First Wives Club (musical) explained

First Wives Club
Music:Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland
Lyrics:Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Eddie Holland
Basis:1996 film The First Wives Club
Productions:2009 San Diego, California
2015 Chicago

First Wives Club is a musical with music and lyrics by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland. The musical is based on the 1996 movie of the same name.

The musical premiered in San Diego, California, in 2009, with a book by Rupert Holmes. A reworked version had a production in Chicago, in 2015, with a new book by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason.

Productions

The first production of the show opened at The Old Globe Theater in San Diego, California, on July 17, 2009, in previews, through August 23, 2009,[1] prior to a projected Broadway engagement. The book was by Rupert Holmes, with a score by the "one-time only reunited" Holland-Dozier-Holland songwriting team from 1960s Motown soul music fame. Francesca Zambello directed the San Diego production.[2] [3] The creators and Zambello were engaged for the project in 2006.[4] An industry reading of the musical was held in February 2009, with principals Ana Gasteyer, Carolee Carmello and Adriane Lenox.[5]

The principal cast in the San Diego production originally included Karen Ziemba as Annie, Adriane Lenox as Elise, Barbara Walsh as Brenda, John Dossett as Aaron, Kevyn Morrow as Bill, Brad Oscar as Morty, Sara Chase as Trophy Wife, and Sam Harris as Duane. Lisa Stevens choreographed, with scenic design by Peter J. Davison and costumes by Paul Tazewell.[6] On June 16, 2009, Lenox dropped out of the production due to health concerns and was replaced by Sheryl Lee Ralph.[7] [8] The production's tryout received mixed to negative reviews,[9] but the production sold approximately 29,000 tickets in its five-week run.

The musical was reworked and opened in Chicago in March 2015 at the Oriental Theatre with a book re-written by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason of Designing Women.[10] [11] Originating producers, Jonas Neilson and Paul Lambert, teamed with Elizabeth Williams and John Frost, and brought on Simon Phillips to direct.[12]

Musical Numbers

Act I
Act II

Notes and References

  1. Jones, Kenneth. "Musical First Wives Club Will Now Convene July 17 Toward July 31 Opening". Playbill.com, June 1, 2009
  2. Hebert, James. "Globe to be first to stage musical First Wives Club", The San Diego Union-Tribune, September 5, 2008
  3. Jones, Kenneth. "First Wives Club Musical Will Premiere in San Diego in 2009; Zambello Directs", playbill.com, September 5, 2008
  4. [Robert Simonson|Simonson, Robert]
  5. Jones, Kenneth. "Lenox, Carmello, Gasteyer, Oscar, Dossett, Harris and More Sing First Wives Club in NYC", playbill.com, January 27, 2009
  6. Gans, Andrew. "Ziemba, Lenox and Walsh to Star in Old Globe's First Wives Club". Playbill.com, May 15, 2009
  7. Jones, Kenneth. "Tell Us, Miss Jones: Sheryl Lee Ralph Will Be Part of First Wives Club", playbill.com, June 16, 2009
  8. Jones, Kenneth. "First Wives Club – The Musical Convenes July 17 at Old Globe" playbill.com, July 17, 2009
  9. Vaughan, Carson. "Critics have issues with 'First Wives'". Variety, August 3, 2009
  10. Web site: Pre-Broadway Review: 'First Wives Club,' The Musical. Variety. March 12, 2015. Oxman, Steven. June 10, 2022.
  11. Jones, Chris. "Not so sweet revenge in pre-Broadway First Wives Club", Chicago Tribune, March 12, 2015
  12. Hetrick, Adam. "The First Wives Club Musical Confirms 2015 Chicago Pre-Broadway Premiere", playbill.com, June 30, 2014

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