Full Synopsis
Act One
The show opens with a woman stating simply that, no matter what good or bad things happen in life, the world continues, and life goes on ("And the World Goes 'Round"). The rest of the cast joins her to express the philosophy of saying yes to get the most out of life ("Yes"). They then explore the problem with a life that is far too rushed and highly caffeinated ("Coffee in a Cardboard Cup").
Elsewhere, a man is trying to get his wife to remember happier times so that he can see her smile again ("The Happy Time"). The woman, however, can only seem to remember fragments of her youth, thus noticing that there now seems to be something missing from her life ("Colored Lights"). Two people, who have an easier time finding happiness, appear. A man finds happiness in Sara Lee products ("Sara Lee"), while the woman has discovered a great way to lower her stress levels ("Arthur in the Afternoon").
We move on to hear stories of loss and love ("And the World Goes 'Round – Reprise"). The first is from a woman who has watched the man that she trusted walk away forever ("My Coloring Book"). Next is a man choosing not to think of those memories ("I Don't Remember You"), as well as another man who is trying to remember the last time a whole day went by without thinking about the love he lost ("Sometimes a Day Goes By"). The audience is then propelled into a more salacious time, where a woman invites us to a raucous evening of booze and music ("All That Jazz"). Two women – clearly not the perfect examples of class – complain about the current days of loose values and empty morals ("Class"). Meanwhile, a man laments that, no matter what he does, he is never going to be noticed ("Mr. Cellophane"). The cast comes together to assure the audience that everything will be okay ("Me and My Baby").
Next, three women come together to emulate an old vocal jazz routine à la the Andrews Sisters ("There Goes the Ball Game"). The number is followed by commentary on what it is like to be living the high life in style ("How Lucky Can You Get?"). Two men come together to discuss how women would rather go to the skating rink for dates than a nice evening out, and the women join them, all on skates, hailing the joys of the rink ("The Rink").
Act Two
The act begins with the story of a woman who travels around the world to find a husband, only to fall for the boy next door, after meeting him in a foreign country ("Ring Them Bells"). We are then told of the dangers of the Spider Woman ("Kiss of the Spider Woman"). Elsewhere, a woman longs for love as she watches two lovers pass by ("Only Love"). The man proposes, but the woman, somewhat bewildered, turns him down ("Marry Me"). After he leaves, she realizes that she does actually love him, but she had trouble realizing it because it was not what she expected ("A Quiet Thing"). He returns, and they dance together. She accepts his proposal. They continue dancing, and the others join them. There, they all wonder why dancers don't ever talk about how much it hurts to dance ("Pain"). Afterwards, we see two women greeting each other, when a man comes up and asks for an autograph. One of them is a Broadway star. He ignores the other woman, and, after he leaves, the two women comment on how the other lives ("The Grass Is Always Greener").
We now return to the theme of love ("And the World Goes 'Round – Reprise"). A man is sure that, with love, they can get through anything ("We Can Make It"). A woman then hopes that, this time, things will be better with her man ("Maybe This Time"). Another woman wonders if life is better with a friend instead of a lover ("Isn't This Better").
The cast begins to look at another part of life ("And the World Goes 'Round – Reprise") as they all find themselves in a bit of chaos when they see what really makes the world go around ("Money, Money"). They remind us all to live life to its fullest ("Cabaret"). They also reiterate the idea that, no matter what, the world will continue to turn ("And the World Goes 'Round – Finale"). Finally, the cast members each take on a different language as they remark on the joys of New York ("New York, New York").
Show History
Inspiration
The World Goes 'Round is a musical revue showcasing the songs of John Kander and Fred Ebb. The revue takes its title from a tune that the songwriting team wrote for Liza Minnelli to sing in the Martin Scorsese film, New York, New York.
The show consists of an eclectic collection of love songs, torch songs and acerbicly witty comic numbers. It was conceived by director, Scott Ellis; choreographer, Susan Stroman; and librettist, David Thompson, who collaborated on such Kander and Ebb shows as Steel Pier and the 1996 revival of Chicago. David Loud created the vocal and dance arrangements.
Productions
The World Goes 'Round premiered in New York City on March 18, 1991, at the Westside Theatre. Its cast included Karen Ziemba, Robert Cuccioli, Karen Mason, Brenda Pressley and Jim Walton. The show received critical praise and a satisfying run of 408 performances.
