Promises, Promises (musical)
Promises, Promises is a musical based on the 1960 film The Apartment. The music
Promises, Promises
is by Burt Bacharach, lyrics by Hal David, and book by Neil Simon. Musical
numbers for the original Broadway production were choreographed by Michael
Bennett. Robert Moore directed, and David Merrick produced. The story concerns a
junior executive at an insurance company who seeks to climb the corporate ladder by
allowing his apartment to be used by his married superiors fortrysts.
The original Broadway production premiered in 1968, with Jerry Orbach as Chuck
Baxter and Jill O'Hara as Fran Kubelik and ran for 1,281 performances. A London
production opened in 1969 featuring Tony Roberts and Betty Buckley. The cast 2010 Revival Logo
album won the Grammy Award for best cast recording, and a song from the show
Music Burt Bacharach
—"I'll Never Fall in Love Again" became a hit single forDionne Warwick.
Lyrics Hal David
Book Neil Simon
Basis Film The Apartment
Contents screenplay by Billy
Wilder and I.A.L.
Productions
Broadway (1968-1972) Diamond
West End (1969) Productions 1968 Broadway
Broadway revival (2010-2011) 1969 West End
Other productions 1970 US Tour
Plot 1993 Goodspeed
Act I 1997 Encores!
Act II
2008 Reading
Characters 2010 Broadway
Musical numbers revival
Music 2014 San Francisco
Awards and nominations Awards Drama Desk Award
Original Broadway production
for Outstanding
2010 Broadway revival
Music
Notes
References
External links
Productions
Broadway (1968-1972)
After a tryout in Washington, D.C.,[1] the show premiered on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre on December 1, 1968, and closed on
January 1, 1972 after 1,281 performances. Directed by Robert Moore, choreographed by
Michael Bennett with Bob Avian as assistant
choreographer, the cast featured Jerry Orbach as Chuck Baxter, Jill O'Hara as Fran and Edward Winter as J. D. Sheldrake. Featured in
small or ensemble roles were Kelly Bishop, Graciela Daniele, Ken Howard, Baayork Lee, Donna McKechnie, Frank Pietri, Margo
Sappington, and Marian Mercer. A national tour starring Melissa Hart as Fran and Bob Holiday as Sheldrake performed throughout
the United States during the early 1970s. Lorna Luft played the character Fran Kubelik on Broadway in October 1971 to January
1972. A second National tour starred Will McKenzie , as Chuck Baxter, featured ensemble included Trudi Green, Laurent Giroux,
Guy Allen, Dennis Grimaldi, Brandt Edwards and Patti McKenzie as well as a tour starring Donald O'Connor as Chuck Baxter, Betty
Buckley as Fran Kubelik, Barney Martin as Dr. Dreyfuss. Freatured ensemble included Laurent Giroux, Carla Lewis, Dennis
Grimaldi.
West End (1969)
The show was first produced in London's West End at the Prince of Wales Theatre in 1969, featuring Tony Roberts and Betty
Buckley. It ran for 560 performances.[2]
Broadway revival (2010-2011)
A reading for a revival of the musical was held in October 2008 withSean Hayes and Anne Hathaway.[3]
The revival opened at the Broadway Theatre on April 25, 2010, after previews starting on March 27. Directed and choreographed by
Rob Ashford, the revival starred Sean Hayes, Kristin Chenoweth, Brooks Ashmanskas, Katie Finneran and Tony Goldwyn.[4] The
Bacharach-David songs "I Say a Little Prayer", a 1967 million-selling hit written for Dionne Warwick, and "A House Is Not a Home"
were added to the score.[5]
Due to pregnancy, Katie Finneran departed the role of Marge on October 10, 2010,[6] and was replaced by Saturday Night Live
veteran Molly Shannon. Hayes, Chenoweth and Shannon remained with the production until its closing on January 2, 201
1. The show
had 291 performances and 30 previews.[7]
Other productions
Regional theatre productions have included a 1993 staging at the Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut.[8] City Center Encores!
held a staged concert in March 1997, starringMartin Short, Kerry O'Malley, Eugene Levy, Dick Latessa and Christine Baranski,.[9]
2014 San Francisco Production
The musical opened at San Francisco Playhouse in November 2014 and closed in January 2015. It featured Jeffrey Brian Adams in
the role of Chuck and Monique Hafen as Fran.[10]
2017 Southwark Playhouse, London
Ran from January to February, directed by Bronagh Lagan with Gabriel Vick in the role of Chuck and Daisy Maywood as Fran.
