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{{short description|1983 American musical play}}
{{Infobox Musical
{{Infobox Musical
|name= Dance a Little Closer
|name= Dance a Little Closer
|subtitle=
|subtitle=

|image= DanceCloser.jpg
|image= DanceCloser.jpg
|image_size= 150px
|image_size= 150px
|caption= Original Cast Recording
|caption= Original Cast Recording
|music= [[Charles Strouse]]
|music= [[Charles Strouse]]
|lyrics=[[Alan Jay Lerner]]
|lyrics=[[Alan Jay Lerner]]
|book= [[Alan Jay Lerner]]
|book= Alan Jay Lerner
|basis= [[Robert E. Sherwood]]'s play ''[[Idiot's Delight]]'
|basis= [[Robert E. Sherwood]]'s play ''[[Idiot's Delight (play)|Idiot's Delight]]''
|productions= [[1983]] [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]]
|productions= 1983 [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]]
<!-- Please do not include production-specific (acting, directing, etc.) awards -->
<!-- Please do not include production-specific (acting, directing, etc.) awards -->
|awards=
|awards=
}}
}}
'''''Dance a Little Closer''''' is a [[musical theatre|musical]] with a book and lyrics by [[Alan Jay Lerner]] and music by [[Charles Strouse]].
'''''Dance a Little Closer''''' is a musical with a book and lyrics by [[Alan Jay Lerner]] and music by [[Charles Strouse]]. The story is an updated version of [[Robert E. Sherwood]]'s 1936 antiwar comedy ''[[Idiot's Delight (play)|Idiot's Delight]]''.


==Plot overview==
An updated version of [[Robert E. Sherwood]]'s 1936 antiwar comedy ''[[Idiot's Delight]]'', it's set on [[New Year's Eve]] "in the avoidable future" in the grand [[Alps|Alpine]] Barclay Palace Hotel, where the guests find themselves in the midst of a potential [[Nuclear weapon|nuclear]] [[Armageddon]]. At its core are [[United States|American]] [[crooner]] Harry Aikens and Cynthia Brookfield-Bailey, who may have had a romantic fling years earlier. Among the others present are Cynthia's current [[paramour]], [[Henry Kissinger]]-like [[diplomat]] Dr. Josef Winkler, a [[gay]] couple, a [[Minister (Christianity)|minister]], and a [[freedom fighter]].
The musical is set on New Year's Eve "in the avoidable future" in the grand Alpine Barclay Palace Hotel, where the guests find themselves in the midst of a potential [[Nuclear weapon|nuclear]] [[Armageddon]]. The characters are American singer Harry Aikens and Cynthia Brookfield-Bailey, who may have had a romantic fling years earlier. Among the others present are Cynthia's current paramour, [[Henry Kissinger]]-like diplomat Dr. Josef Winkler, a gay couple, a minister, and a [[freedom fighter]].


==Production==
After twenty-five previews, the [[Broadway theatre|Broadway production]], directed by Lerner and [[choreographed]] by [[Billy Wilson]], opened on [[May 11]], [[1983]] at the [[Minskoff Theatre]], where it closed after one performance. The cast included [[Len Cariou]], [[Liz Robertson]], [[George Rose (actor)|George Rose]], [[Don Chastain]], [[Brent Barrett]], and [[Alyson Reed]].
The musical opened on Broadway at the [[Minskoff Theatre]] on May 11, 1983, where it closed after one performance<ref>{{Cite news|date=1983-05-13|title='Dance Closer' Ends|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/05/13/theater/dance-closer-ends.html|access-date=2023-04-12|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and 25 previews. Directed by Lerner and choreographed by [[Billy Wilson (choreographer)|Billy Wilson]], the cast included [[Len Cariou]], [[Noel Craig]], [[Liz Robertson]], [[George Rose (actor)|George Rose]], [[Don Chastain]], [[Jeff Keller]], [[Brent Barrett]], and [[Alyson Reed]].<ref name="The Broadway League 1983">{{cite web | author=The Broadway League | title=Dance a Little Closer – Broadway Musical – Original | website=IBDB | date=May 11, 1983 | url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/4227 | access-date=April 12, 2023}}</ref> Show business insiders dubbed it "Dance a Little Faster...Close a Little Sooner."{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}


In his [[New York Times]] review [http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=9F02EED61338F931A25756C0A965948260], [[Frank Rich]] described it as "a huge, extravagant mishmash . . . that seems to have taken on a rampaging, self-destructive life of its own," a sentiment similar to those expressed by the other critics.
In his ''New York Times'' review [[Frank Rich]] described it as "a huge, extravagant mishmash...that seems to have taken on a rampaging, self-destructive life of its own," a sentiment similar to those expressed by the other critics.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rich|first=Frank|date=1983-05-12|title=Stage: Lerner Musical 'Dance a Little Closer'|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/05/12/theater/stage-lerner-musical-dance-a-little-closer.html|access-date=2023-04-12|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>


An [[cast album|original cast recording]] is available on [[compact disc|CD]].
An original cast recording is available on CD.


