| Titanic | |
|---|---|
Original Cast Recording |
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| Music | Maury Yeston |
| Lyrics | Maury Yeston |
| Book | Peter Stone |
| Basis | The sinking of the RMS Titanic |
| Productions | 1997 Broadway 1999 U.S. Tour 2002 Germany, Hamburg 2006 Toronto 2006 Australia 2007 Japan |
| Awards | Tony Award for Best Musical Tony Award for Best Score Tony Award for Best Book |
Titanic is a musical with music and lyrics by Maury Yeston and a book by Peter Stone that opened on Broadway in 1997. It won five Tony Awards including the award for Best Musical. Titanic is set on the ocean liner RMS Titanic which sank on its maiden voyage on April 15, 1912.
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The discovery of the wreckage of the RMS Titanic in 1985 attracted Yeston's interest in writing a musical about the famous disaster. "What drew me to the project was the positive aspects of what the ship represented – 1) humankind's striving after great artistic works and similar technological feats, despite the possibility of tragic failure, and 2) the dreams of the passengers on board: 3rd Class, to immigrate to America for a better life; 2nd Class, to live a leisured lifestyle in imitation of the upper classes; 1st Class, to maintain their privileged positions forever. The collision with the iceberg dashed all of these dreams simultaneously, and the subsequent transformation of character of the passengers and crew had, it seemed to me, the potential for great emotional and musical expression onstage."[1]
Stone and Yeston knew that the idea was an unusual subject for a musical. "I think if you don't have that kind of daring damn-the-torpedos, you shouldn't be in this business. It's the safe sounding shows that often don't do well. You have to dare greatly, and I really want to stretch the bounds of the kind of expression in musical theater," Yeston explained.[2] Yeston saw the story as unique to turn-of-the-century British culture, with its rigid social class system and its romanticization of progress through technology. "In order to depict that on the stage, because this is really a very English show, I knew I would have to have a color similar to the one found in the music of the great composers at that time, like Elgar or Vaughan Williams; this was for me an opportunity to bring in the musical theater an element of the symphonic tradition that I think we really haven't had before. That was very exciting."[2]
The high cost of Titanic's set made it impossible for the show to have traditional out of town tryouts. Titanic's previews began at Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in 1997 with major technical troubles: ironically, during previews the model ship onstage would not sink. These difficulties were mostly resolved by opening night, but the show received mostly negative reviews. The New Yorker's was a rare positive assessment from the New York press: "It seemed a foregone conclusion that the show would be a failure; a musical about history's most tragic maiden voyage, in which fifteen hundred people lost their lives, was obviously preposterous.... Astonishingly, Titanic manages to be grave and entertaining, somber and joyful; little by little you realize that you are in the presence of a genuine addition to American musical theatre."[3]
Nevertheless, the show became a surprise hit. Many credit at least part of the show's success to former talk show host Rosie O'Donnell who championed the show, featuring members of the original cast on her daytime talk show and giving away tickets to members of her studio audience.[4] The show got a further boost when it won the 1997 Tony Award for Best Musical among other awards. The release of James Cameron's film Titanic in December 1997 helped fuel worldwide interest in the disaster, and the Broadway production had attendance of 80% or more in the beginning of 1998, through August 1998, when attendance started falling.[5]
Titanic opened on April 23, 1997 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre[6] and ran for 804 performances and 26 previews, closing on March 21, 1999. Directed by Richard Jones with choreography by Lynne Taylor-Corbett, the cast included Michael Cerveris, Victoria Clark, and Brian d'Arcy James.[6] Danny Burstein was a cast replacement. The set encompassed three levels to help form the impression of the size of the ship.[7] The lobby of the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre was redecorated for the production: the complete passenger list of the Titanic was painted on the walls, noting those who ultimately survived the disaster.
Orchestrator Jonathan Tunick won the first Tony Award for Best Orchestrations for his work on the score. The show received five Tony nominations, winning in all five categories, though the director, Richard Jones, was not nominated, nor were any of the performers.[8]
Stuart Laing designed both the scenic design as well as the costumes for which he won a Tony Award for Best Scenic Design. The wardrobe is on display at the Costume World Broadway Collection in Pompano Beach, Florida.
