My Old Friends (musical)

My Old Friends
MusicMel Mandel and Norman Sachs
LyricsMel Mandel and Norman Sachs
BookMel Mandel and Norman Sachs
PremiereApril 12, 1979:
22 Steps
Productions1979 (Broadway)
1985 (Off-Broadway)

My Old Friends is a 1979 stage musical created by Mel Mandel and Norman Sachs.

Synopsis

At the Golden Years retirement hotel, there's a mixed bag of guests, a little romance, plenty of time for song, a little dancing and lots of jokes.

Production history

The show had an Off-Broadway run at the Orpheum Theatre beginning January 12, 1979. The show then transferred with the same cast to Broadway.[1][2]

The show opened on Broadway on April 12, 1979, running for 53 performances at the now defunct Broadway theatre then known as 22 Steps. The show was directed by Philip Rose. The show was nominated for one Tony Award at the 33rd Tony Awards, for Maxine Sullivan in the category of Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.[3] Peter Walker was also nominated for a Drama Desk Award in the category of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical for his performance.

The show is available for licensing from Concord Theatricals.[4] In 1985, an Off-Broadway revival was staged at the American Jewish Theater at the 92d Street YMCA. The production starred Imogene Coca and her husband, actor King Donovan in the lead roles, with Maxine Sullivan reprising her role from the original cast.[5][6] In 2008, the show was performed at the Victory Theatre Center in Burbank, California.[7]

Musical numbers

Source[8]

  • "I'm Not Old" - Residents
  • "My Old Friends" - Peter
  • "For Two Minutes" - Slocum, Arias, Catlan, Fineberg
  • "What We Need Around Here" - Peter, Heloise
  • "Oh, My Rose" - Peter
  • "I Bought a Bicycle" - Fineberg
  • "The Battle At Eagle Rock" - Heloise
  • "Dear Jane" - Residents
  • "The Only Place For Me" - Residents
  • "I Work With Wood" - Peter, Slocum
  • "Mambo 52" - Arias, Mrs. Cooper
  • "A Little Starch Left" - Mrs. Cooper
  • "Our Time Together" - Heloise
  • "You've Got To Keep Building" - Peter

Characters

  • Peter Schermann - mid-sixties, was a carpenter for 40 years
  • Heloise Michaud - mid-sixties, jolly and outgoing
  • Mickey Catlan - mid-sixties, ex-vaudeville comic type
  • Sidney Fineberg - mid-sixties, dapper-looking, distinguished somewhat formal, nattily dressed
  • Wally Slocum - mix-sixties, portly Jack Oakie type
  • Mrs. Cooper - mid-sixties, black woman, sarcastic and funny
  • Arias - mid-sixties, Hispanic-Latin type
  • Mrs. Polianoffsky - mid-sixties, eccentric old lady
  • Mr. Gettlinger - mid-thirties or forties, executive director
  • Mrs. Stone - off-stage voice of authority only appears at Curtain call
  • Larry - a handyman.

Original casts

Character Broadway 1979 [9] Off-Broadway 1985[6]
Peter Schermann Peter Walker
Heloise Michaud Sylvia Davis Imogene Coca
Mickey Catlan Allen Swift King Donovan
Sidney Fineberg Leslie Barrett Norman Golden
Wally Slocum Robert Weil
Mrs. Cooper Maxine Sullivan
Arias Norberto Kerner
Mr. Gettlinger / Larry Fred Morsell John Danelle
Mrs. Stone Brenda Gardner Jean Taylor
Mrs. Polianoffsky Grace Carney

References

  1. ^ Lawson, Carol (1979-03-28). "News of the Theater 'My Old Friends' Heads for Broadway". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  2. ^ Barry, Ann (1979-01-07). "Arts and Leisure Guide". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  3. ^ "1979 / ACTRESS (FEATURED ROLE – MUSICAL)". Tony Awards. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  4. ^ "My Old Friends". Concord Theatricals. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  5. ^ "IMOGENE COCA, HUSBAND A CHUCKLE IN 'FRIENDS'". Chicago Tribune. 1985-05-16. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  6. ^ a b Shepard, Richard F. (1985-05-09). "STAGE: 'MY OLD FRIENDS'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  7. ^ "My Old Friends - a Tony-Nominated West Coast Premiere Musical". www.onstage411.com. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  8. ^ Mandel, Mel; Sachs, Norman (1980). My Old Friends: A Musical. Samuel French, Inc. ISBN 978-0-573-68096-0.
  9. ^ "Off Broadway Listing". Playbill. Retrieved 2024-03-16.