Camelot (musical) – Wikipedia

Camelot He is a musical by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe (music). He is inspired by the legend of King Arthur as he was adapted by Terence Hanbury White in his novel King forever.

The original production of 1960, directed by Moss Hart and orchestrated by Robert Russell Bennett and Philip J. Lang, remained on the bill at Broadway for 873 replicas, winning four Tony Award and giving life to numerous revivals, productions abroad and a film version of 1967. The original album remained for six weeks in first position and on top of the sales list (Billboard 200) in America for 60 weeks. ^[first]

After seeing a replica of the show Walt Disney went to find the protagonist in the dressing room, Julie Andrews, and proposed to play the part of Mary Poppins in the film of the same name. ^[2]

In 1959, Alan Jay Lerner and Moss Hart decided to produce an adaptation from the work of Terence Hanbury White entitled King eternal . As Lerner explains in his book The Street Where I Live , Frederick Loewe, although not particularly interested in the project, agreed to compose the music, with the awareness that if things had gone badly it would have been his last work. ^[3] After the enormous success of My Fair Lady , the expectations were high for a new Musical Signed Lerner and Loewe. However, the production of the show met several obstacles. Lerner’s wife left him during the first writing phase, ^[4] causing him the need for medical care and the subsequent production delay. When the tests of Camelot , there was still a lot of work. The producers managed to ensure an exceptional cast, including Julie Andrews, Richard Burton and Roddy McDowall, as well as Robert Goulet in his first part at Broadway. John Cullum also made his Broadway debut as Sir Dinadan, while Bruce Yarnell was chosen for the Sir Lionel part. Cullum later replaced McDowall, while William Squire replaced Burton. Other substitutions included Patricia Bredin, Kathryn Grayson and Janet Pavek instead of Julie Andrews.

The first tests of the musical took place in 1960 in Toronto, at the O’Keefe Center. The curtain Calò in the early afternoon, at 12:40; Lerner later observed that “only ” Tristano and Isolde ” achieved similar results.” ^[5] The newspapers, although they welcomed the musical well, mentioned that there was still work to be done because it was successful. Lerner was hospitalized due to an ulcer and was forced to withdraw from production for a period of time. Hart had a heart attack, and Lerner intervened as temporary director for the rest of the representations outside the city driven by Kitty Carlisle. The representation of ” Camelot ” moved to Boston, an hour and a half away, but it was still too far away. The production team tried to find another director. Lerner and Loewe did not agree on how to proceed with the musical, given that Loewe had no intention of making any modification without the Hart advice. Lerner wrote: “God only knows what would have happened if there was no Richard Burton.” By accepting cuts and changes, Richard Burton spread a sense of “trust and friendliness” that managed to calm the fears of the actors. ^[6] The Geneva song “Before I Gaze at You Again” was assigned to Julie Andrews at the last moment prior to the New York preview, which aroused the actress’s famous declaration: “Certainly dear, but tries to have it in the evening Before.” ^[7] After the show held in Broadway, Hart was discharged from the hospital, and he and Lerner began to cut the musical further. Two songs, “then you May take me to the fair” and “Fie on goodness,” were excluded a few months by the replicas (although they remained on the album).

The articles of New York critics regarding the original production were not unanimous. ^[8] Fortunately for the musical, and Sullivan contacted Lerner and Loewe to create a movie for his television program, celebrating the fifth anniversary of ” My Fair Lady ”. They decided to perform four highlights of the musical. This stimulated the sale of tickets, and ” Camelot ” reached an unprecedented goal of three and a half million dollars. ^{[9] [ten]} Robert Goulet received favorable criticisms, especially for his interpretation of “If Ever I would Leave You”, who became his workhorse.

After the replicas of ” Camelot ”, Goulet appeared in ” The Danny Thomas Show ” and ” The and Sullivan Show ”, who made him a name known to the American public.

He was also announced, immediately after the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy (Lerner’s classmate at the University of Harvard), ^[11] That the recording of the original version was listened to at the White House before going to sleep and that the favorite part of Kennedy was the final one (in which Arthur is training a boy from Knight and tells him to pass on Camelot’s story to future generations).

