-
Harold Arlen
-
Rube Bloom
-
Hoagy
Carmichael
-
Walter
Donaldson
-
Duke
Ellington
-
Ziggy Elman
-
Bernie
Hanighen
-
Jerome Kern
-
Matt Malneck
-
Henry
Mancini
-
Johnny
Mercer
-
David Raksin
-
Billy
Strayhorn
-
James Van
Heusen
-
Harry Warren
-
Richard
Whiting
The production opened on April 3rd, 1997 and closed on July 6th, 1997
It played a total of 133 performances including 24 previews and 109 regular
performances.
The cast:
Margaret Whiting
John Pizzarelli
Lesley Ann Warren
Ray Kennedy
Martin Pizzarelli
Kevyn Morrow
Darcie Roberts
Jessica Molaskey
Brooks Ashmanskas
Johathan Dokuchitz
Clarles McGowan
Todd Bailey
Angelo Fraboni
Amy Heggins
Jennifer Lamberts
Nancy Lemanger
Timothy Edward Smith
Mary Ellen Stuart
Denise Lor
Jane Bodle
Jeffrey Denman
Sean Gregory Palmer
Jody Ripplinger
Deborah Yates
The Broadway Production of DREAM; has
created a websiteCLICK HERE FOR DIRECT LINK
The stars of the sixteen member cast are Margaret Whiting, John Pizzarelli and
Lesley Ann Warren. This web page has been enhanced, and I encourage you to spend some time
going though it to find some fantastic graphics from the show as well as full color images
of many of the show tunes.
The information in these archives are for you to enjoy. This production is the
first time that a Broadway show has been created to honor Johnny Mercer.
Here are a list of his lyrics featured in DREAM:
DREAM
LAZYBONES
ON BEHALF OF THE VISITING FIREMAN (Traveling Salesman)
PARDON MY SOUTHERN ACCENT
YOU MUST HAVE BEEN A BEAUTIFUL BABY
HAVE YOU GOT ANY CASTLES BABY?
GOODY, GOODY
SKYLARK
THE DIXIELAND BAND
I HAD MYSELF A TRUE LOVE
I WONDER WHAT BECAME OF ME
JAMBOREE JONES JIVE
FOOLS RUSH IN
COME RAIN OR COME SHINE
OUT OF THIS WORLD
I REMEMBER YOU
BLUES IN THE NIGHT
ONE FOR MY BABY
YOU WERE NEVER LOVELIER
SATIN DOLL
I'M OLD FASHIONED
DEARLY BELOVED
THIS TIME THE DREAM'S ON ME
SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE
TOO MARVELOUS FOR WORDS
I THOUGHT ABOUT YOU
AND THE ANGELS SING
THE FLEET'S IN
THE G.I. JIVE
I'M DOIN' IT FOR DEFENSE
TANGERINE
DAY IN-DAY OUT
JEEPERS CREEPERS
THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC
LAURA
YOU GO YOUR WAY
MY SHINING HOUR
HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD
ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE
IN THE COOL, COOL,COOL OF THE EVENING
CHARADE
THE DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES
MOON RIVER
ON THE ATCHISON, TOPEKA AND SANTA FE
MUSIC BY; Johnny Mercer, Hoagy Carmichael, Walter Donaldson, Matt
Malneck, Harry Warren, Richard Whiting, Bernie Hanighen, Harold Arlen, Rube Bloom,Victor
Schertzinger, Jerome Kern, Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn, Ziggy Elman, David Raksin, Henry
Mancini, James Van Heusen
Conceived by: Jack Wrangler and Louise Westergard
Producer: Louise Westergard, Mark Schwartz, Bob Cuillo, Roger Dean
Choreographer: Wayne Cilento
Sets: David Mitchell
Costumes: Ann Hould-Ward
Lighting: Ken Billington
Musical Supervisor: Donald Pippin
Musical Director: Bryan Louiselle
Orchestrations: Dick Lieb, Jack Cortner, Torrie Zito
Dance Arrangements: Jeannie Tesori
Mercer Visualization: Jack Wrangler
DREAM which is Wayne Cilento's contemporary "Take" on Johnny Mercer's
ageless songs, is a big, glamorous song and dance musical that uses some of Americas's
most popular and well-loved music as we travel from Savannah in the 1920's, through the
decadent cafe society and elegant Rainbow Room of the 30's, the jitterbug and bittersweet
sound of the War Years to Mercer's Hollywood songs in the 1960's. The cast of
singers/dancers plus legendary singer MARGARET WHITING tell the story using only
Mercer's lyrics. The on stage orchestra, featuring jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli and the
John Pizzarelli Trio, grows from a Dixieland Band to a jazz quartet to the 40's Big Band
to a full Broadway orchestra.
THE PRIMARY CAST
The legendary MARGARET WHITING who has performed and is known world wide;
without doubt is the only artist fully capable to interpret Johnny's poetry.
Margaret grew up in a musical family with her late father, the legendary Richard A.
Whiting. From an early age she had the distinct opportunity to know Mercer. When Johnny
started the Capitol Label(with Buddy DeSylva and Glen Wallichs) he lost no time in signing
the very young Margaret Whiting to this new CAPITOL LABEL. Who would have known
some fifty years ago the impact that Mercer and Capitol would have on contemporary
American Music. Margaret Whiting has recorded in excess of 500 songs,[with 12 Gold
Records] on numerous LP's. Her CD's can be found in music shops throughout the world.
Hearing her rendition of "Moonlight in Vermont" ~ gives you only a taste of
Margaret Whiting's artistry. I am certain that she presently has more fans then the entire
population of that great state!
