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Transcript of Robert Armin's online chat with |
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[Because of the great Blizzard of Ought-Three (that's 2003), Charles Strouse participated in the following chat via telephone, with Robert Armin typing both his own and Mr. Strouse's comments. For purposes of clarity, most of the typos and misspellings have been corrected except, of course, when related directly to the subject of typos.] [RobertArmin] Good evening and welcome to the Fynsworth Alley chat room. [RobertArmin] My guest this evening is the brilliant composer, Charles Strouse. [CharlesStrouse] Hello. [RobertArmin] First thing, I'd like to ask you is the status of Marty. [RobertArmin] With John C. Reilly the hottest star of the year, it seems, is the show moving forward? [CharlesStrouse] Yes, John is involved, of course, in doing a lot of publicity for Chicago and The Hours [CharlesStrouse] But it is moving forward. [CharlesStrouse] We're going to put the new numbers in a reading in a month [CharlesStrouse] and we're in the process of securing a theatre. [CharlesStrouse] And everything else has been said. [RobertArmin] Will you be using the same cast as in Boston? [CharlesStrouse] We will be using virtually the same cast but there were some people who were from Boston who were doubling [CharlesStrouse] and so their parts have slightly different requirements. We are adding about a eight more people. [RobertArmin] where did you get all the orphans names in Annie and which movie version did you like [CharlesStrouse] The names came from Tom Meehan and the movie version I liked the best was the television version by Rob Marshall [RobertArmin] You were lucky with Rob to get him at the start of a promising film career. [CharlesStrouse] It was certainly not the start of a promising career. He is a man of great talent and I've seen his work before. But that was certainly the start of his film career. [RobertArmin] How did you like the TV version of Bye Bye Birdie? [CharlesStrouse] I liked it, I loved the new song that Lee and I wrote for Tyne Daly. [CharlesStrouse] I liked it very much. I thought Jason was terrific in it. [RobertArmin] Lfgannie asks: Hello, Charles, this is Julie Stevens, a former "Annie" orphan. I think I must be coming in mid-conversation, but I wanted to say hello. [CharlesStrouse] It's a pleasure, [RobertArmin] bjt8 asks: did you like the music man last night on ABC? [CharlesStrouse] I watched only part of it. [CharlesStrouse] That's a controversial answer. [RobertArmin] There are rumors about a new Bye Bye Birdie movie. Is that true? [CharlesStrouse] The rumors are true. There is also a first class tour which is scheduled for next year with an introduction at Walnut Street. [RobertArmin] Have you chosen a star yet? [CharlesStrouse] When Paula Abdul stopped being Paula Abdul we had wanted her. [CharlesStrouse] But now she is well beyond doing that now. She is wonderful. [RobertArmin] lgfannie asked: When last we saw each other, you were in LA talking on a panel after the Disney movie came out. If you have a chance, please visit the "Annie" website I put together at www.annieorphans.com, to reunite all of us former orphans. [CharlesStrouse] I'm just learning email now. I'm barely able to get my email. I'm not into too many other things. [RobertArmin] lgfannie asks: I have a question...are there any plans for an "Applause" revival? I love the music. I also wanted to tell you that "Wanting" is one of my favorite audition pieces. It is so beautiful. [CharlesStrouse] Thank you. Lee and I are asked often about a revival of Applause. [CharlesStrouse] Our favorite would be Barbra Streisand. [CharlesStrouse] But many fine actresses are suitable for it if they are of a certain age. [CharlesStrouse] Over thirty-five or fortyish. [RobertArmin] Alleypal asks: Is this new "Bye Bye Birdie" a theatrical film, cable, direct-to-video, DVD, TV or what? [CharlesStrouse] It would be a new theatrical movie. Columbia Pictures/Sony has bought the rights to it. [RobertArmin] It's great that so many people's careers were launched in your shows. [RobertArmin] Steve Zahn and Michael J. Pollard both were launched in productions of Bye Bye Birdie [CharlesStrouse] Not to mention my own. [CharlesStrouse] It has been the first show for many. Liza Minnelli told me it was here first show. [CharlesStrouse] Raul Julia... many, many. [RobertArmin] Most