On 3 May 2007, a new musical opened at the Biltmore Theatre on Broadway–music by Kurt Weill, book by Alfred Uhry, directed by Harold Prince (see photo of Prince and Uhry below). Conceived by Prince, the biographical show was based on the correspondence of Weill and Lotte Lenya and featured 27 Weill songs from across his career. With the lead roles played by Michael Cerveris and Donna Murphy, the show opened as a limited engagement, which was then extended. The original cast recording was released soon after on the Ghostlight label.
Now theater groups at all levels–school, amateur, and professional–can produce the show with a license from Concord Theatricals. The complete performing materials include a ready-to-print poster (right). With four leads and a handful of minor roles, only ten actors are required, and the orchestra likewise consists of ten players. The show brings to life a legend of both the German and American musical theater and one of the twentieth century’s most compelling actresses and chronicles their unique relationship. Now it can take the stage again all over the world.
Features
Interviews with Prince and Uhry
Reviews (Original Production)
“Alfred Uhry, in his book, had to invent a lot, but his inventions are always in character and believable. He has provided much more than song cues: the very plausible story of two sometimes prickly, sometimes complaisant individuals, now rubbing each other achingly wrong, now soothingly smoothing out their differences.”
–John Simon, Kurt Weill Newsletter
“Although Broadway appears to be sinking under the feather-weight of movie adaptations and amiable musical comedies, another reality is that Spring Awakening, Grey Gardens, and now, LoveMusik, are insisting that musical theater take back its seat at the grown-up table.”
–Linda Winer, Newsday
“Some will view it as stretching the boundaries of musical art form, while others will deem it an exasperating experiment. Regardless of where you fit into that broad continuum (for the record, I’m on the plus side), it is endlessly fascinating.”
–Joe Dziemianowicz, Daily News
“No one in the 20th century wrote music that purred and snarled like Kurt Weill. There was no composer quite like him. Never will be . . . That music, and Weill’s love for his muse, Lotte Lenya, is what Alfred Uhry’s new musical ‘LoveMusik’ is all about.”
–Clive Barnes, New York Post
“The main attraction is the astonishing catalog of Weill’s music, a treasure trove of cabaret-inflected songs for cosmopolitan highbrows.”
–Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times