The obstacles that were faced during the production of ” Camelot ” were difficult for the collaboration between Lerner and Loewe, and the musical ended up being one of their latest projects made together (although they worked on the adaptation of the 1958 film Tooth In a 1973 theatrical work, and also collaborated the following year in the musical film ” The Little Prince ”.
” Camelot ” was Hart’s latest Broadway musical; He died of a heart attack on December 20, 1961. ^[twelfth]

The original production and the tour

The first of ” Camelot ” took place in Broadway at the Majestic Theater on December 3, 1960 and the curtain Calò on January 5, 1963, after 873 representations and two previews. He was directed by Moss Hart, Hanya Holm took care of the choreography, while Oliver Smith of the scenic design, Tony Duquette and Adrian of the costumes and Feder of the lights. The musical won four Tony Award and the original album remained at the top of the American’s Top-Selling LP for 60 weeks. ^[first]

The closing of the show at Broadway was followed by a tour in the United States, starring Kathryn Grayson and William Squire, who was then replaced by Louis Hayward. There was also a tour at the lowest cost between 163-64 with Biff McGuire in the role of King Arthur, Jeannie Carson in that of Geneva and Sean Garrison in the role of Lancelot. Another company also made a tour of the musical in 1964, with Howard Keel (King Arthur), Constance Towers (Geneva) and Bob Holiday (Lancelot). An Australian production was built in Adelaide in 1963, produced by the J.C. Company Williamson and remained on the bill for two years. ^[first]

The original production of London

The first of London took place in August 1964 at the Theater Royal, Drury Lane and recited Laurence Harvey in the role of King Arthur, Elizabeth Larner as Geneva and Barry Kent in those of Lancelot. It remained scheduled for 518 replicas. The film version was made in 1967 with Richard Harris and Vanessa Redgrave in the roles of the protagonists.

Subsequent productions

Richard Burton resumed his role as King Arthur in a storage that remained scheduled from 8 July to 23 August 1980 at the New York State Theater. Christine Ebersole played Geneva, while Richard Muenz played the role of Lancelot.

The show was staged at Broadway at the Winter Garden Theater from 15 November 1981 to 2 January 1982, seeing King Arthur played by Richard Harris, Geneva from Meg Bussert and Lancillotto by Muenz.

Another stages staged at Broadway lasted from June 21 to August 7, 1993 for 56 replies to the George Gershwin Theater, with Goulet in the role of King Arthur. Goulet resumed this role in Toronto in 1993. ^[ten]

An eighteen months tour in the United States, with Michael York, Rachel York and James Barbour in the roles of the protagonists, began on January 9, 2007 and ended in April 2008. Michael Lerner, the son of Alan Jay Lerner, contributed to some changes to the booklet. Since June 2007, the tour started from Toronto, where the musical went on stage for the first time in 1960. ^[13] While the 2007 Michael York Tournée was staged in the United States, Candlewood International organized another tour that touched two cities where the musical had never been staged. This version was directed by Jeff Buchsbaum and Paula Sloan prepared the choreography of the cast made up of Robert Brown (King Arthur), Matthew Posner (Lancelot), Mollie Vogt-Welch (Geneva), Gregory Van Acker (Sir Sagramore), Geoff Lutz (Mordred ) and Heather Faith Stricker (Lady Caterina).

From 7 to 10 May 2008, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra presented five concerts of ” Camelot ” directed by Lonny Price and produced by Thomas Z. Shepard, with Gabriel Byrne in the role of King Arthur, Marin Mazzie in that of Geneva and Nathan Gunn as Lancelot. Christopher Lloyd was chosen to interpret Pellinore, Stacy Keach Merlin, Marc Kudisch Lionel, Bobby Steggert played Mordred, Will Swenson Sagramore, while Morgan’s role Le Fey spent Fran Drescher. On May 8, the musical was broadcast by the American channel PBS. ^[14]

Character	Broadway, 1960	Other interpreters
King Arthur	Richard Burton	Brent Barrett, Andrew Burnap, Gabriel Byrne, George Chakiris, Davis Gaines, Robert Goulet, Richard Harris, Laurence Harvey, Louis Hayward, George Hearn, Rock Hudson, Jeremy Irons, Stacy Keach, Howard Keel, Lin-Manuel Miranda, John Raitt, William Squire, Brian Stokes Mitchell, David Thaxton, Hayden Tee, Arthur Treacher, Earl Wrightson, Geraint Wyn Davies, Michael York
Geneva	Julie Andrews	Meg Bussert, Erin Davie, Christine Ebersole, Melissa Errico, Fiona Fullerton, Kathryn Grayson, Lois Hunt, Betsy Joslyn, Carol Lawrence, Marin Mazzie, Sylvia McNair, Laura Michelle Kelly, Solea Pfeiffer, Alexandra Silber, Phillipa Soo, Constance Towers, Rachel York, Lauren Ward
Lancillotto	Robert Goulet	Steve Blanchard, Patrick Cassidy, Martin Vidnovic, Matt Rawle, Ryan Silverman, Chuck Wagner
Merlino	David Hurst	Orson Bean, Brent Carver, Arthur Malet, Dakin Matthews
Pelliner	Robert Coote	Victor Buono, Danny Burstein, Brent Carver, Melville Cooper, George S. Irving, Christopher Lloyd, Laurie Main, Tony Shalhoub, Paxton Whitehead,
Mordred	Roddy McDowall	John Cullum, Jason Donovan, Barrett Foa, Ethan Slater, Bobby Steggert, Taylor Trensch, Jon Voight
Sir Dinadan	John Cullum	Jason Danieley, George Hearn
Morgan with Fey	M’el Dowd	Fran Drescher, Julie White
Lady of the Lake	Marjorie Smith	Ruthie Ann Miles, Claire Moore

