Beg, Borrow or Steal (musical)

Musical
Beg, Borrow or Steal
MusicLeon Pober
LyricsBud Freeman
BookBud Freeman
Basisa story by Marvin Seiger
Productions1960 Broadway

Beg, Borrow or Steal is a musical with a book and lyrics by Bud Freeman, music by Leon Pober, and is based on Steal–A Disc Jockey′s Handbook, a story by Marvin Seiger and Bud Freeman. The musical is set in a run-down section of an American city in the 1950s. It ran for five performances on Broadway in 1960.

Overview

The musical tells the story of urban beatniks in a fictional American city in 1950.[1]

Production

The musical opened on Broadway on February 10, 1960, at the Martin Beck Theatre, and closed on February 13, 1960, after 5 performances.[2] Before arriving on Broadway, it operated under the working title of Clara.

The original director, Billy Matthews, was replaced by actor David Doyle but was given "staged by" credit.[3][4] The music director was Hal Hidey, and the choreographer was Peter Hamilton. Scenery, costumes, and lighting were all designed by Carter Morningstar.[5] The cast included Estelle Parsons, Eddie Bracken, Betty Garrett, Larry Parks, and Biff McGuire, along with Doyle.[6][4]

Song list

Source: Internet Broadway database[7]

Act I
  • "Some Little People" - The Ensemble
  • "Rootless" - Junior
  • "What Are We Gonna Do Tonight?" - Ollie, Phil and Judy
  • "Poetry and All That Jazz" - Freida and Ensemble
  • "Don't Stand Too Close to the Picture" - Rafe, Clara and Ensemble
  • "Beg, Borrow or Steal (Recitative)" - Rafe
  • "Beg, Borrow or Steal" - Rafe
  • "No One Knows Me" - Clara
  • "Zen Is When" - Pistol, Junior, Ethel and Jason
  • "Clara" - Junior
  • "You've Got Someting To Say" - Rafe and Clara
  • "You've Got Someting To Say (Reprise)" - Rafe, Clara, Pistol, Junior and Company
Act II
  • "Presenting Clara Spencer" - Clara, Knitter, Chess Players, Sculptor, Flamenco Dancer and Members of the Dance Class
  • "I Can't Stop Talking" - Clara and Junior
  • "It's All in Your Mind" - Rafe and Clara
  • "In Time" - Junior
  • "Think" - Clara
  • "Little People (Song and Dance)" - Pistol and Company
  • "Rafesville, U.S.A." - Ethel and Jason
  • "Beg, Borrow or Steal (Reprise)" - Rafe and Ensemble
  • "Let's Be Strangers Again" - Clara and Junior
  • "Little People (Reprise)" - The Entire Company

Recordings

Before the Broadway opening, a studio recording (under the name of Clara) was recorded in 1960. Betty Garrett was featured on the album, along with Jimmie Komack, Sid Tomack, and Johnny Standley.[8]

References

  1. ^ Beg, Borrow or Steal playbill.com, accessed February 9, 2020
  2. ^ Hischak, Thomas S. (2009-04-22). Broadway Plays and Musicals: Descriptions and Essential Facts of More Than 14,000 Shows through 2007. McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-5309-2.
  3. ^ Willis, John, ed. (1999). "David Doyle". John Willis Theatre World 1996-1997 Season Volume 53. Applause Theatre Book Publishers. p. 258. ISBN 1-55783-343-5. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  4. ^ a b Stewart, John (2012-11-22). Broadway Musicals, 1943-2004. McFarland. ISBN 978-1-4766-0329-2.
  5. ^ "Carter Morningstar Dead at 53; Stage and TV Scenic Designer". The New York Times. 1964-02-22. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  6. ^ " Today in Theatre History: February 10 playbillvault.com, accessed February 9, 2020
  7. ^ " 'Beg, Borrow or Steal' Songs" ibdb.com, accessed February 9, 2020
  8. ^ "castalbums.org". Retrieved February 9, 2020.

External links

  • ​Beg, Borrow or Steal​ at the Internet Broadway Database
  • ​Beg, Borrow or Steal​ at the Playbill Vault (archive)
  • Clara studio recording