Starting in August 1992, Ziemba, Blum and Mazzie were joined by John Ruess and Shelley Dickinson for a ten-month U.S. national tour. With scenic and technical embellishments added and the title simplified to The World Goes 'Round, the revised edition included mostly upbeat, unfamiliar songs from the team's lesser-known musicals.
Throughout the years, the revue has been staged by regional and community theatre groups and as a fringe theatre production in London.
Cultural Influence
- An original cast recording was released by RCA Records in 1991.
- John Kander and Fred Ebb were a highly successful songwriting team, whose stage musicals are an important part of the musical theatre canon. "New York, New York" was one of their most famous songs and was recorded by Frank Sinatra.
Trivia
- Although the original cast featured Karen Ziemba, Robert Cuccioli, Karen Mason, Brenda Pressley and Jim Walton, Natalie Venetia Belcon, Joel Blum and Marin Mazzie were replacements later in the run.
- After reaping accolades for his conception of this show, director, Scott Ellis, went on to direct many more popular productions, including a smash Broadway revival of She Loves Me, as well as a revival of Picnic. Creative choreographer, Susan Stroman, advanced to choreographing the long-running musicals, Crazy for You and The Producers, as well as the Harold Prince mega-revival, Show Boat, among others.
- The show was originally called And the World Goes 'Round; the title was changed to streamline it.
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Harold Prince has won more Tony Awards than anyone else (20): eight for directing, eight for producing, two as producer of the year's Best Musical and two special Tony Awards.
Critical Reaction
"And the World Goes 'Round: The Songs of Kander and Ebb, the new revue at the commodiously renovated Westside Theater, may be its authors' long overdue smash. The evening is an unexpected delight: a handsome, tasteful, snazzily staged outpouring of song and dance that celebrates all the virtues of the Kander-Ebb catalogue while scrupulously avoiding most of the cloying cliches of and-then-I-wrote anthologies. The revue is sophisticated enough to satisfy aficionados like myself, who recently spent a week's allowance to replace a worn copy of the out-of-print cast album of "The Happy Time," and welcoming enough to convert new audiences to the Kander-Ebb fold. The five fresh performers, mostly familiar but unheralded Broadway hands, are the best team of its sort to hit town since the quintet in Ain't Misbehavin'."
– Frank Rich, The New York Times
"Part musical revue, part Jukebox musical and part theatrical magic, The World Goes 'Round offers the perfect way to reacquaint yourself with familiar favorites and discover lesser known gems."
– Stage and Cinema, Los Angeles
Drama Desk Award
Best Choreography
Outstanding Director - Musical
Outstanding Featured Actress - Musical
Outstanding Musical Revue
Outer Critics Circle Award
Best Off Broadway Musical Revue
Outstanding Musical
Connect
Billing
- Music by
- Lyrics by
- Conceived by
Requirements
Music by
JOHN KANDER
(50%)
|
Lyrics by
FRED EBB
(50%)
|
|
Included Materials
Item | Quantity Included |
---|---|
LIBRETTO/VOCAL BOOK | 8 |
PIANO CONDUCTOR'S SCORE ACT 1 | 2 |
PIANO CONDUCTOR'S SCORE ACT 2 | 2 |
SONG PACKET | 1 |
Production Resources
Resource |
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CHOREOGRAPHY & DIRECTION MANUAL |
HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON-10/CS |
HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON? |
KEYBOARDTEK |
PRODUCTIONPRO-DIGITAL SCRIPT/SCORE |
REFERENCE RECORDING |
STAGE WRITE APPLICATION |
STANDARD ORCHESTRATION
Instrumentation | Doubling |
---|---|
BASS | |
DRUMS | BELLS , CABASA , DUCK CALL , GLOCKENSPIEL , HOTEL BELL , KIT , MARK TREE , POLICE WHISTLE , RACHET , SLEIGH BELLS , SLIDE WHISTLE , TAMBOURINE , TEMPLE BLOCKS , TRIANGLE , TYMPANI , WOOD BLOCK |
KEYBOARD 1 | |
PIANO | PIANO |
REED 1 | ALTO SAXOPHONE , CLARINET , FLUTE , PICCOLO , SOPRANO SAX |
TROMBONE | |
TRUMPET | FLUGELHORN , TRUMPET |