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December's guests Larry Hart 2, Sheila Weiler and Jeff McDonnell with NYSMS President, Linda Amiel Burns
All Hart "ALL HART" The Life and Lyrics of Lorenz Hart starring Sheila Weiler, Jeffrey McDonnell and Larry Hart 2 was a labor of love from the start. This act required lots of hard work and it certainly showed in the presentation. Last Year Sheila phoned me and said that she was working on a Richard Rodgers script, but became fascinated with the lyrics of Lorenz Hart and would like me to direct the act and help put it together. She also said that she found a fabulous pianist/singer/musical director named Jeff McDonnell in Philadelphia along with a savvy producer, Elliot Einhorn. Every other week or so, the group drove in from Philly for a 2 hour rehearsal session. There were many decisions to make: what songs to include out of the many that we all loved, the script, who sings what, the arrangements, etc. It was a joy from day one when you work with dedicated and talented people who are on the same page. We scheduled the show at Danny's, where it was very well received. One day, Michael Colby, a wonderful songwriter, said that he was friendly with Larry Hart 2, the nephew of Lorenz Hart. Colby had written the forward to Dorothy Hart's book Thou Swell, Thou Witty, a biography of her brother. Larry came up from Washington, saw the show and loved it. We added his remembrances and stories about his uncle and, at that point, I knew that we could make this a successful Program for the New York Sheet Music Society. In October, we all visited Philadelphia where the show had a sold-out run at the Society Hill Playhouse and a few changes were made, songs added and subtracted. Sheila and Jeff made great musical paetners and sang exquisitely and brought insight to the lyrics. Larry Hart was articulate and his humor and his personality came through. It was exciting to hear him tell us about personal experience of his family, which added so much to the program. No one wanted the afternoon to end. Sheila, Jeff and Larry received a spontaneous standing ovation and people stayed and talked to them for quite sometime, offering congratulations. We hope to repeat the show soon at a club somewhere. We'll keep you informed and hope that you can attend and applaud loudly! The songs from All Hart are: Queen Elizabeth Falling in Love with Love My Heart Stood Still Manhattan I'm Talking To My Pal This Funny World Isn't It Romantic Lover Prayer The Bad in Ev'ry Man Blue Moon My Romance It's Got To Be Love Too Good for the Average Man There's a Small Hotel Where or When You're Nearer I Wish I Were In Love Again Spring is Here This Can't Be Love Johnny One Note Wait Til You See Her Ev'rything I've Got You Took Advantage of Me Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered |
