Gigi (musical)
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| Gigi | |
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| Original Cast Recording | |
|---|---|
| Music | Frederick Loewe |
| Lyrics | Alan Jay Lerner |
| Book | Alan Jay Lerner |
| Based upon | Novel by Colette |
| Productions | 1973 Broadway 1985 West End |
| Awards | Tony Award for Best Score |
Gigi is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe.
The title character, a teenaged girl living in Paris at the turn of the 20th century, is being groomed as a courtesan by her grandmother Mamita and Aunt Alicia. Before she is deemed ready for her social debut, she encounters the highly eligible bon vivant bachelor Gaston Lachaille, who becomes capitvated by the girl as she is transformed from a wild adolescent to a charmingly poised young lady. Gaston's Uncle Honoré serves as both narrator and major player, as he once was involved romantically with Mamita, although advancing age has confused their recollections of the past.
Gigi had a long and checkered career in its journey to the musical stage. It first appeared as a 1945 novel by Colette, which was adapted for the screen with Danièle Delorme in 1948. In 1951, Anita Loos adapted the novel for the stage, and the Broadway production starred Audrey Hepburn in her first major role. Seven years later, while My Fair Lady was in Philadelphia prior to its New York City opening, Alan Freed approached Lerner about a feature film musical adaptation. Although Loewe had vowed never to work in movies, he was charmed by the book and agreed to collaborate on the project. It proved to be a major critical and commercial success and the winner of nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
Fifteen years later, the creative team decided to augment their film score with additional tunes for a stage adaptation they first presented in Los Angeles and San Francisco. After seven previews, the Broadway production, directed by Joseph Hardy and choreographed by Onna White, opened on November 13, 1973 at the Uris Theatre, where it ran for 103 performances. The cast included Karin Wolfe as Gigi, Daniel Massey as Gaston, Maria Karnilova as Mamita, Agnes Moorehead as Aunt Alicia, and Alfred Drake as Honoré. Arlene Francis replaced the ailing Moorehead later in the run (Moorehead died of cancer on April 30, 1974).
An original cast recording was released by RCA Victor.
The West End production opened on September 17, 1985 at the Lyric Theatre, where it ran for seven months [1]. The cast included Amanda Waring as Gigi and Geoffrey Burridge as Gaston, with Beryl Reid as Mamita, Siân Phillips as Aunt Alicia, and Jean-Pierre Aumont as Honoré. A London cast album was released by First Night Records.
[edit] Song list
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[edit] Awards and nominations
- Tony Award for Best Original Score (winner)
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (Drake, nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Scenic Design (nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Costume Design (nominee)
[edit] External links
- Gigi at the Internet Broadway Database
| Awards | ||
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| Preceded by A Little Night Music by Stephen Sondheim |
Tony Award for Best Original Score 1974 Gigi by Lerner and Loewe |
Succeeded by The Wiz by Charlie Smalls |
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