HIGH SPIRITS Broadway 1964 Sealed LP RARE Record shrink wraped UNOPENED Bea Lily
$
25
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Description
You are bidding on a sealed, unopened, in original shrink wrap LP or record recording (not CD) of the Broadway musical
High Spirits, starring Tammy Grimes, Bea Lily and others, based on Noel Coward's Blithe Spirits from 1964.
High Spirits is a musical with a book, lyrics, and music by Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray, based on the play Blithe Spirit by Noël Coward, about a man's problems caused by the spirit of his dead wife.
Martin and Gray adhered closely to Coward's original text, although they expanded the medium's character to make it the star role. The playwright was delighted with their adaptation, then entitled Faster Than Sound, and agreed to direct it himself. The cast included Edward Woodward as Charles, Tammy Grimes as Elvira, Louise Troy as Ruth, and Beatrice Lillie as Madame Arcati.Originally, Coward hoped to cast Keith Michell as Charles, Gwen Verdon as Elvira, Celeste Holm as Ruth, and Kay Thompson as Madame Arcati, with Danny Daniels as choreographer. Coward's dream cast failed to materialize, but he continued with the project.
The musical opened on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre on April 7, 1964 and closed on February 27, 1965 after 375 performances and fourteen previews. Gower Champion aided Coward in directing the musical.[1] Christopher Walken, billed as "Ronnie Walken" was in the chorus. Scenic and costumes design were by Robert Fletcher, lighting design was by Jules Fisher and Tammy Grimes costume was by Valentina. The production was nominated for eight Tony Awards but did not win any. Other major musical nominees that same year (1964) were Funny Girl and Hello, Dolly! and most major Tony wins went to the latter.
An original cast recording of the Broadway cast was released on the ABC Paramount.
Coward also directed the West End production, which opened in November 1964 at the Savoy Theatre, where it ran for 93 performances. The cast included Denis Quilley as Charles, Marti Stevens as Elvira, Jan Waters as Ruth, and Cicely Courtneidge as Madame Arcati.[2] A London cast album was released by Pye Records, for whom Coward himself also recorded four numbers from the show: "Something Tells Me"; "If I Gave You"; "Forever and a Day"; and "Home Sweet Heaven".[3]
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