PAMELA' S FIRST MUSICAL
By Andy Smith
A lot of sadness filled the years it’s taken to transform Pamela’s First Musical from a successful children’s book into a Broadway-bound musical, but the result is a thing of joy.
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is thrilled to share the final work of the late Wendy Wasserstein (book) and Cy Coleman (music) in concert at 3:00 on Sunday, May 18 at Town Hall with a reception to follow at Sardi’s.
Proceeds will benefit BC/EFA and Theatre Development Fund’s Open Doors Program, which Wasserstein founded.
With lyrics by Tony Award® winner David Zippel, Pamela’s First Musical is directed by the acclaimed Graciela Daniele and features an all-star cast starring Tony Award winner Donna Murphy as Pamela’s beloved “Aunt Louise.”
Lynn Ahrens, Christian Borle, Carolee Carmello, Sandy Duncan, Gregg Edelman, Christine Ebersole, Stephen Flaherty, David Garrison, Kathie Lee Gifford, Richard Kind, Robert Klein, and Tommy Tune are just a few of the stars scheduled to appear in this delightful one-act musical, based on Wasserstein’s 1996 children’s book about a young girl from the suburbs who spends an unforgettable birthday with her eccentric, sophisticated Aunt Louise attending a lavish Broadway production and meeting all the glamorous, creative people who made it possible, including Garrison as Producer Bernie S. Gerry.
“We’re thrilled to present this long-anticipated show as a benefit at Town Hall and particularly happy to have Sardi’s come on board for the reception since this legendary theatre district restaurant is the location for one of the musical’s most delightful scenes,” says BC/EFA Executive Director Tom Viola. “Wendy and Cy were long-time, generous supporters of BC/EFA’s efforts as individuals and through the casts of their shows, which have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for us. I hope they would agree that this special event brings us all full circle.”
A long-time friend of Wasserstein’s, Pamela lyricist David Zippel says the concept of staging her 1996 children’s book began with a phone call. “Several years ago, after Wendy’s book came out, I called her up and said, ‘let’s do a television movie of it,”’ Zippel remembers. “We found Cy and started working on it, but ended up turning it into a (live stage) show.”
Five years ago, the trio worked with Lincoln Center Theater to develop the piece, which was essentially complete at the time of Coleman’s death in 2004. It was set to premiere at California's Theatreworks in 2005, but the production was postponed and eventually cancelled in response to Wasserstein’s tragic early death from lymphoma at age 55, early in 2006.
“Obviously, there has been a lot of intervening sadness,” says Zippel, “The project was ready to go several year ago, but, sadly, that’s when we lost Cy. It was postponed for a year and then we lost Wendy,” he says.
At a point when most people would have walked away, Zippel and Daniele – who had directed two workshop productions of Pamela – dug in. “Graciela and I renewed our commitment to bring the vision we shared with Cy and Wendy to the stage. We continued to work on the piece since then, but the work has been mostly editing.”
Phyllis Wender, Wasserstein’s determined agent and long-time friend, gets credit for helping keep the project going during the rough times. “Before Wendy and Cy died, the music, lyrics and book were done,” she stresses. “Since that time, it has been condensed slightly. But it’s all Wendy, Cy and David’s work.”
Wender credits Zippel’s determination in sticking with the project. “Through this long process David has been spectacular.”
Pamela’s First Musical comes with one of the most impressive pedigrees imaginable. The winner of three Tony Awards, Coleman – who’s credits include composer, arranger, producer, writer, lyricist, creative consultant, musical director and musician – wrote the music for Sweet Charity, City of Angels, Little Me, Barnum, The Will Rogers Follies and The Life in a Broadway career that spanned over 50 years.
Wasserstein won the Drama Desk, Tony and Pulitzer Prize for her seminal 1989 work The Heidi Chronicles, the story of an art historian who makes the decision to raise a child on her own, a choice reflected in Wasserstein’s own life as an adoptive parent. Her other plays included the Broadway hit The Sisters Rosensweig (1993), An American Daughter (1997), Isn’t It Romantic? (1984) and Third (2005). Wasserstein’s first novel Elements of Style was published posthumously in 2006.
A dancer, writer, director, choreographer and 10-time Tony Award® nominee, Daniele’s credits include The Pirates of Penzance (1981), The Rink (1984), Once on This Island (1991), Ragtime (1998), Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life (2005), and 1996’s Chronicle of a Death Foretold, which she wrote, choreographed and directed.
Zippel won a Tony Award® for the score to 1990’s innovative City of Angel. His other credits include The Woman in White and The Goodbye Girl as well as crafting songs for the legendary Barbara Cook. He’s also a two-time Oscar nominee for the Disney films Hercules and Mulan.
Wender says this musical makes a fine coda for her client and friend Wendy Wasserstein. “As always, Wendy has given us something funny and insightful. Somewhere, somehow, I hope the glow of this reaches her and Cy.”
BC/EFA hopes you will want to be at Town Hall on Sunday, May 18th for a 3:00pm matinee performance of Pamela’s First Musical.
