Showtune (musical)

Showtune is an internationally popular Off Broadway musical revue celebrating the words and music of Broadway composer Jerry Herman. Its title was inspired by Herman's autobiography of the same name.

The forty songs featured in Showtune come from the Herman Broadway musicals Milk and Honey (1961), Hello, Dolly! (1964), Mame (1966), Dear World (1969), Mack & Mabel (1974), The Grand Tour (1979), A Day in Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine (1980), and La Cage aux Folles (1983).

Conceived by California architect Paul Gilger, the songs in Showtune are juxtaposed into thematic scenes and song-cycles, placing a strong emphasis on Herman's lyrics and their optimistic messages. The song-cycle format creates dramatic sub-texts giving through-lines to the show, making Showtune unique among musical revues.

Scene and Song List

Synopsis

Courtesy of Music Theatre International

ACT ONE

Scene 1

We are welcomed to the world of Jerry Herman, one of the Golden Age of Broadway's pre-eminent tunesmiths, with the glittering opening number from Mame – "It's Today!" Also included in this dazzling opening number is yet another optimistic view of life in Show Biz – "Big Time" from the 1974 hit Mack and Mabel – originally starring Robert Preston and Bernadette Peters.