[2][3]
Plot
Act I
Chuck Baxter is an ambitious bachelor and junior executive for a large insurance company, Consolidated Life, who expresses his
frustrations and hopes for career advancement ("Half as Big as Life"). To curry favor with higher-ups in the company, he allows his
apartment to be used for their romantic trysts in return for promises of promotion ("Upstairs"). Chuck has his own eye set on Fran
Kubelik, a waitress in the company cafeteria whom he's always admired from a distance. While talking together she wonders if she
will ever find someone to share her life with. Chuck hopes that she might notice him ("Y
ou'll Think of Someone").
J.D. Sheldrake, the company's powerful personnel director, notices the glowing reviews written by Chuck's superiors and deduces the
reason for them. He requests sole use of the apartment for his affairs in exchange for Chuck's long-awaited promotion and tickets to a
basketball game ("Our Little Secret"). (In the 2010 revival, the song "I Say a Little Prayer For You" was added for a scene in which
Fran tells female workmates about flowers she has received from a new "mystery individual".) Chuck asks Fran to attend the
basketball game with him, and she agrees to meet him there after first having a drink with her soon-to-be ex-lover ("She Likes
Basketball").
Fran's lover turns out to be the married Sheldrake. Fran wants to end the relationship, but Sheldrake talks her into spending the
evening with him ("Knowing When to Leave"). Though Fran stands him up, Chuck forgives her. When he informs the other
executives that his apartment is no longer available for their use, they express dismay ("Where Can You Take a Girl?"). Meanwhile,
Sheldrake wonders why he is drawn to affairs ("Wanting Things"). The scene shifts to the company Christmas party, where everyone
is enjoying themselves ("Turkey Lurkey Time"). Miss Olsen, Sheldrake's secretary, reveals to Fran that she is simply the latest in a
long line of Sheldrake's mistresses. The first-act curtain falls as Fran is driven to misery ("A House is Not a Home" in the 2010
revival), and Chuck discovers that Fran is the one Sheldrake has been taking to his apartment.
Act II
A despondent Chuck spends Christmas Eve trying to drink away his troubles at a bar, where he meets another tipsy lonelyheart,
Marge MacDougall, who agrees to come back to his apartment ("A Fact Can Be a Beautiful Thing"). In the meantime, at Chuck's
apartment, Fran confronts Mr. Sheldrake about his earlier affairs. While he admits to the affairs, he declares his love for Fran, but
tells her that he must leave in order to catch his train home to spend Christmas Eve with his family. A despairing Fran discovers
Chuck's sleeping pills and takes the whole bottle ("Whoever Y
ou Are").
When Chuck arrives with Marge, he discovers Fran on his bed. After quickly disposing of Marge, a frantic Chuck gets his neighbor,
Dr. Dreyfuss, to come over and together they save her life. The next morning Chuck calls Sheldrake to let him know what happened.
Sheldrake says he can't leave for the city without his wife knowing and asks Chuck to take care of Fran ("Christmas Day").
Over the next few days Chuck and Dreyfuss try to keep Fran's spirits up to prevent a relapse into suicidal behavior ("A Young Pretty
Girl Like You"). Chuck and Fran play gin rummy and discuss their problems, growing closer ("I'll Never Fall In Love Again"). Mr.
Kirkeby, one of Chuck's former 'clients', discovers that Fran has been staying at Chuck's apartment, so as revenge for cutting him and
the others off from using the apartment he tells Fran's overly protective brother where she has been staying. Karl Kubelik then comes
to the apartment to collect her, and believing that Chuck is the cause of her current state he punche
s Chuck.
Miss Olsen soon discovers that Sheldrake's actions led to Fran almost killing herself. She quits her job and tells Mrs. Sheldrake all
about her husband's affairs. She leaves him, resulting in his desperation to woo Fran back. Sheldrake asks for the keys to Chuck's
apartment again on New Year's Eve to take Fran there. Chuck refuses and quits his job rather than allow Sheldrake to take Fran to his
apartment ever again ("Promises, Promises").
