Tootsie (musical)

Tootsie
Music David Yazbek
Lyrics David Yazbek
Book Robert Horn
Basis Tootsie
Premiere September 11, 2018 (2018-09-11): Cadillac Palace Theatre

Tootsie is a musical comedy with music and lyrics by David Yazbek and a book by Robert Horn. The musical is based on the 1982 American comedy film of the same name written by Larry Gelbart, Barry Levinson (uncredited), Elaine May (uncredited) and Murray Schisgal from the story by Gelbart and Don McGuire. The musical made its world premiere try-out at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago in September 2018. Like the film, the musical tells the story of a talented but volatile actor whose reputation for being difficult forces him to adopt a new identity as a woman in order to land a job.

Productions

The musical had an industry reading in June 2017. Santino Fontana played the lead role of actor Michael, who transforms to "Dorothy" to obtain a role. Scott Ellis replaced Casey Nicholaw as director.[1]

The stage musical version of Tootsie premiered in previews at the Cadillac Palace Theatre in Chicago, beginning September 11, 2018, with an opening at the Palace scheduled for September 29, and a run to October 14, 2018.[2][3] The musical is expected to start on Broadway on March 29, 2019 in previews at the Marquis Theatre. The musical has music and lyrics by David Yazbek with the book by Robert Horn, choreography by Denis Jones, scenic design by David Rockwell, costumes by William Ivey Long, lighting by Donald Holder and direction by Scott Ellis.[4][5]

Santino Fontana stars as Michael Dorsey,[6] with Lilli Cooper as Julie Nichols, Sarah Stiles as Sandy Lester, John Behlmann as Max Van Horn, Andy Grotelueschen as Jeff Slater, Julie Halston as Rita Mallory, Michael McGrath as Stan Fields and Reg Rogers as Ron Carlisle.[7][3]

Overview

The story has been updated to place Michael on the Broadway stage rather than in a soap opera, as in the film. Director Ellis said "This...is one hundred percent not your grandfather’s ‘Tootsie.’"[3]

Reception

Critic Chris Jones praised the musical in its Chicago premiere for getting many things right, while giving notes for the future Broadway production. In particular, he praised the talent of its lead Santino Fontana.[8] While Michael Phillips commented on the difficulty of translating the early 1980s movie to stage − especially in an era of more gender fluidity – Phillips noted the reviews have ranged "from so-so to very good", while also observing the "opening night laughs were plentiful and the performances savvy".[9]

Characters and original cast

Character Chicago (2018)[2] Broadway (2019)
Michael Dorsey Santino Fontana
Julie Nichols Lilli Cooper
Sandy Lester Sarah Stiles
Max Von Horn John Behlmann
Jeff Slater Andy Grotelueschen
Rita Mallory Julie Halston
Stan Fields Michael McGrath
Ron Carlisle Reg Rogers

References

  1. ↑ Hetrick, Adam. "New Director Boards 'Tootsie' Musical Ahead of June Reading" Playbill, May 22, 2017
  2. 1 2 Hetrick, Adam. "Broadway-Bound 'Tootsie' Musical, Starring Santino Fontana, Opens in Chicago" Playbill, September 30, 2018
  3. 1 2 3 Jones, Chris (September 11, 2018). "The musical 'Tootsie' is much changed — goodbye, soaps — as it tells the story of an actor and his Dorothy". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2018-09-16.
  4. ↑ Tootsie ibdb.com, retrieved September 12, 2018
  5. ↑ Jones, Chris. " 'Tootsie' Review" Chicago Tribune, October 1, 2018
  6. ↑ McPhee, Ryan. " 'Tootsie' Musical, Starring Santino Fontana, Will Play Chicago Before 2019 Broadway Premiere" Playbill, January 24, 2018
  7. ↑ McPhee, Ryan. " 'Tootsie' Musical, Starring Santino Fontana, Sets Broadway Dates and Theatre" Playbill, August 9, 2018
  8. ↑ Jones, Chris (October 1, 2018). "In the boffo Broadway-bound 'Tootsie,' Dorothy sings". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  9. ↑ Phillips, Michael (October 4, 2018). "Why 'Tootsie' struggles to make itself into a musical in 2018". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2018-10-07.
  • Tootsie at Internet Broadway Database
  • Official Tootsie Site
  • Hetrick, Adam; McPhee, Ryan (October 2, 2018). "Read Reviews for the New Tootsie Musical Starring Santino Fontana". Playbill. Retrieved 2018-10-10.
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