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 One of the problems in restaging shows that were great hits in the 1930s is the book, or libretto. Although many of the great tunes and lyrics from musicals of the pre-World War II era have become part of our collective conscience and our pop heritage, the shows themselves resist revivals. Times have changed, dramatic priorities are different, and what is witty is always redefined by succeeding generations. So why not rewrite the book? This idea led to the creation of "Crazy for You," the 1992 Broadway Tony Award-winner that was loosely based on the 1930 hit "Girl Crazy" by George Gershwin, with lyrics by his brother Ira and a book by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind. "We read the book, and it was dated," says "Crazy for You" librettist Ken Ludwig, author of "Lend Me a Tenor" and "Moon Over Buffalo." "It was made up of skits and ... stereotypes." But it also had four great Gershwin songs -- "Bidin' My Time," "Embraceable You," "I Got Rhythm," and "But Not for Me." The next step was logical -- if the book was going to change, why not take advantage of this and add some other top Gershwin tunes? And so Ludwig and director Mike Ockrent added 13 other Gershwin songs to the seven numbers retained from "Girl Crazy" (out of the show's original 21). Seven came from Broadway shows ("Treasure Girl" from 1928," "Oh! Kay" from 1926, "Show Girl" from 1929, and "Ladies First" from 1918). Five more were borrowed from two Hollywood films for which the Gershwins provided music and lyrics ("Shall We Dance" and "Damsel in Distress," both from 1937). And finally there was one last addition, "Naughty Baby," which was not written either for the stage or films. In the end, "Crazy for You" became a veritable Gershwin feast. "We wanted audiences to believe that each song was written especially for 'Crazy for You' -- that they couldn't possibly have come from anywhere else.... [One night] we overheard a couple talking about the show. The woman asked, 'Are George and Ira Gershwin still alive?' And her husband said, 'They must be. They're still writing musicals.'" Though the book needed work, nothing was done to Ira's lyrics. Those for "Girl Crazy" are among his best -- in fact, they are poetry of an indelible, universal sort. Just think of "I'm biding my time, 'cause that's the kinda gal I'm" or "Embrace me, my sweet embraceable you! Embrace me, you irreplaceable you!" As for the story, Ludwig kept the basic premise of an Eastern playboy turning up in a small Western Town. In "Girl Crazy," the setting was Custerville, Arizona, and the playboy was Danny Churchill, who is banished from New York by his father to a family-owned ranch, where -- it is hoped -- Danny will mend his ways and become a more responsible person. Danny becomes Bobby Child in "Crazy for You," a banker who goes West to Deadrock, Nevada, to foreclose on a rundown theater. Bobby, who is stage-struck, falls in love with Polly Baker (Molly Gray, in the original). But if he forecloses he will lose Polly, so he convinces her to put on a show that will pay off the debt her father owes on the theater. To keep the plot going there are mixups and misunderstandings, disguises and improbable appearances, but eventually everything is happily resolved, and Polly and Bobby are united, just like Danny and Molly in the original story. Although the film version of "Girl Crazy" was made with Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney in 1943, the couple that Ludwig had in mind as he rewrote was Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. "I was very much trying for a Fred-and-Ginger style," says Ludwig. "Their movies influenced me as much as anything." Interestingly enough, it was the role of Molly Gray that provided Ginger Rogers with her first starring role on Broadway. As successful as she was, however, it is not Ginger who will be forever associated with "Girl Crazy." The show-stopper at the premiere on October 14, 1930, in New York's Alvin Theater with George Gershwin conducting, was a 21-year-old, ex-secretary from Astoria named Ethel Agnes Zimmermann. It was her Broadway debut, and she felt her family's name was too long for a marquee so she shortened it to Ethel Merman. The first act of "Girl Crazy" was well under way when Merman, as Frisco Kate, began belting out "I Got Rhythm." The song made her, it made "Girl Crazy," and it made history. When Gershwin first played over "I Got Rhythm" and other of Merman's songs from the show for her in his swank Art Deco apartment on Riverside Drive, he said "If there's anything about this you don't like, I'll be happy to change it." At first she didn't know what to say, and finally managed to answer, "They'll do very nicely, Mr. Gershwin." This audition story was often repeated during Merman's lifetime and always provoked gales of laughter. It is said Merman never understood why her punch line was so funny. As a further footnote to history, the pit orchestra that Gershwin conducted on opening night was a blue-ribbon, gold-plated one that included Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Gene Krupa, Jack Teagarden, Jimmy Dorsey, and Red Nichols. Later in the run of "Girl Crazy," Gershwin enjoyed sneaking into the pit at Wednesday matinees and taking over the piano part of "I Got Rhythm." Merman recalled that she always knew when Gershwin was there. "I didn't even have to look. Because he had a certain touch that was his alone. When I would look, I always saw a totally fulfilled man." The Broadway version of "Crazy for You" was recreated and videotaped FOR GREAT PERFORMANCES at the acclaimed Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey, under the supervision of its original team -- director Ockrent, playwright Ludwig, and choreographer Susan Stroman. This revival made one recall and nod in agreement with the verdict of NEW YORK TIMES critic Frank Rich when the musical was new -- "A riotously funny show, uncorking the American musical's classic blend of music, laughter, dancing, sentiment and showmanship with a freshness and confidence rarely seen." | Musical Numbers & Dances | Synopsis | Awards & Honors | History & Background | Cast of Character Breakdown | | OKLAHOMA! | 'FIDDLER ON THE ROOF' | Crazy for You | The Music Man | | eScrip ~ A quick & no hassle way to help! | Past Productions | | Return Home | Scholarship Fund | About WMP | Sponsors & Advertisers | Special Thanks | Contact Us | Mailing List | |
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