==Song list==
==Song list==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{{col-2}}
;Act I
;Act I
*It Never Would've Worked
*It Never Would've Worked
*Happy, Happy New Year
*Happy, Happy New Year
*No Man is Worth It
*No Man Is Worth It
*What are You Going to Do About It?
*What Are You Going to Do About It?
*A Woman Who Thinks I'm Wonderful
*A Woman Who Thinks I'm Wonderful
*Pas de Deux
*Pas de Deux
*There's Never Been Anything Like Us
*There's Never Been Anything Like Us
*Another Life
*Another Life
*Why Can't the World Go and Leave Us Alone?
*Why Can't the World Go and Leave Us Alone?
*He Always Comes Home to Me
*He Always Comes Home to Me
*I Got a New Girl
*I Got a New Girl
Line 41: Line 45:
*There's Always One You Can't Forget
*There's Always One You Can't Forget
{{col-break}}
{{col-break}}
;Act II
;Act II
*Homesick
*Homesick
*Mad
*Mad
Line 51: Line 55:
*Dance a Little Closer (Reprise)
*Dance a Little Closer (Reprise)
{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
* {{IBDB title | 4227 | Dance a Little Closer}}
* [http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=4227/ Internet Broadway Database listing]
* [http://www.guidetomusicaltheatre.com/shows_d/dance_closer.htm Production, plot and songs at guidetomusicaltheatre.com]

{{Charles Strouse}}
{{Charles Strouse}}
{{Authority control}}


[[Category:1983 musicals]]
[[Category:1983 musicals]]
[[Category:Broadway musicals]]
[[Category:Broadway musicals]]
[[Category:Musicals based on plays]]
[[Category:Musicals based on plays]]
[[Category:LGBT-related musicals]]
[[Category:Musicals by Alan Jay Lerner]]
[[Category:Musicals by Charles Strouse]]
[[Category:New Year fiction]]
[[Category:Musicals set in hotels]]

Latest revision as of 17:51, 6 May 2023

Dance a Little Closer
Original Cast Recording
MusicCharles Strouse
LyricsAlan Jay Lerner
BookAlan Jay Lerner
BasisRobert E. Sherwood's play Idiot's Delight
Productions1983 Broadway

Dance a Little Closer is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Charles Strouse. The story is an updated version of Robert E. Sherwood's 1936 antiwar comedy Idiot's Delight.

Plot overview[edit]

The musical is set on New Year's Eve "in the avoidable future" in the grand Alpine Barclay Palace Hotel, where the guests find themselves in the midst of a potential nuclear Armageddon. The characters are American singer Harry Aikens and Cynthia Brookfield-Bailey, who may have had a romantic fling years earlier. Among the others present are Cynthia's current paramour, Henry Kissinger-like diplomat Dr. Josef Winkler, a gay couple, a minister, and a freedom fighter.

Production[edit]

The musical opened on Broadway at the Minskoff Theatre on May 11, 1983, where it closed after one performance[1] and 25 previews. Directed by Lerner and choreographed by Billy Wilson, the cast included Len Cariou, Noel Craig, Liz Robertson, George Rose, Don Chastain, Jeff Keller, Brent Barrett, and Alyson Reed.[2] Show business insiders dubbed it "Dance a Little Faster...Close a Little Sooner."[citation needed]

In his New York Times review Frank Rich described it as "a huge, extravagant mishmash...that seems to have taken on a rampaging, self-destructive life of its own," a sentiment similar to those expressed by the other critics.[3]

An original cast recording is available on CD.

Song list[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "'Dance Closer' Ends". The New York Times. 1983-05-13. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-04-12.
  2. ^ The Broadway League (May 11, 1983). "Dance a Little Closer – Broadway Musical – Original". IBDB. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  3. ^ Rich, Frank (1983-05-12). "Stage: Lerner Musical 'Dance a Little Closer'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-04-12.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dance_a_Little_Closer&oldid=1153485654"