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The music went 'round and around : the story of Musicarnival / John Vacha.
| Author/creator | Vacha, John |
| Format | Book |
| Publication Info | Kent, Ohio : Kent State University Press, ©2004. |
| Description | xi, 148 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm. |
| Subjects |
| Series | Cleveland theater series Vacha, John. Cleveland theater series. ^A587320 |
| Contents | Price's Folly -- Production years I: from Oklahoma! to opera -- Production years II: Cinderella story -- The package years: from Benny to burlesque -- Striking the tent. |
| Abstract | Spotting a trend in the early 1950s of staging summer theater in the round under tents, the author decided to give it a try. Consulting a local statistician to determine the geographical center of the culturally inclined population, the bull's-eye fell in Warrensville Heights, a Cleveland suburb that was also the home to Thistledown Race Track. The author opened his Musicarnival there, on the grounds of the race track, with a production of Oklahoma! in the summer of 1954. This book tells the story of this unique summer theater and of its ebullient founder, the author's venture was one of the last commercial legitimate theaters established in Cleveland. In its heyday the Musicar-nival had a capacity of 2500 and presented an average of eight to ten shows each summer. The backbone of the repertoire consisted of such musical classics as Carousel; Kiss Me, Kate; Wonderful Town; Fanny; Paint Your Wagon; and The Unsinkable Molly Brown. The summer schedule also featured popular solo acts, such as Louis Armstrong, Henny Youngman, Tom Jones, and even burlesque. Occasionally Price tried to sneak in an opera, letting the popular shows support these operatic flings. For the first eleven seasons the author principally used a resident stock company, occasionally bringing in a visiting star, if available and right for the role. Toward the end of the 1960s, however, the author was forced to adopt the star system to keep his tent filled. Dropping the stock company, he brought in packaged productions generally headlined by popular singing or television stars. Both offerings had strong followings, and Musicarnival kept the torch of musical theater burning brightly in Cleveland until 1975, when declining attendance finally forced its closing. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (pages 141-142) and index. |
| LCCN | 2003028275 |
| ISBN | 0873387988 (pbk. : alk. paper) |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music | Closed Stacks - Ask at Circulation Desk | ML1711.8.C57 V3 2004 | ✔ Available | Place Hold |