Copacabana (musical)

Copacabana is a TV-musical, stage musical, and nightclub show written by Barry Manilow, based on the song of the same name. The show toured the United States and, as of 2006, became available to license to performing companies and schools for the first time.[1]

Contents 1 "Copacabana" TV film (1985) 1.1 Plotline 1.2 Production 2 Atlantic City stage show (1990-1991) 3 Stage musical UK (1994-1996) 4 Stage musical US (2000) 5 Stage musical Sweden (2005) 6 Synopsis 7 Characters 8 References 9 External links

"Copacabana" TV film (1985)
Copacabana (television movie)

Soundtrack album by Barry Manilow

Released 1985

Plotline

In 1948, wannabe singer Lola meets aspiring songwriter Tony when both are contestants on a radio show. Tony is immediately smitten with Lola and assists her flailing attempts to break into show business. At Manhattan's Copacabana lounge, both start finding fame. However, fate steps in and Lola is swept to Havana to work in a splashy night club act where she is convinced she will find her stardom, while Tony finds his own career gaining speed at the Copa. But Lola's new mentor and boss Rico may demand a price for putting Lola's name in lights...

Production

The television project began when Dick Clark approached Manilow and cowriters Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman, and persuaded them to develop a musical film around their popular song, "Copacabana."

The made-for-TV film, directed by Waris Hussein and written for television by James Lipton, was aired on CBS television on December 3, 1985. In this version, Annette O'Toole's Lola was from Chicago, Illinois. In future adaptations the character's origin changes.

The album produced from the movie is titled Copacabana: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Album.

Songs debuting in the movie version:[2] "Sweet Heaven (I'm In Love Again)" - Tony "Changing My Tune" - Tony "Let's go Steppin'" - Copa Girls "Man Wanted" - Lola "Call Me Mr. Lucky" - Tony "Lola" - Tony "Who Needs To Dream" - Tony "¡Aye Caramba!" - Copa Girls "El Bravo" - Lola

The principal cast of the 1985 film:[3] Barry Manilow – Tony Starr Annette O'Toole – Lola La Mar Estelle Getty – Bella Stern James T. Callahan – Dennis Riley Andra Akers – Pamela Devereaux Silvana Gallardo – Conchita Alverez Joseph Bologna – Rico Castelli Ernie Sabella – Sam Silver

The movie was nominated in 1986 for two Emmy Awards in the categories of "Outstanding Achievement in Choreography," by Grover Dale, and won in the category of "Outstanding Directing in a Variety or Music Program."[4]

Atlantic City stage show (1990-1991)
It was next developed into an hour-long show for Caesars Circus Maximus Theatre in Atlantic City "Barry Manilow Presents Copacabana" starring Sean Sullivan as Tony/Stephen and Hillary Turk as Lola. It ran from September 1990 to June 1991 and had a cast of 20 singers and dancers which Manilow directed, with a script and song score created by Manilow and his longtime collaborators Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman. The music track to this version of the show leaned heavily on the 1985 movie soundtrack. The show played to over 100,000 people in its first six months and received rave reviews as the "must-see casino show" in Atlantic City.[5] From this adaptation on forward the character Lola was from Tulsa, Oklahoma as stated in the beginning of "Just Arrived".

Unreleased Barry Manilow Presents Copacabana Cast Recording

Side One"Overture" (from 1985 movie) "Copacabana" (1978 Barry Manilow version) +"Just Arrived" - Lola ++"Dancin Fool" - Copa Girls "Let's Go Steppin" - Copa Girls "Man Wanted" - Lola "Lola/Who Needs To Dream" - Tony Copa Writing Rico - Stephen "!Aye Caramba!" - Copa Girls Side Two+"Bolero de Amor" - Rico "Sweet Heaven (I'm In Love Again)" - Tony +"Welcome To Havana" - Conchita "Mermaids Tale" "El Bravo" - Lola and Tropicana cast "Who Needs To Dream" (reprise) Copa Finale "Copacabana 1985" (from soundtrack sung by Barry Manilow)

+ = Songs debuting in this version ++ = Song debuted in 1988 Big Fun on Swing Street CBS television special

Stage musical UK (1994-1996)
Barry Manilow's Copacabana

Soundtrack album by Barry Manilow

Released 1994

In 1994, the one-hour show was expanded into a three million dollar full-length musical. It premiered on March 21, 1994, at Theatre Royal in Plymouth, England. It also played Manchester, Edinburgh and then London's West End at the Prince of Wales Theatre from June 23, 1994 to September 9, 1996.[6][7] It followed with a UK tour for an additional year.

