Original Cast: Celebration

This reissue of a classic original cast recording was tailor-made for discriminating lovers of musical theater. Written by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt (The Fantasticks, 110 in the Shade and I Do! I Do!). Celebration was produced on Broadway in 1969 and is considered one of the most provocative musicals of the decade.

The late Jones wrote this for the reissue: “Celebration, along with Hair, was one of the 1960s shows that sought to reinvent our musical theater....The score is rich and varied, the premise interesting and the characters and scenes funny and touching. I’m so grateful to Harbinger Records for wanting to share it with at least three generations!” 

In this battle between the Old Year and the New (the authors called it their “ritual musical”), Jones & Schmidt mixed symbolic figures with then-current prototypes. “Thus the Old Man typifies all the misgivings that the youth culture of the time had about the previous generation,” said author Jones. “The Young Boy is the ultimate flower child. The Narrator is a Sixties dropout who’s into booze and drugs. And the Girl is a teenybopper dreaming of being a celebrity.”

The package contains a 24-page booklet with notes by Jones; memories from two original-cast members, Susan Watson and Michael Glenn-Smith; and many recently unearthed photos of the original production. 

Track Listing

1. Celebration .... Potemkin and the Revelers
2. Orphan in the Storm .... Orphan and the Revelers
3. Survive .... Potemkin and the Revelers
4. Somebody .... Angel and the Hittites
5. Bored .... Rich
6. My Garden .... Orphan and the Revelers
7. Where Did It Go? .... Rich and the Revelers
8. Love Song .... Angel, Potemkin, Rich, Orphan and the Revelers
9. I'm Glad To See You've Got What You Want .... Angel, Orphan
10. It's You Who Makes Me Young .... Rich and the Revelers
11. Not My Problem .... Potemkin and the Machines
12. Fifty Million Years Ago .... Orphan and Potemkin
13. Under the Tree .... Angel and the Animals
14. Winter and Summer .... Everyone
15. Celebration (Finale) .... Everyone