Sugar Babies (musical)

This article is about the musical. For other uses, see Sugar Babies.
Sugar Babies
Music Jimmy McHugh
Lyrics Dorothy Fields
Al Dubin
various
Book Ralph G. Allen
Harry Rigby
Productions 1979 Broadway
1987 Australia
1988 West End

Sugar Babies is a musical revue conceived by Ralph G. Allen and Harry Rigby, with music by Jimmy McHugh, lyrics by Dorothy Fields and Al Dubin and various others. The show is a tribute to the old burlesque era. First produced in 1979 on Broadway and running nearly three years, the revue attracted warm notices and was given subsequent touring productions.

Productions

Sugar Babies opened on Broadway at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on October 8, 1979 and closed on August 28, 1982 after 1,208 performances. Staging and choreography was by Ernest Flatt, with sketches directed by Rudy Tronto, musically directed by Glen Roven, scenic and costume design by Raoul Pene Du Bois, lighting design by Gilbert Vaughn Hemsley, Jr., vocal arrangements and lyrics by Arthur Malvin, additional vocal arrangements by Hugh Martin, Ralph Blane, and orchestrations by Dick Hyman.

The revue starred Mickey Rooney in his Broadway debut, Ann Miller, and featured Ann Jillian and Peter Leeds. After the original stars left, successors included Juliet Prowse, Anita Morris, Joey Bishop, Eddie Bracken, Jeff Dunham and Rip Taylor.

The revue subsequently had a short-lived National tour which starred Carol Channing and Robert Morse, from August through November 1980.[1][2] The Bus and Truck Tour starred Eddie Bracken and Jaye P. Morgan (who was succeeded by Mimi Hines) and ran in 1982.[3] The 2nd National Tour, in 1984 and 1985, reunited Rooney and Miller.[4][5]

Concept

The show consists of "traditional material ... routines going back 50 to 60 years. It contains standard songs such as 'Don't Blame Me' and 'I Feel a Song Comin' On', interspersed with newly created musical numbers, including 'The Sugar Baby Bounce' ".[6]

The show had burlesque "tropes" such as the swing number, the sister act, the fan dance, the vaudeville dog act. It was all fast and funny and it ended with a patriotic number...with the entire company in red, white, and blue with a flag background and Miller as the Statue of Liberty."[7]

Songs and scenes

Source: Script[8]

Act 1
  • Scene: A Memory of Burlesque
A Good Old Burlesque Show
  • Scene: Welcome to the Gaity
Let Me Be Your Sugar Baby
  • Scene: Meet Me Round the Corner
  • Scene: Travelin'
In Louisiana
Goin' Back to New Orleans
  • Scene: The Broken Arms Hotel
  • Scene: Feathered Fantasy (Salute to Sally Rand)
Sally
  • Scene: The Pitchmen
  • Scene: Ellis Island Lament
Immigration Rose
  • Scenes from Domestic Life
  • Scene: Torch Song
  • Scene: Orientale
  • Scene: The Little Red Schoolhouse
  • Scene: The New Candy-Coated Craze
The Sugar Baby Bounce
  • Scene: Special Added Attraction
Down At the Gaity Burlesque
Mr. Banjo Man
Act 2
  • Scene: Candy Butcher
  • Scene: Girls and Garters
I'm Keeping Myself Available For You
Exactly Like You
  • Scene: Justice Will Out
  • Scene: In A Greek Garden
Warm and Willing
  • Scene: Presenting Madame Alla Gazaza
  • Scene: Tropical Madness
Cuban Love Song
  • Scene: Cautionary Tales
  • McHugh Medley
Every Day Another Tune
I Can't Give You Anything but Love, Baby
I'm Shooting High
When You and I Were Young, Maggie Blues
On the Sunny Side of the Street
  • Scene: Presenting Bob Williams
  • Scene: Old Glory
You Can't Blame Your Death on Uncle Sammy

Reception

Time wrote that the show is a "happy send-off to burlesque", and "Rarely has so much energy been packed into so small a package. Rooney dances, he sings, he mugs, he dresses in drag."[9]

Awards and nominations

Original Broadway production

Year Award Category Nominee Result
1980 Tony Award Best Musical Nominated
Best Book of a Musical Ralph G. Allen and Harry Rigby Nominated
Best Original Score Jimmy McHugh, Dorothy Fields and Al Dubin Nominated
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical Mickey Rooney Nominated
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Ann Miller Nominated
Best Direction of a Musical Ernest Flatt and Rudy Tronto Nominated
Best Choreography Ernest Flatt Nominated
Best Costume Design Raoul Pène Du Bois Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Mickey Rooney Nominated
Outstanding Actress in a Musical Ann Miller Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Corry, John. "An Anomaly Is Born: Carol Channing As 'Babies' Burlesque Comic", The New York Times, August 7, 1980, Section C, p. 15
  2. ↑ Lardner, James. "Theater Notes", The Washington Post, November 4, 1980, p. B8
  3. ↑ Richards, David. "Sugar Babies To End Tour", The Washington Post, June 29, 1982, p. B10
  4. ↑ Frank, Leah."Theater Review;Rooney Triumphant In 'Sugar Babies'". The New York Times, July 7, 1985
  5. ↑ "Listing, 'Sugar Babies', Pantages Theatre, pp. 116-119", Orange Coast Magazine, February 1984
  6. ↑ Klein, Alvin. "Theater; Understudy Becomes The Star In Darien's 'Sugar Babies'". The New York Times, March 1, 1987
  7. ↑ Mordden, Ethan."'Sugar Babies'" One More Kiss: The Broadway Musical in the 1970s (2004), p. 237, Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 1-4039-6539-0
  8. ↑ " 'Sugar Babies: The Burlesque Musical' script, pp. 8-9, Samuel French, Inc., 1983 ISBN 0-573-68166-X
  9. ↑ (no author)."Show Business: Andy Hardy Comes Home"Time Magazine, October 29, 1979
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