This adaptation originally starred Gary Wilmot as Tony/Stephen and Nicola Dawn as Lola.

An original cast album of this production was released, titled Copacabana: Original London Cast Recording.

Stage musical US (2000)
The UK stage musical adaptation, also known as Barry Manilow's Copacabana: A New Musical Comedy, had its American premiere at Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera (Pittsburgh CLO) in 2000 followed by a run as part of the Dallas Summer Musical season. The book is by Barry Manilow, Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman; lyrics by Bruce Sussman and Jack Feldman, and music by: Barry Manilow. Direction was by David Warren with choreography by Wayne Cilento. Pittsburgh and Dallas were the first two engagements of a US national that ran from June 2000 through May 2001. The cast included Franc D'Ambrosio as Tony, Darcie Roberts as Lola, Terry Burrell as Conchita, Philip Hernandez as Rico, Beth McVey as Gladys and Gavin MacLeod (followed by Dale Radunz) as Sam.[8]

Stage musical Sweden (2005)
The show was translated to Swedish and set up by Linneateatern [2] at Växjö, Sweden, in the fall of 2005. The songs were translated to Swedish by actor John Martin Bengtsson [3], who played Stephen/Tony in the show.

Synopsis
The story follows Stephen, a young aspiring songwriter, as he composes what he hopes will become a hit musical.

His imagination takes him back to 1947 as he creates a story surrounding an ambitious young singer Lola la Mar who arrives in New York City from Tulsa hoping to become a star. Meanwhile, Tony Forte, a 1947 incarnation of Stephen, is attempting to make it as a songwriter while tending bar at the famous Copacabana Nightclub. Tony instantly falls for Lola as she wanders into the Copacabana. He, along with former "Copa Girl" Gladys, introduce her to the owner of the club Sam Silver, to get her a job as a new Copa Girl. The two try to make it in New York in their respective fields, but do not find it easy. After Tony helps Lola improve a song written by her former music teacher, Sam gives her a job as a Copa Girl at his club. The two fall in love, as Tony writes a song for Lola as she listens.

Stephen's voice can be heard narrating the events as Rico Castelli, an Italian gangster from Cuba, enters the Copacabana with the now-waning star Conchita Alvarez. Sam confronts Rico about the disappearance of Copa Girls each time he comes to the club, and demands he leave. However, Rico, armed with thugs, is able to stay long enough to meet and develop an interest in Lola la Mar. He drugs her and flies her back to Havana, Cuba, to star in his own nightclub -the Tropicana.

In Havana, Rico informs Conchita that she will be replaced by a new, younger actress: Lola. Conchita, frustrated and upset, goes to Lola in order to "welcome" her. Back at the Copacabana, Tony, Sam, and Gladys learn that Lola was kidnapped and taken to Cuba. Tony immediately heads to save her, and Sam, after some convincing from Gladys, agrees to help him. Conchita, initially intending to threaten Lola, finds that she is truly a victim, and instead treats her with sympathy. Stephen can be seen again, this time expressing his love for the troubled Lola, while also sharing his lament for she is merely a figment of his imagination.

Tony and Sam, now in Cuba, find Conchita and asks her for her help. She agrees, and pretends to guide Lola to become her replacement, while telling her to play along. Near the end of the Tropicana performance of "El Bravo," Tony runs on stage, reunited with Lola once again. However, Rico is close behind, waving a gun, and points the barrel at Tony. A single gunshot is heard, and Rico falls to the floor. Conchita, saving Tony and Lola from the perils she faced for years, shot her love Rico to his death.

Tony and Lola are finally reunited and go back happily to the Copacabana.

Back in the present, Stephen has finished his song. His wife, Samantha, is urging him to dress for their anniversary dinner. Stephen realizes that Lola was simply an incarnation of his wife, and finds he has a new sense of love for her. Her parents, who were the base for the characters Sam and Gladys, also appear, and he realizes his imagination had simply morphed reality into something a bit more elaborate.

