Postcards On Parade

Postcards on Parade, the new musical in previews at the York Theatre Company in Manhattan has been returned to sender: The York canceled the problematic show April 20. Postcards on Parade, the new musical in previews at the York Theatre Company in Manhattan has been returned to sender: The York canceled the problematic show April 20. Despite previews April 14-19 (after a delay of several days), artistic director James Morgan shut down the four-actor tuner after the evening performance April 19. A letter is being sent to the York's 600 subscribers admitting that the new show, by lyricist-librettist Kenward Elmslie and composer Steven Taylor, "isn't working" and is "not ready." Subscribers to the York's three-show mainstage season are being credited with the Postcards on Parade was supposed to begin previews April 11, but that first performance was bumped to April 14. Clayton Phillips, a Hal Prince protégé who staged Kiss of the Spider Woman abroad, was director. Poet Elmslie previously penned a Broadway musical stage version of The Grass Harp, drawing from Truman Capote's story. In the final years of John Latouche's life, Elmslie was the lyricist's "significant other," according to a Playbill bio. He has also penned libretti for six operas. The Postcards on Parade cast was to feature Jennifer Allen (Cats, Little Me), John Hillner (Footloose), Mark Lotito (The Most Happy Fella) and Randy Redd (Parade, By Jeeves). According to the Playbill, songs in the new tuner included "It's a Good Life," "Busy Correspondence Card," "P-P-P-Pain," "King Kong Stan," "Paradise of Beauty," "One Day at a Time," "Take Me Away, Roy Rogers." Andy Blankenbuehler, a dancer featured prominently in Fosse and Saturday Night Fever, was choreographer. Designers were Morgan (set), Mary Jo Dondlinger (lighting), Lynn Bowling (costumes) and Michael Clark (projections). Musical direction and arrangements were by Jack Aaronson.

Track Listing

1    Act One, Scene 1: Postcards on Parade
2    Act One, Scene 1: Queen Victoria's Benediction
3    Act One, Scene 1: I Remember/Picture Postcard Poifect
4    Act One, Scene 1: Moments in Time
5    Act One, Scene 2: The Middle of Nowhere
6    Act One, Scene 3: Suicide Rap
7    Act One, Scene 3: Cheeky Kiki
8    Act Two: Uranian Besieged
9    Act Two: One Day at a Time
10    Act Two: Seventeen Years of Living Hell
11    Act Two: Take Me Away, Roy Rogers
12    Act Two: Regina, la Postcard Queen of la Breeze Marina
13    Act Two: It's a Good Life
14    Act Two: Envoi/Postcards on Parade