The production toured the United States after closing on Broadway, beginning in January 1999 at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, with a cast that featured Brian d'Arcy James (Los Angeles only), Marcus Chait, and William Parry.[9] There were also several subsequent tours with non-Equity performers.
A Dutch touring production (European premiere) opened on 23 September 2001 in Royal Theatre Carre, Amsterdam. It was also highly successful, and produced an original cast recording (sung in Dutch) as a companion to the original Broadway cast recording on RCA Records. On 7 December 2002, a German production opened in Hamburg, a copy of the Dutch production. A cast recording was made in German. A new song was written for the German production, "Drei Tage" (Three Days), but the song was not included on cast album. It was recorded and released on a German karaoke CD called Professional Playbacks: Showtunes Vol. 1.
The Toronto, Canada version premiered in February 2006 and the Australian production starring Nick Tate as Captain Smith debuted in October 2006. The production made its UK premiere at York Theatre Royal. The musical made its London premiere in Bromley at the Churchill Theatre in 2004.
In Japan, a short one-month engagement played from January to February in early 2007. The premiere in Wales was performed 15–20 November 2004 at the Gwyn Hall by Neath Amateur Operatic Society.
On May 17, 2005 the Belfast Operatic Company premiered the show in Ireland in the Grand Opera House, Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Belfast Operatic Company will once again be performing the show in the Grand Opera House, Belfast on the week the ship sailed - from 10 April - 14 April 2012 with a special performance beginning at 11:40pm on the Saturday night, the time which the ship hit the iceberg.[10]
In March 2006 the Halifax Amateur Operatic Society performed the show at the Victoria Theatre, Halifax, England. The show ran from 28 March to 1 April. They are presenting the show again to coincide with the centenary of the voyage in 2012, with the final show of the run taking place exactly 100 years to the day (night) that the Titanic sank.
In May 2006, The show was performed by the Blackpool Operatic Players at the Grand Theatre in Blackpool, from 3rd to the 6th of May. It was the first time the show was performed in the North West of England, and was a huge success. The Company (Blackpool Operatic Players) are planning to perform the show again for the ill fated ship's centenary in April 2012, the show will be performed 100 years to the day that it sank (11th to the 14th of April) again at the Grand Theatre in Blackpool.
On February 9, 2008, Ballinrobe Musical Society, under the direction of Peter Kennedy and the musical direction of Noel Kirrane, performed the first ever production to take place in the Republic of Ireland. The show ran from 9 to 16 February. Michael Coen played Captain Edward Smith.[11]
There were French productions in Belgium in the cities of Liege and Charleroi. The show premiered in Finland on 29 March 2008 in Seinajoki City Theatre.
On April 26, 2010, the musical company Scenario premiered the show in Kolbotn, Norway. The show ran from the 26th of April to the 12th of May.
The Wallington Operatic and Dramatic Association production was held in May 2011 in Carshalton, England. It was fully sold out two weeks before the production opened. www.wallingtonoperatic.co.uk
On 20th October 2011, The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA) production opened, starring third year BA (Hons) Acting students. The production ran for one matinee and three evenings, selling out and achieving standing ovations.
In February 2012, Ware Operatic will be on board at the Hertford Theatre. The ship will sail each night from 28th February to 3rd of March with a matinee performance on 3rd as well.
In February 2012, Arbroath Musical Society [2] will set sail nightly at the Webster Theatre, Arbroath [3] from 7th February to the 11th February with a matinee performance on the 11th, to commemorate the centennial year of the fateful voyage.
Shrewsbury Amateur Operatic Society's production will be staged at Theatre Severn in Shrewsbury during March 2012.
Killarney Musical Society will stage Titanic - The Musical at the Irish National Events Centre, Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland from 28th March to 30th March 2012. [4]
In the month of the 100th Anniversary of the sinking, several companies around the world are performing the show in commemoration:
1. During April 2012 the Atlantic Theatre Company] will stage the show at the world famous Minack Theatre on the cliffs at Porthcurno, past which Titanic sailed. The final performance will begin at 10.20pm on the night of April 14 and will conclude in the early hours of April 15, exactly 100 years after the great ship's demise.
