Biographical Broadway Musicals: Real Lives on Stage

The traditional Broadway musical does not seem compatible with anything based in reality. Interestingly, there have been several successful biographical Broadway musicals. Some of them are about celebrities, but not all. What they have in common is that their lives are intimately connected to music.

Biography of an Eccentric Debutante: Grey Gardens
This is the most unusual of this group of life stories. Edith Bouvier Beale, or Little Edie, was Jackie O's first cousin. Born into wealth and privilege, her life turned out reclusive and tragic. Little Edie gave up a blossoming career as a model/singer/actress in 1952 to return to Grey Gardens and care for her mother. She watched over her mother in the once-was-grand family estate in East Hampton for over 20 years. Little Edie's home became a dilapidated wreck full of trash, cats and wild raccoons. The ladies were living off a paltry trust fund because her father had remarried and left his money to his second family when he died.

"Grey Gardens" is based on the documentary film of the same name that was released in 1975. Ellen Hovde and Albert Maysles directed the movie showing Little Edie and her mother living in the decaying mansion. In the documentary, mother and daughter talk about their lives, their dreams and their battles with the health department. They were evicted from Grey Gardens in 1971 because conditions were so terrible. Both trained singers, they sing songs and tell amusing stories to the camera. Little Edie dances and shows off her eclectic and improvisational fashions.

Doug Wright wrote the book, or script, for "Grey Gardens". He set the first act in earlier, happier days for the Beales. The central actress plays a double role. In the first act she plays Edith Beale, the mother, preparing for a recital in the grand home and dreaming of a concert career. During the second act, the same actress plays Little Edie at the time of the documentary.

Scott Frankel composed the music to lyrics by Michael Korie. There is a clear musical delineation between the acts. The first act evokes Cole Porter and Jerome Kern with pretty 40's style songs. The second act music changes with the time and mood. The songs have a more modern Sondheim feel.
Broadway.com Review
http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=525896

Biography of a Composer and His Inspiration: Love Musik
"Love Musik" is the story of composer Kurt Weill's romance with singer Lotte Lenya. He wrote a lot of music for poet and playwright Bertolt Brecht. The most famous of their collaborations is "The Threepenny Opera". An easily recognizable song from that show is "Mack the Knife". Weill also set lyrics by Ogden Nash and Ira Gershwin.

Kurt Weill had a stormy relationship with his great love, singer Lotte Lenya. She was his muse and he wrote wonderful parts for her to sing. They met and married in Germany, but fled to the United States in the early 30's. Although they traveled to the United States together, they were estranged as a couple and divorced in 1933. In 1935 they remarried and continued working together. Alfred Uhry based the script on published letters between Weill and Lenya and follows the 30 year story of their relationship. The music includes select songs by Weill.
NY Times Review
http://theater2.nytimes.com/2007/05/04/theater/reviews/04love.html

Biography of a Band: Jersey Boys
"Jersey Boys" tells the story of the rise and fall of the 1960's rock 'n roll group, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. It includes their best songs, classics like "Walk Like a Man", "Silhouettes", "Big Girls Don't Cry", "Earth Angel" and "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You". They were a group of friends from the streets of Newark, New Jersey that made the big time. There was plenty of drama going on behind the scenes, including some dealings with wise guys. Ultimately the band came crashing down. Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice wrote the book for "Jersey Boys". This Broadway musical recaptures the wild ride and gives fans the favorite songs they want to hear.
New York Theater Guide Review
http://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/reviews/jerseyboys05.htm

Biographies of Broadway Dreams: A Chorus Line
"A Chorus Line" began as a project with no script. In January 1974 the cast of dancers spent a weekend with the director/choreographer Michael Bennet and his creative team. In recorded sessions they each told about their own life experiences as developing dancers trying to work and make a name for themselves in New York City. Later the tapes were developed into a draft of the story, script and lyrics. The cast continued to develop the show during a series of workshop weekends.

"A Chorus Line" is about 17 dancers auditioning at the final call back. Each one hopes to be cast for the chorus line of a big Broadway musical. The show features a series of biographical songs and monologues that range from humorous to tear-jerking. Each dancer has a different story. What they all share is persistence and a dream. Marvin Hamlisch wrote the music in classic Broadway style. Of course it ends with a big production number finale, "One".
Official Website
http://www.achorusline.com/

Sometimes truth can be stranger or more dramatic than fiction, which is perfect for a Broadway musical. These life stories are as different as the styles of music, from show tunes to rock 'n roll. These biographical Broadway musicals entertain and share the lives behind the songs.