Sweet Smell of Success is a musical created by Marvin Hamlisch (music), Craig Carnelia (lyrics), and John Guare (book). The show is based on the 1957 movie of the same name, which tells the story of a powerful newspaper columnist named J. J. Hunsecker (based on famed New York columnist Walter Winchell) who uses his connections to ruin his sister’s relationship with a man he deems inappropriate. Directed by Nicholas Hytner, the musical opened on March 14, 2002 at the Martin Beck Theatre on Broadway. It closed on June 15, 2002, after 109 performances and 18 previews. The show starred John Lithgow as J.J. Hunsecker, and Brian d’Arcy James as Sidney Falcone. The creative team included choreography by Christopher Wheeldon, sets and costumes by Bob Crowely, and lighting by Natasha Katz. Sweet Smell garnered 7 Tony Award nominations including Best Musical. John Lithgow received the show’s only Tony Award, winning Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical.
Sweet Smell of Success
In 2011 the musical had a production by New York University students (NYU Steinhardt’s Program– 2011)
The Arts Educational School in London also had a production by third-year students during 2011:
LONDON, U.K. — “The Musical Sweet Smell of Success gets its British premiere in a production featuring third-year students of the Arts Educational school:
“I can only report that no musical this year has given me more pleasure: the story is gripping, the Marvin Hamlisch score dramatically powerful, and the dancing as good as you will find in any West End show. Musicals based on movies often betray the original: this one faithfully replicates the sombre savagery of the Alexander Mackendrick film. Set in New York in the early 1950s, it’s the story of a legendary showbiz columnist, JJ Hunsecker, closely modelled on Walter Winchell. But while JJ, which someone claims stands for “jugular, jugular”, patrols Manhattan’s sidewalks as if he owns them, he harbours an incestuous passion for his half-sister; and Sidney Falco, JJ’s acolyte, is forced into crime and corruption to protect his master’s Achilles heel.The plot may steer towards waterfront melodrama, but then so does that of Rigoletto. What matters is that John Guare’s witty book conveys the awesome power, and rightwing prejudice, of a column like that written by JJ. Hamlisch’s score also catches the frenzy of Manhattan life and is full of pleasing ironies: my favourite comes when a psalm in St Patrick’s Cathedral provides a bakground to the columnist’s Machiavellian scheming. Steven Bush here plays JJ with a self-possession and assurance that belies his years, Michael Woolston-Thomas is a suitably grubby Sidney, and the ensemble, in Guy Unsworth’s production, is terrific: I take my hat off to the girl in the red dress who did a hair-raising backward fall off a high rostrum. I’m just astonished that a musical as good as this, resembling an updated Duchess of Malfi, has lain neglected so long” Source: Michael Billington Guardian.co.uk, Sunday 6 November 2011
London — Sweet Smell of Success -
Source: Michael Billington Guardian.co.uk, Sunday 6 November 2011
Listen to samples of the musical score with the original Broadway cast:
This is a difficult musical to digest. Saw it in Broadway with John Lithgow as the main character. The music by Hamlisch is great and the production of the musical is FANTASTIC! But it played when the 9/11 feelings were still very tender and the subject did not click. It will come around…
Dear Marvin, thank you for sharing this information about your broadway musicals and your whole body of work! (all your “creations”.)
When I was 9 I was visiting my grandmother in NYC and my dad took me to see A Chorus Line — my first Broadway play. It was the first year it opened and I was absolutely thrilled. The fact that we were in the last row didn’t matter. I was enthralled and captivated the entire time. I loved all the songs and adored the dancing.
Now, 3 decades-plus later, I have taken up piano. While my spontaneous motivation was inspired by a desire to learn DeBussy’s Clair de Lune (and I can satisfactorily say I have accomplished that) — the basic arrangement anyhow -. I am now thoroughly enjoying learning What I did for love (the basic arrangement anyhow). It brings me so much joy, and fond memories of my premiere Broadway experience. The song/lyrics are beautiful. With age and experience, I more fully appreciate how truly insightful and meaningful the words are, not to mention the divine music itself.
No doubt you receive lots of fan mail like this, justifiably, expressing their sheer joy and pleasure in your music. I will happily add to that throng of fans. So, decades later, kilometers later (I now live in Australia), I wanted you to know how much your music transcends time and distance.
Thank you, Marvin. Cheers. Libby
My wife and I were privileged to see your performance at the Pizza Express Restaurant in Dean Street, London. Besides your music, which I regard in the highest manner, I was even more impressed with how you addressed the audience with humour and humility. So Thanks and comeback soon.
G.R.