LESLEY ANN WARREN is best known for her Oscar-nominated role as
"Norma," the confused showgirl in the film "Victor/Victoria". Her TV
awards range from the ACE Award winning role in Tennessee Williams' "27 Wagons Full
of Cotton" on the Arts and Entertainment Network to her role as
"Cinderella" in Rogers and Hammerstein's TV version of the children's classic.
If we think back; we will remember what joy she brought us all in Cinderella. What
excitement she will bring back to Broadway.
JOHN PIZZARELLI has appeared in numerous entertainment venues from Carnegie
Hall, to film , to a 1994 performance when he "opened" for Frank Sinatra. His
soothing voice is popping up on numerous CD's; that are rapidly appearing. A musician and
singer of the 1990's - he brings a "touch of the contemporary" to Mercer's
lyrics and music.
The JOHN PIZZARELLI trio features Martin Pizzarelli on Bass and Ray Kennedy on
Piano.
ADDITIONAL CAST MEMBERS
BROOKS ASHMANSKAS recently played "Bud Frump" in the hit Broadway
revival of "How to Succeed."
JONATHAN DOKUCHITZ has appeared on Broadway in "COMPANY,"
"TOMMY,"" INTO THE WOODS" and "ASPECTS OF LOVE."
CHARLES McGOWAN played "Mike" in both the Broadway and Film production
of " A CHORUS LINE" and has appeared in several other films including
"ANNIE," "GREASE II," "BEACHES" and "DEATH BECOMES
HER."
JESSICA MOLASKEY played "Mrs. Walker" in "TOMMY" and also
appeared on Broadway and/or in national companies of "FALSETTOS," "CITY OF
ANGELS," "CRAZY FOR YOU," "LES MISERABLES," "CATS,"
"CHESS" and "OKLAHOMA!"
DARCIE ROBERTS co-starred with Tommy Tune in the pre-Broadway tour of
"BUSKER ALLEY" and played both "Polly" and "Irene" in
"CRAZY FOR YOU" on Broadway, She won the Drama-logue Award for "BABY"
in Los Angeles and has toured in "ASPECTS OF LOVE" and "42nd STREET."
The cast of "DREAM" will also feature singer/dancers Todd Bailey, Angelo
Fraboni, Amy Heggins, Jennifer Lamberts, Nancy Lemenager, Susan Misner, Kevin Morrow and
Timothy Edward Smith.
Standby for Leslie Ann Warren: JANE SUMMERHAYS
Standby for Margaret Whiting: DENISE LOR
FIVE SCENES in two acts:
Scene 1 - "Savannah - The Age of Innocence"
Scene 2 -"Magnificent Obsession - The Age of Decadence"
Scene 3 - "Rainbow Room"
ACT TWO
Scene 4-"Hollywood Canteen"
Scene 5- "Hollywood Film Awards"
JACK WRANGLER, the co-conceiver, of this production, has directing credits with
Jane Russell, Sal Mineo, and Betty Hutton. Recently he conceived the popular production of
the John Berendt Book "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" which successfully toured the United States.
During the
Olympics this past Summer he directed the Mercer event AND THE ANGELS SING (As the late
great Sylvia Syms used to say; "there is hardly a man alive who does not remember And
the Angels Sing").
As an aside, the Ziggy Elman-Benny Goodman-Martha Tilton-Johnny Mercer "And the
Angels Sing" was recorded on February 1, 1939, almost sixty five years ago. This piece
propelled a 30 year-old Mercer into the living rooms of America. If you can remember the
"Camel Caravan" radio programs, then you may recall that Elman played the
klezmer inspired music "Fralich in Swing"(Der Shtiler Bulgar) on the show (live,
of course-as radio was in those days) and Goodman gave Mercer a challenge to write the
lyrics within a week. Johnny was slow on this one, it took him two weeks (he was known to
write a lyric in a few minutes). There you have it...back to the production of DREAM
Here is an historical perspective of Johnny Mercer(1909-1976) by Jack Wrangler:
"He was a poet, a spinner of dreams, and he touched everyone with his songs" -Margaret
Whiting
Johnny Mercer's overwhelming output of American popular songs is truly staggering. It is
almost impossible to get through a day without hearing at least one Johnny Mercer song on
the radio, television, in movie houses, theaters or cabarets all over the world.
His great American songs span four decades, and include the timeless standards,
"Black Magic","Fools Rush In", "Days of Wine and Roses" and
"Moon River". He wrote songs for motion pictures, winning four of the seventeen
Academy Awards for which he was nominated. And for Broadway. he wrote shows including St.
Louis Woman and L'il Abner.
Johnny Mercer was the founder and President of Capitol Records and creator of the
Songwriters Hall of Fame. He discovered and nurtured the talents of Margaret Whiting, Jo
Stafford, Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole.
Johnny Mercer was a true son of the South. His roots and his heart were firmly planted in
an eccentric, isolated world onto itself- Savannah, Georgia. His love affair with music did
not come from the glitter of Broadway or Hollywood but as a country boy growing up near a
small park where on Sundays., he would go to listen in wonder to a local band playing
Irving Berlin.
His lyrics, came naturally from the colorful way people talked-you gotta
"Accentuate the Positive,""Fools Rush In" where angels fear to tread,
"Anyplace I Hang My Hat is Home,""You're Just Too Marvelous for Words,-and
the sounds of the south: the clickety-clack of the railroad track track, the wind
whistling through the Spanish Moss, and the rain, like slivers racing across the horizon-
Now the rain's a-fallin'
Hear the train a-callin'
Whooee!
-"Blues in the Night