2. Ocean Youth Theatre Company, Ascot, Berkshire, UK, will perform TITANIC - the musical, between April 13-15th 2012 with the final performance coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the fatal demise of the ship.
3. Lyric Theatre Company in Vermont, USA, performs April 12th-15th, 2012, closing on the night the Titanic sank.
4. On the 14th of April, 2012 (exactly 100 years to the day since the Titanic struck the iceberg) SUPA Productions in Canberra, Australia will open their season of Titanic the Musical at the ANU Arts Centre. The season will run until the 5th of May. See www.supaproductionsinc.com for more.
5. A production by The Cotswold Savoyards of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire will be staged at the town's Everyman Theatre during April 2012, the opening night (Tuesday 17th) almost co-inciding with the 100th anniversary of the date of the sinking.
6. Theatre Under the Stars (www.tuts.ca) in Vancouver, BC will present TITANIC along with THE MUSIC MAN for its 65th season of family musical entertainment 'under the stars' at Malkin Bowl in beautiful Stanley Park (July/August, 2012)
The West Kirby Light Opera Society production will be held in June 2012 in Liverpool, England to commemorate the centenary of the Titanic's fateful journey[12]
The Denmead Operatic Society production of Titanic - The Musical will be staged on 6th-9th June 2012 at the Park Community School Theatre in Havant.
Titanic has been translated into six languages: Japanese, French, Dutch, German, Finnish and Norwegian.
DarlingtonOS (www.darlingtonos.org.uk) present Titanic The Musical from Wednesday April 25th to Saturday May 5th at the beautiful 900 seater Darlington Civic Theatre, professional director Scott St Martyn at the helm.
Act 1
Titanic's designer, Thomas Andrews marvels at the wondrous things mankind has accomplished ("In Every Age"); the RMS Titanic tops his list of things once thought impossible. Stoker Fred Barret arrives at the dock in Southampton, amazed by the feat of engineering that lay before him ("How Did They Build Titanic?"). He is joined by Lookout Frederick Fleet and wireless telegraph operator Harold Bride, and they gaze in awe at the "Ship of Dreams" ("There She Is") as the crew arrives. J. Bruce Ismay, Andrews, and Captain E. J. Smith congratulate each other on being the owner, designer, and captain of "The Largest Moving Object" in the world. The ship's passengers arrive—the Third and Second Class passengers feel privileged to be aboard the maiden voyage of the grandest ship ever to sail ("I Must Get on that Ship"). The First Class passengers arrive; their names and achievements are narrated by Second Class passenger Alice Beane ("First Class Roster"). Titanic sets sail, and the assembled company wishes her a safe crossing ("Godspeed Titanic").
Now at sea, Ismay arrives on the bridge to inform Smith that he plans for Titanic to arrive in New York on Tuesday afternoon rather than Wednesday morning, while Andrews insists that the maiden voyage be a safe one. As they've cleared land, Smith allows her speed to be increased slightly. Barret, in the boiler room, disagrees with the order on such a new ship, but nonetheless complies ("Barrett's Song").
In Second Class, Alice Beane longs for the grandeur that is First Class, while her husband Edgar, a successful hardware store owner, is content with their station. Charles Clarke, who is traveling to America to become a journalist, travels with his fiancee Caroline Neville. Caroline's father doesn't approve of the engagement, so they are eloping to America. In First Class, the titans of industry recount the accomplishments that man has recently achieved, Titanic, of course, being the grandest ("What a Remarkable Age this Is!"). In steerage, three Irish lasses—each named Kate—dream with the rest of Third Class of the opportunities that await in America ("Lady's Maid"). Kate McGowan is smitten with a young man traveling with them, Jim Farrell.
As the voyage continues, Ismay demands increasingly more speed, so Titanic can build up a good reputation. Capt. Smith complies despite Andrews' objections and warnings of icebergs in their course. Smith hails 1st Officer Murdoch's qualities, deeming him ready to assume a command of his own, but Murdoch feels he is not yet ready to handle the responsibilities of the job ("To Be a Captain").
In the wireless room, Bride is overwhelmed by the passenger's personal messages to be sent, though he finds time to handle Barrett's proposal to his girlfriend ("The Proposal/The Night Was Alive").
