State Fair (musical)

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For other uses, see State Fair (disambiguation).
State Fair
State Fair 1996 Cast Recording
Music Richard Rodgers
Lyrics Oscar Hammerstein II
Book Tom Briggs
Louis Mattioli
Based upon Phil Stong's book State Fair
and the 1945 Film
Productions 1996 Broadway

State Fair is a musical with a book by Tom Briggs and Louis Mattioli, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and music by Richard Rodgers.

Rodgers and Hammerstein originally adapted the Phil Stong novel of the same name for a 1945 movie musical, which was remade in 1962. The stage production closely follows the plot of its predecessors, providing a glimpse into the life of the farming Frake family and their three-day adventure at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines in 1946. While parents Abel and Melissa are hoping to win a few blue ribbons, siblings Margy and Wayne are more interested in finding romance on the midway.

Contents

[edit] Production history

The musical started with a lengthy national tour, opening at the 1995 Iowa State Fair at the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines on August 12. [1] After 8 previews, the Broadway production, co-directed by James Hammerstein (Oscar's son) and Randy Skinner and choreographed by Skinner opened on March 27, 1996 at the Music Box Theatre, where it ran for 110 performances. The cast included, as the Frake family John Davidson as Abel, Kathryn Crosby as Melissa, Andrea McArdle as Margy, and Ben Wright as Wayne, with Donna McKechnie (Emily) and Scott Wise (Pat) as the love interests. Susan Egan took over the role of Margy part way through the run.[2]

[edit] Plot synopsis

The Frake family of Iowa make plans to attend the State Fair in late summer 1946. Father Abel Frake has hopes that his boar will win a prize; his wife Melissa is entering her mincemeat. Daughter Margy is upset with her beau's (Harry) plans for their life together ("It Might as Well Be Spring"). The family heads for the fair ("Driving at Night/Our State Fair"), where son Wayne meets Emily Arden, a singer, and falls instantly in love ("That's for Me"). Meanwhile, Melissa's mincemeat has won a Blue Ribbon. Margy meets Pat, a reporter, and a mutual romantic attraction develops.

On the last day of the fair, Abel's boar wins the Blue Ribbon, Emily breaks off the growing relationship with Wayne, and Pat must leave for a new job. Back home, Wayne returns to his old girlfriend Eleanor. Pat arrives unexpectedly and asks Margy to marry him.

[edit] Musical numbers

Act I
  • Opening -- Abel Frake, Melissa Frake and Wayne Frake
  • It Might as Well Be Spring *-- Margy Frake
  • Driving at Night/Our State Fair * -- Abel Frake, Melissa Frake, Wayne Frake, Margy Frake and Company
  • That's for Me *-- Wayne Frake
  • More Than Just a Friend *-- Abel Frake, Hank Munson and Fair Announcer
  • Isn't It Kinda Fun? *-- Pat Gilbert and Margy Frake
  • You Never Had It So Good (cut from Me and Juliet) -- Emily Arden and Fairtones
  • It Might as Well Be Spring (Reprise) -- Margy Frake
  • When I Go Out Walking With My Baby (cut from Oklahoma!) -- Abel Frake and Melissa Frake
  • So Far (from Allegro) -- Wayne Frake and Emily Arden
  • It's a Grand Night for Singing * -- Company
Act II
  • Man I Used to Be (from Pipe Dream) -- Pat Gilbert, Vivian and Jeanne
  • All I Owe Ioway * -- Abel Frake and Company
  • Man I Used to Be (Reprise) -- Pat Gilbert
  • Isn't It Kinda Fun? * (Reprise) -- Margy Frake
  • That's the Way It Happens (from Me and Juliet)-- Emily Arden and Fairtones
  • Boys and Girls Like You and Me (cut from Oklahoma![3] and included in some productions of Cinderella, though not the original) -- Abel Frake and Melissa Frake
  • Next Time It Happens (from Pipe Dream) -- Margy Frake
  • Finale Ultimo -- Company
Notes on the music

The five songs from the original 1945 film score were supplemented by others that were either featured in, or cut from, other Rodgers and Hammerstein shows. One, "More Than Just a Friend," was written by Rodgers for the 1962 film remake after Hammerstein's death. "Driving at Night" was created by co-director James Hammerstein and Bruce Pomahac with music from Allegro. [4] [5] The starred songs (above) were in the original 1945 or 1962 films.

[edit] Recording

The 1996 Original Broadway Cast recording is on DRG Records 94765 (CD/CS).

[edit] Nominations

  • Tony Award for Best Original Score
  • Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Wise)
  • Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Wright and Wise)
  • Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical (McKechnie)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Variety, Joseph Hurley, SPECIAL REPORT: SPOTLIGHT: LEGIT: BROADWAY & THE ROAD, October 9, 1995 - October 15, 1995
  2. ^ IBDB.com - Susan Egan's credits on Broadway
  3. ^ Information from the RNH website
  4. ^ New York Times, Vincent Canby, March 28, 1996
  5. ^ Rodgers and Hammerstein Show Pages

[edit] External links

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Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals