The Full Monty (musical)

The Full Monty (musical)
Name	The Full Monty
Music	David Yazbek
Lyrics	David Yazbek
Book	Terrence McNally
Basis	The Full Monty film by Simon Beaufoy
Awards	Tony Award for Best Musical nominee

The Full Monty (musical) is a Broadway musical based on the 1997 British film of the same name, The Full Monty, directed by Peter Cattaneo and written by Simon Beaufoy. The musical features a book by Terrence McNally, music and lyrics by David Yazbek, and is set in Buffalo, New York, rather than Sheffield, England, like the film. The story revolves around a group of unemployed steelworkers, including Jerry Lukowski, Dave Bukatinsky, Malcolm MacGregor, Ethan Girard, Harold Nichols, and Noah "Horse" T. Simmons, who are struggling to make ends meet and regain their self-esteem with the help of Jeanette Burmeister, a pianist and choreographer.

Background

The musical adaptation of The Full Monty was first conceived by Fox Theatricals and Lindsay Law, who acquired the stage rights to the film. The project was then developed by Terrence McNally and David Yazbek, who worked closely with the original film's writer, Simon Beaufoy, to create a unique and Americanized version of the story. The musical's creative team also included Jack O'Brien, who directed the original Broadway production, and Jerry Mitchell, who choreographed the show. The production premiered at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California, in 2000, starring Kathy Najimy as Jeanette Burmeister, John Ellison Conlee as Dave Bukatinsky, and Romain Frugé as Ethan Girard, before transferring to Broadway's Eugene O'Neill Theatre, where it opened on October 26, 2000, with a cast that included Patrick Boll, John Ellison Conlee, Jason Danieley, Romain Frugé, Kathy Najimy, and André De Shields.

Plot

The story follows a group of unemployed steelworkers from Buffalo, New York, who are struggling to make ends meet and regain their self-esteem. The main character, Jerry Lukowski, played by Patrick Boll, is a divorced father who is desperate to pay his child support and prove himself to his ex-wife, Pam Lukowski, played by Annie Golden. Jerry and his friends, including Dave Bukatinsky, Malcolm MacGregor, Ethan Girard, Harold Nichols, and Noah "Horse" T. Simmons, come up with a plan to strip at a local nightclub to raise money and impress their wives and girlfriends, including Susan Herskovitz, played by Jenny Galloway. Along the way, they meet Jeanette Burmeister, a pianist and choreographer who helps them to develop their striptease routine and build their confidence. The show features a range of characters, including Estelle Genovese, played by Kathleen Freeman, and Tony Giordano, played by Thomas M. Hammond, who add to the humor and pathos of the story.

Music

The musical features a range of songs, including "Scrap," "It's a Woman's World," "Big Ass Rock," "Big Black Man," "You Rule My World," and "Let It Go," which were written by David Yazbek. The score is a mix of rock, pop, and show tunes, and features a range of instruments, including piano, guitar, bass guitar, and drums. The musical's orchestrations were created by Harold Wheeler, who worked with David Yazbek to develop the show's unique sound. The cast recording of the musical was released by RCA Records and features the original Broadway cast, including Patrick Boll, John Ellison Conlee, Jason Danieley, Romain Frugé, Kathy Najimy, and André De Shields.

Productions

The musical has been produced in a range of theaters around the world, including the Eugene O'Neill Theatre on Broadway, the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California, and the Prince of Wales Theatre in London's West End. The show has been directed by Jack O'Brien and Daniel Evans, and has featured a range of actors, including Patrick Boll, John Ellison Conlee, Jason Danieley, Romain Frugé, Kathy Najimy, and André De Shields. The musical has also been produced by a range of theatre companies, including Fox Theatricals, Lindsay Law, and the National Theatre. The show has been performed in a range of cities, including New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, and Sydney, and has been seen by audiences around the world.

Reception

The musical received generally positive reviews from critics, including Ben Brantley of The New York Times, who praised the show's humor and heart. The show was also praised by Charles Isherwood of Variety, who noted the musical's energy and charm. However, some critics, including John Lahr of The New Yorker, felt that the show was overhyped and lacked depth. The musical was also praised by audiences, who responded to the show's humor, pathos, and nudity. The show was a commercial success, running for over 700 performances on Broadway and grossing over $100 million in ticket sales.

Awards

The musical was nominated for a range of awards, including the Tony Award for Best Musical, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical, and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Broadway Musical. The show won several awards, including the Theatre World Award for John Ellison Conlee and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical for Jason Danieley. The musical was also nominated for several Grammy Awards, including Best Musical Show Album, and won the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album in 2001. The show's success was recognized by the American Theatre Wing, which awarded the musical a Special Tony Award for its contribution to the theatre community.

Category:Musicals