On Sunday morning, the First Class attends religious services ("God Lift Me Up"), then dances on deck to "The Latest Rag". Alice Beane has managed to infiltrate their ranks, though she is shooed away several times by an alert steward. Edgar finds her and the two argue over their lifestyle choices ("I Have Danced"). As evening draws near, the temperature drops, and lookout Fleet finds the weather conditions difficult for spotting icebergs ("No Moon"). On deck, Kate McGowan tells Farrell that she needs to marry as she is carrying the child of a married man, and he accepts. Elderly passengers Isidor and Ida Straus discuss their plans for the years to come while Charlotte Drake Cardoza scandalizes the First Class men by joining them for cards in the First Class Smoke Room ("Autumn").
Suddenly, Fleet spots an iceberg and alerts the bridge. Murdoch takes evasive action, but Titanic strikes the berg.
Act 2
The stewards begin waking the confused passengers, while they themselves do not have much information ("Wake Up, Wake Up"). Capt. Smith arrives on the bridge and is briefed on the situation. He orders all passengers to put on life vests, for Bride to begin sending distress messages, and for Andrews to inspect the damage. Andrews informs Smith and Ismay that the damage inflicted is more than the ship is designed to endure and that the ship will sink, reminding them that there are only enough lifeboats for less than half of the people aboard.
In the First Class Dining Salon, passengers refuse to believe that anything is wrong with the ship and are annoyed at being awakened in the middle of the night ("Dressed in Your Pyjamas in the Grand Salon"). Crew members are assuring them that there is no reason to panic. No one is aware of the ship's growing peril until a food cart rolls on its own, showing the ship's growing list. All the passengers and crew members quickly hurry to the lifeboats.
In Third Class, the three Kates and Farrell attempt to find a way up to boat deck, but are unable to until assisted by Barrett ("The Staircase"). Capt. Smith arrives in the radio room where Bride informs him that only the Carpathia is near enough to help, but is unable to arrive until after the Titanic has sunk. Smith, Andrews, and Ismay argue over responsibility for the disaster ("The Blame").
Women and children are ordered into the lifeboats, while the men are forced to stay behind ("To the Lifeboats"). Murdoch orders Fleet and Barrett into the last lifeboat to help man the oars, but Barrett doesn't know how to row a boat and lets Farrell, who can row, into the boat instead. Barrett bids farewell to his absent girlfriend while the rest of the passengers do the same to their loved ones ("We'll Meet Tomorrow").
As the last of the lifeboats depart, those remaining accept their fate. Isidor and Ida Straus, the latter of whom had refused leave her husband behind, affirm their long-lasting love for one another ("Still"). Andrews, in the First Class Smoke Room, obsesses over Titanic's plans, redesigning her and visualizing the final moments of the souls left aboard as the ship sinks beneath the waves("Mr. Andrews' Vision").
In the wee hours of the morning, the survivors are rescued by the Carpathia. Many of them recount the tragedy of Titanic, mourning the loss of man and ship. Bride and Ismay, along with several of the survivors, discuss the possibilities that could have prevented the disaster ("The Foundering"). The survivors express hope that they will one day be reunited with their lost loved ones and abandoned dreams ("In Every Age/Finale").
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While, arguably, the leading character of the musical is the ship itself, some of the characters on board were based upon actual passengers. Indeed, as is well-known, some of the passengers aboard the maiden voyage were wealthy and well-known businessmen, and many characters reflected that. Each of the named characters existed to some extent, though some names and circumstances were changed for dramatic purposes. The italicized names survived the shipwreck, and those to the right are the names of the actors that portrayed them in the original Broadway cast.
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(Though in the musical Kate McGowen survives the sinking, she did not in real life. Her story in the musical is probably based on the life of Kate Gilnagh, who did, in fact, know Murphy, Mullins and Farrel, and did survive the sinking)
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Tony Award | Best Musical | Won | |
| Best Book of a Musical | Peter Stone | Won | ||
| Best Original Score | Maury Yeston | Won | ||
| Best Scenic Design | Stewart Laing | Won | ||
| Best Orchestrations | Jonathan Tunick | Won | ||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Orchestrations | Won | ||
The Official Website of Composer and Lyricist Maury Yeston
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