Characters
The Present DayStephen – A young songwriter, who doubles as Tony in 1947 Samantha – Stephen's wife, who doubles as Lola Lamar in 1947 1947Tony Forte – Young, good-looking and talented. A struggling songwriter by day, by night he works at the Copacabana. Lola Lamar – A young, pretty girl with misguided ambitions to become a Broadway star. Gladys Murphy – A cheeky, warm-hearted cigarette girl at the Copacabana. Sam Silver – The gruff but kind manager of the Copacabana. Rico Castelli – An elegant but dangerous gangster who manages The Tropicana in Havana. Conchita Alvarez – A Latina bombshell of the first order and Rico's long-suffering partner/girlfriend. McManus – A New York cop of Irish descent. Willie – A waiter at the Copacabana. Carlos – A tropicana performer Luis – Rico's enforcer and bodyguard Skip – The house choreographer at the Copacabana. Maitre D' – The Snooty Headwaiter/host of the Copacabana. Coat Check Girl – Works at the Copacabana. Piano Accompanist Messers Hammerstein, Rodgers, Lerner, Lowe – Audition Lola for musicals A Back-of-the-House Voice – Plays various show writers, producers, a record producer Mr. Brill – A music publisher Another Music Publisher – Non-speaking Announcer – At The Tropicana Pirate Captain – At The Tropicana, in El Bravo Veronica Lake – Non-speaking Her Escort – Non-speaking x3 Bolero Couples Chorus – Show Girls, Show Boys, Copa Girls, Copa Boys, Tropicana Boys, Tropicana Girls, Copa Guests, Tropicana Guests, Pirates, Pirettes, Cops, Waiters, Busboys, Sailors, Fancy Gents, Thugs, Auditioners, Commuters, Porters, Rosie the Riveter, a Nurse, a WAC, a WAVE, a Salvation Army Sergeant

MUSICAL SYNOPSIS The action takes place in 1947 and 1980.

ACT I "Overture"........................................................................................................................... Orchestra Scene 1: Somewhere In Stephen's Imagination/Stephen's Studio, 1980 "Copa Opening"................................................................................................... Stephen, Company Scene 2: Grand Central Station, New York City, 1947 "Just Arrived"................................................................................................................ Lola, Women Scene 3: The Copacabana, 1947, Evening "Dancing Fool"....................................................................................................... Tony, Copa Boys "Sweet Heaven"...................................................................................... Tony, Copa Girls and Boys Scene 4: Various Audition Rooms In New York, The Next Day "Audition Montage"..................................................... Male Auditioner, Lola, Tony, Jingle Singers Scene 5: Outside The Copa, Late Afternoon "Copa Girl"............................................................................................................................. Gladys Scene 6: The Copacabana, Immediately Following "Man Wanted"............................................................................................................................. Lola "Who Needs To Dream".......................................................................................... Tony, Copa Girls Scene 7: The Copa, Several Weeks Later "I Gotta Be Bad"...................................................................................................... Lola, Copa Girls "Bolero D'Amore"......................................................................................................... Rico, Chorus

'*ACT II' "Entr'acte"........................................................................................................................... Orchestra Scene 1: The Tropicana Nightclub, Havana "Havana/Caramba".............................................................................. Conchita, Tropicana Dancers Scene 2: Backstage, The Copacabana "Who Am I Kidding"............................................. Sam, Willie, McManus, Gladys, Two Showgirls "Who Am I Kidding (Reprise)"...................................... Gladys, Two Showgirls, Willie, McManus Scene 3: A Bedroom In Rico's Compound, Havana "This Can't Be Real".................................................................................................... Lola, Stephen Scene 4: The Stage of The Tropicana, Rehearsal, A Few Hours Later Scene 5: The Tropicana Stage, Several Nights Later "El Bravo"................................................................................................... Lola, Tropicana Dancers Scene 6: The Tropicana Stage, Minutes Later/The Copa, A Few Days Later "Sweet Heaven 2".......................................................................... Tony, Lola, Copa Girls and Boys "This Can't Be Real (Reprise)"................................................................................................... Tony Scene 7: Stephen's Studio, 1980 "Finale Act Two".................................................................................................. Stephen, Company "Copacabana Finale"............................................................................................ Stephen, Company**