Grind
Grind is a musical with a book by Fay Kanin, music by Larry Grossman, and lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh. Grind is a portrait of a largely African-American burlesque house in Chicago in the Thirties.
The reviews were mixed at best. In his New York Times review, Frank Rich wrote: “…the show has become a desperate barrage of arbitrary musical numbers, portentous staging devices, extravagant costumes…, confused plot twists and sociological bromides…” “Grind” fared poorly at the box office; “The production was a disaster; the show lost its entire $4.75 million investment, and Prince and three other members of the creative team were suspended by the Dramatists Guild for signing a “substandard contract.” [1] 1985 was a bad year for Broadway musicals, and only one hit (Big River) had emerged by the time Tony nominations were submitted. Since there was little decent competition, “Grind” received a Tony nomination for Best Musical. Ken Mandelbaum wrote of the season: “The original Big River came along at the end of a dismal season for new musicals, and Leader of the Pack, Quilters, and the fascinating but unworkable Grind posed virtually no competition.[2]
Even critics who hated Grind were impressed by Leilani Jones’ performance: Frank Rich wrote: “Miss Jones, in her Broadway debut, is a find – a gifted young performer lacking only a little flash.” She received the Tony Award, the Drama Desk Award, and the Theatre World Award as Best Featured Actress in a Musical that year.
Musical Numbers
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Run
Apr 16, 1985 – Jun 22, 1985 – Musical, Original – Mark Hellinger Theatre, New York, NY
Productions
It opened on Broadway at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on April 16, 1985 and closed on June 22, 1985 after 71 performances and 25 previews.
Directed by Hal Prince, set design by Clarke Dunham, costume design by Florence Klotz, lighting design by Ken Billington, musical direction by Paul Gemignani, orchestrations by Bill Byers, additional orchestrations by Jim Tyler and Harold Wheeler, dance music arrangements by Tom Fay, dance music for New Man arranged by Gordon Harrell, with choreography by Lester Wilson, assistant choreography by Larry Vickers, and hair and make up by Richard Allen.
The cast included Ben Vereen (Leroy), Stubby Kaye (Gus), Lee Wallace (Harry), Joey Faye (Solly), Marion Ramsey (Vernelle), Hope Clarke (Ruby), Valarie Pettiford (Fleta), Candy Brown (Kitty), Wynonna Smith (Linette), Carol Woods (Maybelle), Sharon Murray (Romaine), Brian McKay (Louis, the Stage Manager), Oscar Stokes (Mike, the Doorman), Leonard John Crofoot, Timothy Nolen (Doyle), Donald Acree (Grover), Ruth Brisbane (Mrs. Faye) and Leilani Jones (Satin the stripper). Knockabouts, Bums, and Toughs portrayed by Leonard John Crofoot, Ray Roderick, Kelly Walters, Steve Owsley, Malcolm Perry.
Original Cast 1985
| Leilani Jones | Satin | |
| Stubby Kaye | Gus | |
| Timothy Nolen | Doyle | |
| Ben Vereen | Leroy |
| Donald Acree | Grover | |
| Ruth Brisbane | Mrs. Faye | |
| Candy Brown | Kitty | |
| Hope Clarke | Ruby | |
| Leonard John Crofoot | Knockabout | |
| Stooge | ||
| Tough | ||
| Joey Faye | Solly | |
| Brian McKay | Louis the Stage Manager |
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| Sharon Murray | Romaine | |
| Steve Owsley | Knockabout | |
| Tough | ||
| Jackie Jay Patterson | Mechanical Man | |
| Malcolm Perry | Knockabout | |
| Tough | ||
| Valarie Pettiford | Fleta | |
| Marion Ramsey | Vernelle | |
| Ray Roderick | Knockabout | |
| Tough | ||
| Wynonna Smith | Linette | |
| Oscar Stokes | Mike the Doorman |
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| Lee Wallace | Harry | |
| Kelly Walters | Knockabout | |
| Tough | ||
| Carol Woods | Maybelle |
| Swing: David Reitman |
| Understudies: Dwight Baxter (Mechanical Man), Ruth Brisbane (Maybelle), Candy Brown (Satin), Dana Lorge (Romaine), Brian McKay (Doyle, Mike), Jackie Jay Patterson (Leroy), David Reitman (Louis), Raymond Rickman (Grover), Gayle Samuels (Fleta, Kitty, Linette, Ruby, Vernelle), Oscar Stokes (Gus, Harry, Solly) and Carol Woods (Mrs. Faye) |
Creative Original 1985
Book by Fay Kanin; Music by Larry Grossman; Lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh; Musical Director: Paul Gemignani; Music orchestrated by Bill Byers; Dance arrangements by Tom Fay; From an idea by Alan Handley and Bob Wynn; Additional orchestrations by Harold Wheeler and Jim Tyler; Dance music for “New Man” arranged by Gordon Harrell
Directed by Harold Prince; Choreographed by Lester Wilson; Assistant Choreographer: Larry Vickers Scenic Design by Clarke Dunham; Costume Design by Florence Klotz; Lighting Design by Ken Billington; Hair Design by Richard Allen; Make-Up Design by Richard Allen; Sound Design by Otts Munderloh
Awards and Nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Tony Award | Best Musical | Nominated | |
| Best Book of a Musical | Fay Kanin | Nominated | ||
| Best Original Score | Larry Grossman and Ellen Fitzhugh | Nominated | ||
| Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical | Leilani Jones | Won | ||
| Best Direction of a Musical | Harold Prince | Nominated | ||
| Best Scenic Design | Clarke Dunham | Nominated | ||
| Best Costume Design | Florence Klotz | Won | ||
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Timothy Nolen | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Leilani Jones | Won | ||
| Sharon Murray | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Orchestrations | Bill Byers | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Lyrics | Ellen Fitzhugh | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Music | Larry Grossman | Won | ||
| Outstanding Set Design | Clarke Dunham | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Lighting Design | Ken Billington | Nominated | ||
| Theatre World Award | Leilani Jones | Won | ||
References
- New York Times, Jesse McKinley, May 17, 2002
- Ken Mandelbaum, “The Insider”, 5/24/2004, broadway.com
External Links
- Grind at the Internet Broadway Database
- plot and other information at rationalmagic
- American Theatre Wing: Working in the Theatre seminar “Production: Grind” April 1985
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