1995 New York City Center

Rodgers & HammersteinPal Joey

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1995 New York City Center

Music by Richard Rodgers | Lyrics by Lorenz Hart | New book by Richard Greenberg, based on the original book and stories by John O’Hara

This staged concert, part of New York City Center’s Encores! series, played a limited engagement in May 1995. Starring Peter Gallagher and Patti LuPone, the production also featured Ned Eisenberg, Vicki Lewis and Daisy Prince, with Bebe Neuwirth singing Melba’s show-stopping strip number, “Zip.” The show featured a newly-adapted book by Richard Greenberg, with direction by Lonny Price and musical direction by Rob Fisher.

Vincent Canby of The New York Times noted that, despite being “corrosive” in 1940, “In 1995, Pal Joey is a treasure. Just why is made exuberantly clear at the City Center, where the show is being given a first-rate concert staging.” Canby called Rodgers’ score “beguiling” and said “the Hart lyrics are so clever they make the mind reel. They’re also the brazenly lubricious souvenirs from a time of long-gone innocence.”

LISTEN

Released October 12, 1995 by DRG, this recording of the New York City Center Encores! production features Peter Gallagher, Patti LuPone, Vicki Lewis, Daisy Prince and Bebe Neuwirth. Under Rob Fisher’s musical direction, the orchestra plays Hans Spialek’s original orchestrations, and the album includes one rare song, “I’m Talkin’ to My Pal,” which was from the original production during previews.