a country and western singer and songwriter. Johnny Gilbert became the host or announcer of numerous popular television game shows, and his voice is still heard every night saying, “This … is … Jeopardy!”
Scenes and music
PROLOGUE: The Mandarin and the ChorusSCENE ONE: The Pizzeria of Mama Polo in Venice. 1271,
- Pizza, Pizza
- The Sun, the Wind, and the Sea
- Finaletto
SCENE TWO: The Border of China.
- Don’t Ride a Camel
- Tea-Time in China
SCENE THREE: The Pleasure Dome of Kublai Khan
- That We Wouldn’t Want to Lose
- Kublai Khan
- Here We Are, You Lucky People
- The Legend of the Little Dragon
- Dance in the Streets
SCENE FOUR: The Peacock Garden
- To the Ladies
- The Other Side of the Moon
SCENE FIVE: The Jade Pagoda
- A Quiet Pagoda
- The Right Kind of Man
- Two Little Girls Like You
- The Meeting of the Smoke-Ring
SCENE SIX: The Streets of Xanadu
- Rosalina
SCENE SEVEN: The Pleasure Dome
- Sacrifice Night
- The Rickshaw Reel
- Finale Ultimo
External links
- http://perrymusic.com/ Website of composer William Perry
- http://7aso.org/ Website of Seventh Army Symphony