Deciding that he has to get away, Chuck begins packing to move elsewhere when Fran comes to see him. Sheldrake had told her that
Chuck had refused him access and quit, and she realizes that Chuck is the one who really loves her. As they resume their earlier game
of gin, he declares his love for her, to which she replies, "Shut up and deal".
Characters
Chuck Baxter - An office worker.
Fran Kubelik - A restaurant waitress.
J.D. Sheldrake - A personnel manager.
Dr. Dreyfuss - A neighbor.
Marge MacDougall - A bar acquaintance.
Dobitch, Kirkeby, Eichelberger, and Vanderhof.
Vivien, Miss Polansky, and Miss Wong.
Karl - Fran's brother.
Mrs. Sheldrake
Miss Olsen
Musical numbers
Act One Act Two
"Overture" - Orchestra "A Fact Can Be a Beautiful Thing" - Marge & Chuck
"Half as Big as Life" - Chuck "Whoever You Are (I Love You)" - Fran
"Grapes of Roth" - Orchestra "Christmas Day" - Orchestra
"Upstairs" - Chuck "A House Is Not A Home (reprise)" + - Chuck
"You'll Think of Someone" - Chuck & Fran "A Young Pretty Girl Like You" - Dr. Dreyfuss & Chuck
"Our Little Secret" - Chuck & Sheldrake "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" - Chuck & Fran
"I Say a Little Prayer" + - Fran "Promises, Promises" - Chuck
"She Likes Basketball" - Chuck "I'll Never Fall In Love Again (reprise)" + - Chuck & Fran
"Knowing When to Leave" - Fran
"Where Can You Take a Girl?" - Dobitch, Kirkeby,
Eichelberger, & Vanderhof
"Wanting Things" - Sheldrake
"Turkey Lurkey Time" - Miss Della Hoya, Miss
Polansky, Miss Wong, & Ensemble
"A House Is Not a Home" + - Fran
+ Added for the 2010 revival
Songs cut in the out-of-town tryouts included: "Tick Tock Goes The Clock," "We Did The Right Thing," "Loyal, Resourceful And
Cooperative," "Wouldn't That Be A Stroke Of Luck," "Hot Food," "What Am I Doing Here?"
Songs written for the show, but not used included: "Let's Pretend We're Grown Up," "Phone Calls," "In The Right Kind Of Light."
Music
From The New York Times: "Though the work featured memorable dance sequences by a choreographer on the rise named Michael
Bennett, what really set it apart was its score, written by the solid-gold pop composer Burt Bacharach with lyrics by Hal David. Mr.
Bacharach introduced to Broadway not only the insistently rhythmic, commercial-jingle buoyancy of 1960's soft-core radio fare, but
also a cinematic use of Teflon-smooth, offstage backup vocals."[9]
Songs from the musical include the title tune, which was an international hit for Dionne Warwick, released before the show's
December 1968 Broadway opening, "I'll Never Fall in Love Again," a hit for Warwick in the US and Canada (No. 6 and No. 1,
respectively) and for Bobbie Gentry in the UK (No. 1), "Knowing When To Leave" (also recorded by Warwick), "She Likes
Basketball" and "Turkey Lurkey Time," a dance number featuring McKechnie, Lee and Sappington. Warwick also recorded
"Whoever You Are (I Love You)" and "Wanting Things" in 1968 before the show opened for her Scepter LP "Promises, Promises."
"Christmas Day" was recorded byJohnny Mathis for his third Christmas albumGive Me Your Love for Christmas(1969).
