Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (musical)

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is a musical with music and lyrics written by Richard and Robert Sherman and a book by Jeremy Sams. It is based on the 1968 film of the same name written by Roald Dahl, Ken Hughes, and Richard Maibaum, which in turn is based on the book of the same name by Ian Fleming. The show premiered at the London Palladium on April 16, 2002 directed by Adrian Noble before opening on Broadway in 2005.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Poster for Original Broadway Production
MusicRichard M. Sherman
Robert B. Sherman
LyricsRobert B. Sherman
Richard M. Sherman
BookJeremy Sams
Basis
PremiereApril 16, 2002: London Palladium
Productions2002 West End
2005 Broadway
2005 National UK Tour
2007 Singapore
2008/09 National US Tour
2009 National UK Tour
2012/13 Australian National Tour
2014 Munich
2015/16 National UK Tour

Productions

Original London production (2002-5)

The musical premiered in the West End at the London Palladium on 16 April 2002 with six new songs by the Sherman Brothers who wrote the original Academy Award-nominated title and song score as well. The West End production was directed by Adrian Noble (at the time the artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company) with musical staging and choreography by Gillian Lynne and featured Michael Ball (Caractacus Potts), Emma Williams (Truly Scrumptious), Anton Rodgers (Grandpa Potts), George Gillies (Jeremy), Carrie Fletcher (Jemima) and Graham Hoadly (The Commentator). Closing in September 2005, it was the longest running show ever at the London Palladium, taking in over £70 million in its three and a half year run.[1] The Palladium's famous revolving stage (as seen on Sunday Night at the London Palladium) was entirely taken out to accommodate the technology and storage space for the flying Chitty car, which itself holds the Guinness World Record as the most expensive stage prop, costing £750,000.

Original Broadway production (2005)

The Broadway production opened on 28 April 2005 at the Lyric Theatre (then the Hilton Theatre), garnering good reviews only for the lavish sets. Ben Brantley in The New York Times noted that the show "naggingly recalls the cold, futurist milieus of movies like 'Modern Times' and 'Metropolis,' in which machines rule the universe" and featured songs that sounded "not unlike what you might hear in sing-along hour in a pre-K class".[2] The production was again directed by Adrian Noble with choreography by Gillian Lynne and starred Raúl Esparza (Caractacus Potts), Erin Dilly (Truly Scrumptious), Philip Bosco (Grandpa Potts), Marc Kudisch (Baron Bomburst), Jan Maxwell (Baroness Bomburst), Ellen Marlow (Jemima Potts), and Henry Hodges (Jeremy Potts). The Broadway production closed on 31 December 2005 after 34 previews and 285 regular performances. According to producer Nicholas Paleologos, "A substantial portion of the $15 million (initial investment) will not be recouped on Broadway." [3][4]

A US National tour began in November 2008 at the Broward Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, with a revised script by Ray Roderick, who is the tour director.[5] These revisions have since become part of the licensed script. The original US touring prop car is now under exclusive ownership by Tony Garofalo of New York City, released by Big League Productions and currently being used for private display use as well as fundraising events. This prop vehicle is a full sized version and fully equipped with many hydraulically activated stage tricks, such as surround stage mounted lighting, retractable wings, and spinning 45 degree tilt tires.[6]

Subsequent UK touring productions

Since closing in London, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang toured around the UK, stopping in Sunderland (9 December 2005- 4 March 2006), Manchester (20 March 2006- 10 June 2006), Birmingham (23 June 2006- 2 September 2006), Liverpool (18 September 2006- 18 November 2006), Edinburgh (1 December 2006- 24 February 2007), Bristol (9 March 2007- 9 June 2007) and Southampton (25 June- 15 September 2007), Bradford (11 February 2008 – 5 April 2008), Sunderland (17 April 2008 – 7 June 2008), Cardiff (3 July 2008 – 30 August 2008). The UK Tour visited Asia for the first time when it opened on 2 November 2007 in Singapore's Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. Encouraging ticket sales resulted in an extension of the show to 9 December,[7] adding 24 more shows to a run which was originally planned to end on 18 November 2007.[8]

In 2009, the original production toured the UK until 2010 on a smaller scale, directed by original director Adrian Noble and choreographed by David Morgan. This tour used the script revisions used for the US tour by Ray Roderick.

