A new two-character musical play by Chip Deffaa...
Michael Townsend Wright, Jack Saleeby (photo by Jonathan M. Smith)
Irving Berlin
No one wrote more hit songs than Irving Berlin (1888-1989).
When the gifted composer Jerome Kern was asked: "What is Irving Berlin's place in American music?," Kern famously responded: "Irving Berlin has no place in American music. He is American music."
In this new two-character musical play, Deffaa traces the rags-to-riches story of this great American.
Jack Saleeby, Michael Townsend Wright (photo by Jonathan M. Smith)
Born in Russia, Berlin grew up on New York's Lower East Side. He rose to become the most popular, and highest-paid, songwriter in the world--a position he held for decades.
Berlin wrote some 1500 songs. And he worked with the biggest names in show business, from Al Jolson, Fanny Brice, Eddie Cantor, and Ethel Merman, to Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire, Danny Kaye and Judy Garland....
Irving Berlin, Al Jolson
Irving Berlin, Louis B. Mayer, Judy Garland
In this unique musical, we see Berlin--late in life--looking back on his career. The reclusive elder songwriter is prompted by an admiring young visitor to look back on the life he's led.
Michael Townsend Wright, Jack Saleeby (photo by Jonathan M. Smith)
Chip Deffaa--an expert in oldtime show business--has written the first-ever musical play about the life of Irving Berlin.
Michael Townsend Wright and Jack Saleeby, with playwright Chip Deffaa and music-director Richard Danley (photo by Jonathan M. Smith)
The score features such enduringly popular Berlin songs as: "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "I Love a Piano," "A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody," "I Want to Go Back to Michigan (Down on on the Farm)," "When the Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabam," "All By Myself," "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning," and many more.
Michael Townsend Wright, Jack Saleeby
The show has been developed in New York City by playwright/director Chip Deffaa, with Michael Townsend Wright (portraying the reclusive Irving Berlin) and Jack Saleeby (as his mysterious young visitor), and music-director Richard Danley.
Michael Townsend Wright, Jack Saleeby, Chip Deffaa, Richard Danley (photo by Jonathan M. Smith)
The cast album has been released by Original Cast Records. It is available for purchase on Amazon.com, CDBaby.com, and iTunes.com, as well as from traditional retail outlets. If you'd like to listen to samples of the music on this album, or might like to purchase a copy, please visit:
Berlin worked with--and his songs were introduced by--some of the greatest entertainers of the 20th century....
Irving Berlin, at the piano, with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rodgers
Bing Crosby and Irving Berlin, with the Andrews Sisters (Patty, Maxene, and LaVerne)
Ethel Merman, Irving Berlin
"The show would be worth doing, just for the sake of hearing the songs--which are timeless....
"But Berlin's life story is also inspiring in its own right. Here's a man with virtually no formal education--a man who never learned to read or write music--who became the number-one songwriter in the world," Deffaa notes.
"Berlin wrote so many irresistible songs, it's a delight simply to hear them again--both the famous songs and some charming, less-well-known rarities...." says Deffaa.
"We've produced an instrumental demo recording of the show. And we're now in the process of making the premiere recording of the show, with Michael Townsend Wright and Jack Saleeby, to be released on Original Cast Records by year's end."
Michael Townsend Wright, Jack Saleeby
Irving Berlin's America had its world-premiere production at the Open Eye Theater in Margaretville, New York, up in the Catskills. As pictured below, this production, directed by Amie Brockway Henson, starred Bill Tari (as Berlin) and Cedric Taylor (as his young visitor), with music direction by Kent Brown. We're grateful to the Open Eye Theater for its role in developing and launching the show.
Cedric Taylor, Bill Tari
Bill Tari and Cedric Taylor, with Kent Brown at the piano.
Cedric Taylor, Bill Tari
Bill Tari, Cedric Taylor
Michael Townsend Wright, Bailey Cummings
Deffaa began workshopping the show in New York City with actors including Michael Townsend Wright, Bailey Cummings, and Ben Orlando.
He's grateful to them for their help in the development process.
Bailey Cummings with playwright/director Chip Deffaa
Ben Orlando
And we're delighted that Matt Nadozzi--a conscientious, dedicated pro with fine Broadway and Hollywood credits--appeared in the show, along with Michael Townsend Wright, in Wayne, New Jersey this summer. The production sold out!
Matt Nardozzi
Michael Townsend Wright, Matt Nardozzi
Michael Townsend Wright, Matt Nardozzi
Matt Nardozzi, Chip Deffaa
Michael Townsend Wright, Matt Nardozzi
Matt Nardozzi
We're also looking forward to working with the talented Giuseppe Bausilio in the development of this show. We've been very lucky with the gifted performers we've gotten to work with on this project.
We've made a cast album, featuring Michael Townsend Wright and Jack Saleeby, with music direction by Richard Danley, which has been released by Original Cast Records. If you'd like to check out samples of the songs on this CD, or might like to purchase a copy, please visit:
The album will feature tap dancing and choreography by Jack Saleeby and Tyler DuBoys.
Tyler DuBoys
Andy Stein
Grammy-winning recording artist Andy Stein will be featured on the album, on violin.
If you'd like more information about Irving Berlin's America--or might like to license a production, or book a production--we'd love to hear from you....
Music director Richard Danley, singing actor Bailey Cummings
Michael Townsend Wright, Jack Saleeby
Michael Townsend Wright, Jack Saleeby, Chip Deffaa
IRVING BERLIN'S AMERICA--an intriguing two-character musical play--is one of five different shows celebrating Berlin that Chip Deffaa has created. You might also be interested in these other shows (all of which are available for licensing now):
THE IRVING BERLIN STORY is a full-scale biographical musical, written for 20 or 30 (or more) players. You can make the chorus as large as you desire. This is a perfect choice for schools, colleges, community theaters and regional theaters seeking to present an exuberant musical comedy with a big cast. IRVING BERLIN & CO. is a lively biographical musical written for a cast of 12 or so players.
THE IRVING BERLIN RAGTIME REVUE, a high-spirited, song-driven musical show, featuring more than 40 irresistible numbers, requires a cast of ten players (five female, five male).
IRVING BERLIN: IN PERSON is a one-man show--a terrific vehicle for a triple-threat entertainer.
Michael Townsend Wright, Bailey Cummings
Bailey Cummings, Chip Deffaa
Michael Townsend Wright, Jack Saleeby
Irving Berlin's America is a two-character play featuring more than two dozen musical numbers.
Also available are The Irving Berlin Story, The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue, and Irving Berlin & Co.--Irving Berlin biographical shows for bigger casts--since some schools, colleges, community theaters and regional theaters may wish to mount bigger productions. We have shows suitable for any size theater or budget--each with its own charms. There are separate pages on this web site for each of these shows.
