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Broadway's new FLOWER DRUM SONG

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For Rodgers and Hammerstein fans, Broadway shows and movie musicals have delighted audiences for much of the 20th century. The team’s first collaboration, in 1943, was the highly successful, “Oklahoma”, which enjoyed another revival this past Broadway season.

The team of Rodgers and Hammerstein are known for many musicals, including “Carousel”, “South Pacific”, “The King and I”, and “The Sound of Music”. These works belonged to the more “operetta” style of musical theatre; rather than the modern “jazz” style also permeating the musical theatre scene at the time.

With such appealing works, it is no wonder that revivals of these musicals abound from community groups to Broadway itself. Rodgers and Hammerstein did, however, also collaborate on three other musicals, “Me and Juliet”, “Pipe Dream”, and “Flower Drum Song”; all of which achieved financial success but not the fame of their five big hits.

This fall, Broadway’s Virginia Theatre will play host to a new and exciting production of “Flower Drum Song”. Previews will run from September 23, 2002 to October 14, 2002. (Find out how you could win a pair of tickets to the show or a show photo calendar by clicking on our contest information at Performing and Writing Musical Theatre’s topic page at http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/musi...

Now, you’re probably wondering, why would anyone want to mount a revival of “Flower Drum Song” since it was not one of the team’s smash successes? Although it was not a “smash hit” in its time, not only was it made into a movie musical starring Nancy Kwan, it also contains one of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s most beautiful scores. With a new book written by playwright, David Henry Hwang, and starring Broadway stunner, Lea Salonga, the new “Flower Drum Song” offers audiences this fall Broadway’s only traditional musical.

Lea Salonga, one of the show’s stars (Mei Li), is best known for her Tony award winning performance of Kim in “Miss Saigon”. Beginning her career in the Philippines at the age of 7, Salonga has appeared in everything from Annie and The Sound of Music to more recent productions including, “My Fair Lady” (Eliza Doolittle), “Into the Woods” (the witch) and “Grease” (Sandy). She has also appeared in the NBC drama, “ER”. In recordings, she is the famous, beautiful singing voice recorded for 2 of Walt Disney’s animated features, “Aladdin” (Jasmine) and “Mulan” (title character).

The show’s male lead, played by Jose Llana (Ta), appeared on Broadway in “Rent” (Angel), “Streetcorner Symphony” (Jesse-Lee) and “The King and I” (Lun Tha). Besides his theatrical credits on and off Broadway, Jose has appeared in regional productions that have rewarded him with a Joseph Jefferson award for best supporting actor and a Barrymore award nomination for best lead actor. He has appeared on television’s “Sex and the City” and “As the World Turns”. Jose Llana’s recordings include the 1996 revival cast recording of “The King and I”, and Broadway sings Paul Simon.

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