Awards and nominations
Original Broadway production
Year Award Category Nominee Result
Best Musical Nominated
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a
Jerry Orbach Won
Musical
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a
Jill O'Hara Nominated
Musical
Tony Award Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Larry Haines Nominated
Musical Edward Winter Nominated
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a
Marian Mercer Won
Musical
1969
Best Direction of a Musical Robert Moore Nominated
Best Choreography Michael Bennett Nominated
Outstanding Music Burt Bacharach Won
Drama Desk
Marian Mercer Nominated
Award Outstanding Performance
Jerry Orbach Won
Jill O'Hara Won
Theatre World Award
Marian Mercer Won
Grammy Award Best Musical Theatre Album Burt Bacharach Won
2010 Broadway revival
Year Award Category Nominee Result
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a
Sean Hayes Nominated
Musical
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a
Tony Award Katie Finneran Won
Musical
Best Choreography Rob Ashford Nominated
Best Orchestrations Jonathan Tunick Nominated
Outstanding Revival of a Musical Nominated
Drama Desk
2010 Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Katie Finneran Won
Award[11]
Outstanding Sound Design Brian Ronan Nominated
Outstanding Revival of a Musical (Broadway or Of
f-Broadway) Nominated
Outstanding Actor in a Musical Sean Hayes Nominated
Outer Critics Circle
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Dick Latessa Nominated
Award[12][13]
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical Katie Finneran Won
Outstanding Choreographer Rob Ashford Nominated
2011 Grammy Award Best Musical Show Album Nominated
Notes
1. Dominic, p. 199
2. "Promises, Promises listing" (http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/shows_p/promises_promises.htm)
guidetomusicaltheatre.com, retrieved April 12, 2010
3. Jones, Kenneth and Gans, Andrew. "Producers Hope to Bring Promises, Promises Back to Broadway"(http://www.pl
aybill.com/news/article/122609.html), Playbill, October 22, 2008
4. Jones, Kenneth."Finneran, Goldwyn and Ashmanskas Will Star in Promises, Promises"(http://www.playbill.com/new
s/article/135369-Finneran-Goldwyn-and-Ashmanskas-Will-Star-in-Promises-Promises)
.playbill.com, December 17,
2009
5. Gans, Andrew.Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes Make Promises on Broadway Beginning March 27 (http://www.pla
ybill.com/news/article/138221-Pop-Hit-Prayer-Added-to-Score-of-Promises-Promises-Revival)
.playbill.com, March
27, 2010
6. http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/FInneran_Announces_Pregnancy_Departs_PROMISES_Oct_10_2010_20100824
7. Broadway Revival of Promises, Promises to Close(http://www.playbill.com/news/article/143064-Broadway-Revival-o
f-Promises-Promises-to-Close)
8. Klein, Alvin. "'Promises, Promises' In Goodspeed Revival",(http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview
.html?p
agewanted=print&res=9F0CE2DE103DF934A35752C1A965958260)The New York Times, November 7, 1993
9. Brantley, Ben. "Rediscovering 1960's Sexual Liberation",(http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview
.html?res
=9904E1DD143BF931A15750C0A961958260)The New York Times, March 22, 1997
10. "Promises, Promises at San Francisco Playhouse"(http://sfplayhouse.org/sfph/promises-promises/)
. Retrieved
2014-12-10.
11. Cox, Gordon.[1] (http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118018658.html?categoryid=15&cs=1&ref=bd_legit)variety.com,
May 3, 2010
12. Gans, Andrew."Outer Critics Circle Awards Noms Announced; Memphis, Royal Family Top List" (http://www.playbill.c
om/news/article/139023-Outer-Critics-Circle-A
wards-Noms-Announced-Memphis-Royal-Family-T op-List)
playbill.com, April 26, 2010
13. O'Neil, Tom." 'Memphis' and 'Red' Win Outer Critics Circle, as Do 'Cage' and 'Fences'"
(http://goldderby.latimes.com/
awards_goldderby/2010/05/memphis-and-red-win-with-outer-critics-circle.html) Los Angeles Times, May 17, 2010
References
Dominic, Serene. The Little Red Book of Burt Bacharach, New York: Schirmer; London: Music Sales,2002. ISBN 0-
8256-7280-5
External links
Promises, Promises at the Internet Broadway Database
Internet Broadway Database listing, 2010
Listing with plot and production data from guidetomusicaltheatre.com
Barnes, Clive. The New York Times 1968 review reprinted in Brantley, Ben, The New York Times Book of Broadway,
p. 177, Macmillan, 2001ISBN 0-312-28411-X
The New York Times review of a 1984 dinner-theatre production
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