notably Dick Van Dyke of course. [RobertArmin] And Kristine Nevins was great as the Mayor's Wife. [RobertArmin] Subtle plug here for my wife. [RobertArmin] Is your wife choreographing anything right now? [CharlesStrouse] My wife is choreographing a new concert piece, but not mine. [RobertArmin] lgfannie asks: How about Susan Egan? She was also in the revival of "Birdie" with Steve Zahn, wasn't she? [CharlesStrouse] Yes. [CharlesStrouse] A wonderful performer. [RobertArmin] What was your first song to appear in a New York production? [CharlesStrouse] I think my first New York production was the Shoestring Revue. [CharlesStrouse] It might be Three Loves written with Michael Stewart. [RobertArmin] As I've written before, I am working on Ben Bagley's autobiography which he dictated to me before his death. [RobertArmin] So I'm looking forward to sharing some of his stories about those theatrical days. [RobertArmin] A lot of major songwriters had their first breaks with him. [CharlesStrouse] Many memories of Ben. I love Ben. I have many stories. [RobertArmin] Any memories of Ben? [RobertArmin] I should point out that I'm also typing Charles’s answers for him, so sometimes his answers are appearing before my questions. [RobertArmin] lgfannie asks: Who was your greatest songwriting influence and what made you decide to write songs? Did you study the piano as a child? [CharlesStrouse] The last one first. I studied piano as a child. There were many influences. I would list Gershwin. Sammy Fain. [CharlesStrouse] I would list Arthur Schwartz. Frank Loesser, for whom I worked for two years. [CharlesStrouse] Leonard Bernstein. [CharlesStrouse] Fred Ahlert [RobertArmin] Wonderful songwriter. [CharlesStrouse] Harold Arlen, certainly. [RobertArmin] Alleypal asks: So how huge is your "trunk song" pile? Any chance of a compilation album or revue using them someday? [CharlesStrouse] Yes. It's huge. [CharlesStrouse] I have hundreds of songs, some of which are excellent. [CharlesStrouse] And some not. [CharlesStrouse] There have been compilations. I look forward to another. [RobertArmin] I saw a wonderful revue of your work at Rainbow and Stars with Linda Lavin and Stuart Zagnit. [CharlesStrouse] The earliest one -- called By Strouse featured Sarah Jessica Parker, I think at age ten. Before Annie. [RobertArmin] Do remember her audition for the first production of Annie? [CharlesStrouse] Very well. [RobertArmin] lgfannie asks: Did you think you could make a living as a composer or was it considered a risky career choice at the time? [CharlesStrouse] Let me answer by saying I had a Bachelor of Music from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester which is abbreviated as BM [CharlesStrouse] which my father always called a BUM. [RobertArmin] [lots of laughter] [RobertArmin] Alleypal writes: Some of us know about a whole score for "Applause" which preceded the one that got used. [CharlesStrouse] That's true of many musicals. You write three and throw two of them away [CharlesStrouse] Not a rule of thumb but that happens often. [RobertArmin] When you work with Lee Adams do you have a preference for music or lyrics first? [CharlesStrouse] My preference is music. [RobertArmin] Is this the way with most of your collaborators? [CharlesStrouse] No. All different. [RobertArmin] lgfannie asks: Have you written songs for one show that ended up being used in another? [CharlesStrouse] Yes. [RobertArmin] Do you want to elaborate? [CharlesStrouse] As an example, the song "Tomorrow" was written first as music for the underscoring of a film. [CharlesStrouse] An industrial film about Arrow shirts. [RobertArmin] I can understand why you would want to reuse it then, since it's life was very short. [RobertArmin] Alleypal writes: Once upon a time, as a guest in a class by Martin Gottfried, I heard you talk about the lost "Applause" score, so I was curious. Thus the curiosity about trunk pile depth---knee-high? [CharlesStrouse] I would say, no it's more like ankle high. [CharlesStrouse] Or if I could make a songwriter's pun - Belly High. [RobertArmin] lgfannie asks: I've heard "Tomorrow" used in a commercial - I think it was for power or electricity [RobertArmin] Yes, how do you feel about the use of your songs in that way? [CharlesStrouse] I like my music to be sung by anybody and everybody. [RobertArmin] I remember seeing Annie II in Washington and the show had a much more satiric edge than the final Annie