Love, Janis (musical)
| Love, Janis | |
|---|---|
| Music | Janis Joplin |
| Lyrics | Janis Joplin |
| Book | Randal Myler |
| Basis | The life of Janis Joplin |
| Productions | Denver Center, Cleveland Playhouse, Actors Theatre of Louisville, San Diego Rep, Alley Theater, San Francisco's Marine's Memorial Theater, Cincinnati Playhouse, Kansas City Rep, Bay Street Theater and others.Off-Broadway Over 700 performances at the former Village Gate. |
Love, Janis is the musical stage show about the life and music of rock and roll singer Janis Joplin, conceived, adapted and directed by Randal Myler. It debuted Off-Broadway in 2001, with musical direction by former ' Big Brother And The Holding Company' band member Sam Andrew.
Productions
Love, Janis was initially produced by the Denver Center Theater Company in May 1994, directed by Randal Myler. Onstage Janis was played by Laura Theodore and Catherine Curtin played the private Janis.[1]
" 'Love, Janis' Extends to Oct 31 in TX" playbill.com, October 7, 1997</ref> The musical also played at the
Love, Janis opened Off-Broadway at the Village Theatre, New York City, opening on April 10, 2001 and closed on January 5, 2003. Directed by Randal Myler, Catherine Curtin starred as Janis, with alternating performances by Cathy Richardson and Andra Mitrovich. Production design was by Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer and costumes were by Robert Blackman. Other singers that performed the role in NYC include Beth Hart and Laura Branigan.
A production played at the Marines Memorial Theater, San Francisco in July 2006, directed by Myler. The San Francisco production included lighting by Bill Ham, the man behind the psychedelic light shows at the Avalon Ballroom and other venues in San Francisco in the 1960s.[2]
Concept
The musical was inspired by the best-selling book of the same name by sister Laura Joplin. Myler constructed the musical around the letters that Laura Joplin had given him.[3] The musical begins in 1966, after Joplin has hitchhiked to San Francisco to join Big Brother and the Holding Company, and ends with her death in 1970. Her journey is told in her own words; the entire spoken text is quoted from Joplin's letters and interviews.
Performances include many of Joplin's most famous songs, "Piece of My Heart", "Get It While You Can", "Me and Bobby McGee", "Ball and Chain" and "Mercedes Benz". Music direction for the Off-Broadway production was provided by Sam Andrew, [4]founding member of Big Brother and the Holding Company. A soundtrack album, using the original music and with letters read by Catharine Curtin, has also been released.
References
- ^ Young, Allan."Review: ‘Love, Janis the Songs, the Letters, the Soul of Janis Joplin’ Variety, May 16, 1994
- ^ Harvey, Dennis. "Review. 'Love, Janis'" Variety, July 18, 2006
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