+ In subsequent productions, Alan Jay Lerner removed Morgan Le Fay’s character to make the second act less comic, replacing it with King Arthur in the scene with Mordred.

Act i [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

King Arthur is worried because of his imminent marriage and is hiding in a tree. Mago Merlin, his wise master, calls Arthur to warn him that he must learn to think for himself. Merlin, who lives back in time and recalls the future as well as the past, knows that he will soon be separated from Arthur. Merlin convinces him to take a step back and scolds him for his behavior not suitable for a king. Arthur, left alone, evaluates both what he told him that his feelings regarding the expected marriage. He feels someone and hides again in the tree. Geneva, his promised bride, arrives in the woods. She does not like the idea of ​​becoming queen, preferring a common life. He discovers that there is Arthur, who feels his reluctance to marry him and tells her about the pleasure of life to Camelot. They are both fascinated by each other and almost kiss when his employees come across them. The king is recognized, who tells the story of how he extracted the sword from the stone in Geneva and became king, and she finally agrees to marry him. Mago Merlin is amused by this development, but his joy turns into pain, given that his memories of the future begin to disappear. He realizes that the lady of the lake, a beautiful Naiade, has come to attract him to his cave for eternal sleep. Merlin asks her for answers, since he does not remember if he had warned Arthur by two individuals: Lancelot and Mordred. His memories definitively disappear and is taken away.

Five years later, Arthur is in his study with Geneva and discuss on what to do. He explains that he wants to create a new order of knights, that he does not pick up and does not fight, but tries to defend honor and justice. In the end it has the inspiration, with the help of Geneva, to constitute the round table. Five years later, the knights of the round table acquired fame throughout the territory, but also throughout France. A young French bigoted, called Lancillotto, came aware of the round table and is determined to get to Camelot to be added to the knights of Arthur, sure he is perfect for the role. The King Pellinore, Arthur’s childhood friend, arrives in Camelot to witness the size of the king, and it is implied that he has become part of the family. Geneva organizes a party, during which Arthur presents his wife in Lancillotto.

Lancillotto doesn’t like Geneva from the first moment. Time passes and he becomes the opponent of most knights. Geneva incita Dinadan, Sagramore and Corpulent Lionel to attract Lancillotto in a meeting. Arthur, who has become Lancillotto’s “Best Friend”, is costernated by this, and is perplexed with regard to Geneva.

In the meeting, Lancelot easily defeats the three opponents. Almost kills Lionel, who fights to the last. The coastal of the crowd turns into veneration and adoration. This adoration of the crowd expands to Geneva, who falls in love with him. He does not want to violate the marriage promises and hopes that Lancillotto leaves Camelot. Unfortunately, Lancelot loves Geneva, and is torn by the conflict between this love and his devotion to Arthur. The latter makes a knight of the round table. King Arthur senses that there is something between Lancelot and Geneva, but he hopes that this ceases, since he does not want to disturb the calm of Camelot. He recites a monologue aimed at his Exalibur sword by saying that they will exceed the challenges they will face together.

Act II [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

A few years later, Geneva and Lancelot are still tormented by their unrealized love. She tries to get rid of him, but Lancelot does not leave her. They both believe that Arthur is unaware of all this. Despite everything, Geneva remains faithful to Arthur and helps him to carry on the state affairs.

Mordred, Arthur’s illegitimate son, arrives in Camelot to dishonor the king and go up to the throne. Arthur puts him at the head of the Knight’s formation program, not knowing that Mordred has come to destroy the round table to take revenge that he was abandoned by his father, and also hates being a knight. Arthur begins to feel the effort to reign England. Meanwhile, Mordred has devised a plan to ruin Arthur and its kingdom definitively. He enters an enchanted clearing where his aunt, the Fairy Morgana, lives in an invisible castle. Morgana is greedy for sweets and, although you try sympathy for Arthur, Mordred manages to corrupt it to build an invisible barrier around the king for a note. In the meantime, many of the knights are bored with cavalry and want to battle and plunder. Mordred marches on this to put them against Arthur. Meanwhile, Lancillotto visits Geneva in his rooms, where they kiss with Passion. However, the relationship between the two and the Mordred machinations precipitate when the latter and some knights of the round table accuse between between treason and try to imprison it. Lancelot rejects them and runs away, but Geneva is blocked, testing, judged to be guilty of treason for his infidelity and condemned to the stake. To the execution, Arthur looks at a distance since Mordred taunts him for having failed; It is undecided whether to assert its power as king, or whether to save Geneva, for which he still feels love despite everything. At the last moment, Lanclloto arrives with his army, save Geneva and brings her with him to France. In doing this, however, he is forced to kill some knights, providing a oath of revenge in the survivors.