Warbucks. [RobertArmin] Did you feel that you had to soften the edges during the rewrites? [CharlesStrouse] No, I think Annie Warbucks is one of the best scores I've done with Martin. I love that score. [CharlesStrouse] I think it should be done much more often. [CharlesStrouse] I think it should be done on a double bill with Annie. I think it should be done much more. [RobertArmin] lgfannie asks: Did you enjoy the rap version of "Hard Knock Life"? [CharlesStrouse] I enjoyed it all the way to the bank. [RobertArmin] So you're not that sensitive to variations in the same way that, say, Richard Rodgers was? [CharlesStrouse] This wasn't an example of changing. This was just adding something to it. [RobertArmin] Alleypal writes: Some of your tenderest work is in scores connected to children---"Nightingale"; "Lyle the Crocodile" and some obscure show about a little orphan---do you have a special spot in your heart for kids and do you have a similar project in your mind or heart? [CharlesStrouse] Yes, there is something sentimental and childlike about me. [RobertArmin] lgfannie writes: I think "It Must Have Been Wonderful" is a beautiful song [CharlesStrouse] It Would Have Been Wonderful. I agree. I think it's one of Martin's best lyrics. [RobertArmin] lgfannie writes: Do you ever just sit down at the piano and write a song or do you usually write with a project in mind? [CharlesStrouse] Unfortunately, most often with a project in mind. [RobertArmin] Many of your shows have been, unfortunately, very short-lived. [RobertArmin] Do you have hopes of reviving shows such as Rags, Dance A Little Closer and Nick and Nora? [CharlesStrouse] Rags is constantly being rewritten. [CharlesStrouse] Dance a Little Closer, a producer has spoken to me about a playwright doing a new version of it. [CharlesStrouse] I'm looking forward to that. [CharlesStrouse] Nick and Nora I don't think will ever be redone. [CharlesStrouse] Although I think it was a murderously wicked book. [CharlesStrouse] I don't think anybody will every understand it. [RobertArmin] Alleypal writes: Dance A Little Closer: Frighteningly timely now, that show. [CharlesStrouse] Yep, it sure is. [CharlesStrouse] Yes, yes, yes [RobertArmin] lgfannie asks: Have you ever written a song for a particular artist, like Barbra Streisand, for instance? [CharlesStrouse] Outside of a show, you mean? [CharlesStrouse] Yeah, we wrote a song for Johnnie Mathis, Lee and I. [RobertArmin] You wrote your own lyrics, I believe, for Mayor. Have you written other shows yourself? [CharlesStrouse] Quite a few. [RobertArmin] I am very fond of several of your lesser known shows -- Flowers For Algernon, for example. [CharlesStrouse] Yes, Michael Crawford. [RobertArmin] Is that still being produced? [CharlesStrouse] ???? [RobertArmin] Good answer. [RobertArmin] Kris and I ran into Stefanie Powers backstage at Frank Gorshin's show. [RobertArmin] She still looks fabulous. [RobertArmin] And we loved the revival of Applause and hope it gets done in New York soon. [RobertArmin] And, of course, we're anxiously awaiting Marty [RobertArmin] lgfannie asks: Is there any book or film you have seen recently that you think would make a great musical? [CharlesStrouse] Off the top of my head, Broadway Danny Rose would make a great musical. As for others, not off the tip of my tongue. [RobertArmin] Because of the blizzard, Charles wasn't able to make it here, so we are chatting on the phone and I am typing his responses. [RobertArmin] We may cut this a bit short tonight. [CharlesStrouse] I'm looking forward to the snow stopping so we can do this again longer. [RobertArmin] I'm hoping to put together a radio show for Fynsworth, so maybe we can chat in depth on mike. [CharlesStrouse] !!!! [RobertArmin] I guess that means yes? [RobertArmin] bjt8 writes: is snowed is thinking that the sun'll come out tomorrow so we ccan end this hard -knock winter [RobertArmin] A few typos, but we get the meaning. Thanks. [CharlesStrouse] Thank you. [RobertArmin] Alleypal adds: As someone once said---The snow must go on [RobertArmin] And on that note, I think we'll let you go back to your fireplace. [RobertArmin] Thank you so much for joining us under these most unusual circumstances. [CharlesStrouse] My extreme pleasure. [RobertArmin] Thank you for joining us this evening. Next week, weather permitting, my guest will be Ms Alice Ripley! [RobertArmin] Good night everyone.
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