A brand new production by Music and Lyrics Productions opened at the West Yorkshire Playhouse for the Christmas 2015 season, directed by artistic director, James Brining and choreographed by Stephen Mear. Following the run at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, the production toured the UK and Ireland starring Jason Manford and Lee Mead as Caractacus Potts opening at the Mayflower Theatre, Southampton (10 - 21 February 2016) before stopping in Dublin (24 February - 13 March 2016), Belfast (16 - 27 March 2016), Stoke (30 March - 9 April 2016), Southend (13 - 24 April 2016), Milton Keynes (4 - 14 May 2016), Nottingham (18 - 29 May 2016), Newcastle (1 - 12 June 2016), Sheffield (29 June - 17 July 2016), Wimbledon (20 - 30 July 2016), Cardiff (3 - 21 August 2016), Canterbury (24 August - 3 September 2016), Birmingham (7 - 18 September 2016), Northampton (21 September - 2 October 2016), Edinburgh (5 - 16 October 2016), Glasgow (19 - 29 October 2016), Woking (9 - 19 November 2016), Salford (6 December 2016 - 15 January 2017) and ended in February 2017 at the Bristol Hippodrome (25 January - 4 February 2017).[9] On 20 March 2020 Charles Hanson of Hanson Auctioneers in Staffordshire announced the firm would sell approximately 120 items, including the flying car, from this production on 20 April.[10]

Other Productions

The Australian national production of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang opened on 17 November 2012 at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney, featuring David Hobson and Rachael Beck.[11] The German premiere of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang took place on 30 April 2014 at the Prinzregententheater in Munich, translated by Frank Thannhaeuser, directed by Josef E. Koepplinger and choreographed by Ricarda Regina Ludigkeit. The same team staged another production at State Theatre on Gaertnerplatz in Spring 2020.[12]

Musical Numbers

Notes

*Songs were omitted for the 2008 US tour. "Kiddy-Widdy-Winkies" was replaced with a version of "Lovely Lonely Man" from the original film, sung by Truly Scrumptious.

Casts

Character Original London Cast

2002

Original Broadway Cast

2005

First UK tour and Singapore

2005–2008

First US Tour

2008–2009

Second UK Tour

2009–2010

Original Australian Cast

2012

Third UK Tour

2015–2017

Caractacus Potts Michael Ball Raúl Esparza Tim Flavin
Brian Conley
Gary Wilmot
Joe McFadden
Craig McLachlan
Kevin Kennedy
Matt Baker
Aled Jones
Steve Wilson Darren Bennett David Hobson Jon Robyns
Jason Manford
Lee Mead
Truly Scrumptious Emma Williams Erin Dilly Marissa Dunlop Kelly McCormick Rachel Stanley

