Backwards in High Heels Arizona Theatre Company Play Guide

More documents

Recommendations

Info

COMPOSERS Jerome Kern: Jerome David Kern (1885 – 1945) was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in over 100 stage works, including such classics as "Ol' Man River," "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man," "A Fine Romance," "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," "All the Things You Are," "The Way You Look Tonight," "Long Ago (and Far Away)" and "Who?". Irving Berlin Harry Warren Jerome Kern Irving Berlin: Irving Berlin (1888 – 1989) was an American composer and lyricist, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in history. Composer George Gershwin called him "the greatest songwriter that has ever lived” and composer Jerome Kern concluded that "Irving Berlin has no place in American music - he is American music." Famous Irving Berlin songs include “Cheek to Cheek,” “God Bless America,” “Blue Skies,” “Let's Face the Music and Dance,” “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” and “White Christmas” among hundreds of others. Al Dubin: Al Dubin (1891 - 1945) was a Swiss-born lyricist who ultimately made his mark on American music. He wrote lyrics for several famous Broadway shows, but his perhaps most famous for his lyrics for the fi lm 42nd Street (which was later adapted into a Broadway musical). Some of his most famous lyrical compositions include "42nd Street,” "I Only Have Eyes for You," "Lullaby of Broadway" and "The Anniversary Waltz." Al Dubin Harry Warren: Harry Warren (1893 – 1981) was an American composer and lyricist. Warren was the fi rst major American songwriter to write primarily for fi lm. He wrote the music for the fi rst blockbuster fi lm musical, 42nd Street. Other wellknown Warren hits included "I Only Have Eyes for You," "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby," "Jeepers Creepers," "The Gold Diggers' Song (We're in the Money)," "That's Amore," "The More I See You," "At Last" and "Chattanooga Choo Choo” One of America's most prolifi c fi lm composers, Warren's songs have been featured in over 300 fi lms. Backwards in High Heels Arizona Theatre Company Play Guide 10
McGOVERN Dorothy Fields: Dorothy Fields (July 15, 1905 – March 28, 1974) was an American librettist and lyricist. She wrote over 400 songs for Broadway musicals and fi lms and was one of the fi rst successful Tin Pan Alley and Hollywood female songwriters. Her most famous compositions include “I Can't Give You Anything But Love,” “Don't Blame Me,” “On The Sunny Side Of The Street,” “A Fine Romance,” “I'm In The Mood For Love,” “The Way You Look Tonight,” “Big Spender,” “If My Friends Could See Me Now” and “On the Sunny Side of the Street." *some bios above adapted from www.wikipedia.com TALKING BACKWARDS Dorothy Fields Backwards in High Heels Just how did Backwards in High Heels come to be? Literary Manager Jenny Bazzell put questions about the show’s development and history to creator Christopher McGovern, an ATC favorite for his role as Music Director for ATC hits like The Pajama Game and Hair. Chris was kind enough to give us some background about the show so we could share it with you! Jenny Bazzell: How did the initial idea for BACKWARDS IN HIGH HEELS come about? Christopher McGovern: I was Music Directing a biographical musical for another theatre company and it got me to thinking about the nature of celebrity, and why people are so drawn to stories about famous people. We have become a 24-hour news cycle and a reality TV culture, and I was interested in exploring someone who got to be a celebrity the old fashioned way: with talent and hard work! It was also interesting to me to use dance in the story-telling, and of course I love the 1920s and 1930s. The fi lms Ginger made in that period were so glamorous and classy. It's fascinating that one of the Stanley Bahorek, Kelly McCormick Christopher McGovern, Sal Sabella and Lauren Lebowitz in Arizona many peaks of Ginger's career was during Theatre Company's [title of show]. Photo by Tim Fuller. the worst of the Great Depression - and she was playing these upscale roles in luxurious settings. The height of "escapism." Arizona Theatre Company Play Guide 11
Page 1 and 2: BACKWARDS IN HIGH HEELS Play Guide
Page 3 and 4: WHO WE ARE Arizona Theatre Company
Page 5 and 6: BIOGRAPHY on the Orpheum circuit,
Page 7 and 8: FILMOGRAPHY GINGER ROGERS’ FILMOG
Page 9: COMPOSERS ABOUT THE COMPOSERS Chris
Page 13 and 14: McGOVERN CM: By far, it is one of t
Page 15 and 16: GOLDEN Throughout the Golden Age, m
Page 17 and 18: TIMELINE 1926: The Savoy Ballroom o
Page 19 and 20: GLOSSARY GLOSSARY Abott and Costell
Page 21 and 22: GLOSSARY Marlene Dietrich: A German
Page 23 and 24: DISCUSSIONS evidence can you fi nd
Page 25 and 26: DISCUSSION 3. Ask your students to

Backwards in High Heels Arizona Theatre Company Play Guide

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?