For the good of his honor and for Camelot, Arthur must declare war in Lancelot. Mordred raised his army against Arthur. The war caused a large number of victims to Camelot, and more than half of the knights of the round table were killed. Before the final battle, Arthur meets Lancillotto and Geneva. The relationship between the two is founded. Geneva becomes a nun and the round table is dissolved. They offer themselves to face justice in England, but Arthur does not want Geneva to undergo the stake and that Lancelot be beheaded. Forgive them both and start separately. That note, Arthur meets a young man, Tom of Warwick, who arrived to join the round table. His speech reminds Arthur the idealism and hope he had when he was a young king, and this inspires him. He appoints Tom Cavaliere and sends him to England so that he grows and can pass on the ideals of Camelot’s cavalry to future generations.

Act i

• “Overture” and “The March [Parade]”
• “I Wonder What the King Is Doing Tonight” (Artù)
• “The Simple Joys of Maidenhood” (Ginevra)
• “Camelot” (Arthur)
• “Camelot” (Reprise) (Arthur and Geneva)
• “Follow Me” (Nimue)
• “It’s me” (Lancillotto)
• “The Lusty Month of May” (Ginevra e coro)
• “Then You May Take Me To the Fair” (Ginevra, Sir Lionel, Sir Sagramore, e Sir Dinadan)
• “How To Handle a Woman” (Artù)
• “The Jousts” (Arthur, Geneva and Choir)
• “Before I Gaze at You Again” (Ginevra)

Act II

• “If Ever I Would Leave You” (Lancillotto)
• “The Seven Deadly Virtues” (Mordred)
• “What do the Simple Folk Do?” (Arthur and Geneva)
• “Fie on goodness!” (Mordred and the Knights)
• “I Loved You Once In Silence” (Ginevra)
• “Guenevere” (choir)
• “Camelot” (Reprise) (King Arthur)

The critical articles of New York, regarding the original production, were quite positive. ^[8] An article on The New York Times In 1993 he comments on the musical as follows: “He grew up over the years, probably thanks to the music … [which] combine lyrical simplicity with a superb romanticism.” ^[ten] An article from 2003 reports: “This musically rich classic based on a legend evokes shrewd enough to make you smile. For lovers of a downtown romance atmosphere,” Camelot “has everything you need: a pretty English princess courted by A shy but passionate king; a fervent French knight, devised between devotion to his sovereign and an uncontrollable love for the latter’s wife.

1961 Tony Award

• Best Actor in a Musical – Richard Burton (vincitore)
• Best Scenic Design (Musical) – Oliver Smith (vincitore)
• Best Costume Design (Musical) – Adrian, Tony Duquette (vincitore)
• Best Conductor and Musical Director – Franz Allers (vincitore)
• Best Actress in a Musical – Julie Andrews (nomination)

1961 Theatre World Award

• Robert Goulet (vincitore)

• Lerner, Alan Jay. The Street Where I Live (1978) W. W. Norton & Company ISBN 0-393-07532-X
• Summary, production, and licensing information at Tams-Witmark . are tamswitmark.com . URL consulted on February 9, 2016 (archived by URL Original 11 August 2013) .
• Camelot Audition Advice & Show Information from Musicaltheatection.com
• Synopsis and profile of the show . are musicalheaven.com .
• Profile of the show and information about the 2007 National Tour . are playbill.com . URL consulted on June 12, 2010 (archived by URL Original February 6, 2009) .
• Background of the show and commentary by Judy Harris . are Users.bestweb.net .
• Office, Michael and Maslon, Laurence. Broadway: The American Musical . Bluefinch Press, New York, 2004. ISBN 0-8212-2905-2

• ( IN ) Camelot . are British encyclopedia Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
• ( IN ) Camelot / Camelot (another version) . are MusicBrainz , MetaBrainz Foundation.
• ( IN ) Camelot card . are Internet Broadway Database , The Broadway League.
• ( IN ) Camelot theatrical programming . are Internet Broadway Database , The Broadway League.
• Information the thatreistory.com
• Recording information . are Castalbumdb.com .