Katie Ray

Rachael Beck Amy Griffiths
Carrie Hope Fletcher
Charlotte Wakefield
Grandpa Potts Anton Rodgers Philip Bosco Paul Greenwood
Gregor Fisher
Tony Adams
Dick Decareau John Griffiths Peter Carroll Andy Hockley
Jeremy Potts Luke Newberry
George Gillies
Harry Smith
Henry Hodges Tom Hunter
Connor Doyle
Daniel Jukes
Daniel Shaw
Harrison Edwards
Samuel Wright
Adam Hargreaves
Jeremy Lipton
Zachary Carter Sayle
Michael Kilbane
Anthony Garcia
Max Walburn
Depended on location
Jemima Potts Carrie Hope Fletcher
Lauren Morgan
Kimberley Fletcher
Ellen Marlow Leyci Wightman
Maddy Allison
Shona Eaton
Chloe Jones
Harriet Back
Shannon Wake
Katie Reynolds
Aly Brier
Camille Mancuso
Jasmin Younger
Rose Shannon-Duhigg
Ashleigh Ross
Depended on location
Baron Bomburst Brian Blessed Marc Kudisch Sean Blowers
Ken Morley
George Dvorsky Edward Peel Alan Brough
Shane Bourne
Don Gallagher
Phill Jupitus
Shaun Williamson
Baroness Bomburst Nichola McAuliffe Jan Maxwell Jane Gurnett
Barbara Rafferty
Elizabeth Ward Kim Ismay Jennifer Vuletic Tamsin Carroll
Michelle Collins
Claire Sweeney
Childcatcher Richard O'Brien Kevin Cahoon Robin Askwith
Kevin Kennedy
Alvin Stardust
Nigel Garton
Richard O'Brien
Russ Spencer
Ian 'H' Watkins
Oliver Wadsworth Dean Maynard Tyler Coppin Stephen Matthews
Martin Kemp
Matt Gillet
Jos Vantyler
Toymaker Edward Petherbridge Frank Raiter Richard Owens Richard G. Rodgers Tony Jackson Phillip Gould
Tony Farrell
Ewan Cummins
Boris David Ross Robert Sella Robert Traynor Dirk Lumbard Richard Ashton Todd Goddard Sam Harrison
Goran Emil Wolk Chip Zien Nigel Garton Scott Cote Nigel Garton George Kapiniaris Scott Paige
Lord Scrumptious David Henry Kenneth Kantor Duncan Smith George Dvorsky Edward Peel Alan Brough
Shane Bourne
Don Gallagher
Phill Jupitus
Shaun Williamson
  1. ^ Actor also plays 'Junkman' after changes to the 2008 US tour.
  2. ^ Actor also plays 'Lord Scrumptious' after changes to the 2008 US tour.
  3. ^ Actress also plays 'Miss Phillips' after changes to the 2008 US tour.
  4. ^ Actor also plays 'Coggins' after changes to the 2005 UK tour.
  5. ^ Actor also plays 'Baron Bomburst' after changes to the 2008 US tour.

Notable London replacements

Awards and nominations

Original London production

Year Award Ceremony Category Nominee Result
2003 Whatsonstage.com Awards Best New Musical Nominated
Best Actor in a Musical Michael Ball Nominated
Best Actress in a Musical Emma Williams Nominated
Best Supporting Actress in a Musical Nichola McAuliffe Nominated
Best Set Design Anthony Ward Won
Laurence Olivier Award Best New Musical Nominated
Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical Nichola McAuliffe Nominated
Best Set Design Anthony Ward Nominated

Original Broadway production

Year Award Ceremony Category Nominee Result
2005 Tony Award Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Erin Dilly Nominated
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical Marc Kudisch Nominated
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Jan Maxwell Nominated
Best Scenic Design Anthony Ward Nominated
Best Lighting Design Mark Henderson Nominated

2015–17 UK tour

Year Award Ceremony Category Nominee Result
2017 Whatsonstage.com Awards Best Actress in a Musical Carrie Hope Fletcher Nominated
Best Regional Production (at the New Wimbledon Theatre) Nominated

References

  1. "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang the Musical". Eon productions. Archived from the original on 2009-12-08. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
  2. Brantley, Ben. "She's a Diva on Wheels of Song." The New York Times, April 29, 2005. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
  3. Boroff, Philip (Bloomberg News). "Two underrated Broadway musicals deserved better: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Sweet Charity may take to the road", Ottawa Citizen. ARTS; Pg. D4. December 26, 2005
  4. 2005 "Broadway box office grosses for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" Broadwayworld.com
  5. Gans, Andrew. "'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' Launches National Tour in Florida Nov. 18". Playbill, November 18, 2008
  6. "Car at Garofalo" strawberryfieldsthetribute.com, accessed May 24, 2015
  7. Majid, Hasnita A. ""Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" musical to extend run till Dec 9." Channel NewsAsia.com, November 1, 2007. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
  8. "Chitty Chitty to open with a big Bang Bang in Singapore." MI6 News, October 4, 2007. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
  9. Mayo, Douglas (October 16, 2015). "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 2016 Tour Tickets". British Theatre.com.
  10. Sharman, Laura; Rodger, James (March 20, 2020). "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang stage show props up for sale - including flying car". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  11. Bennett, Sally (September 7, 2011). "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang coming to Australia". Herald Sun. Melbourne. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
  12. "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang". Gärtnerplatztheater. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.