Research Catalog

Title

Jerome Robbins' Broadway [sound recording] : first day of rehearsals briefing. Aug. 15, 1988.

Author

Robbins, Jerome

Publication

1988.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

• Dale, Grover
• Blackwell, Charles

Description

1 sound disc (ca. 61 min.) : digital; 4 3/4 in.

Summary

• Track 1 (ca. 40 min.) Jerome Robbins gives a speech welcoming the full cast of Jerome Robbins' Broadway (1989) on the first day of rehearsals for the show. After briefly discussing the production's current state of development, Robbins makes introductions. Cast members (50 dancers and singers) say their names. Robbins introduces the show's producers, composers of some of the music included in the show, and members of the crew and production staff. Introductions last ca. 12 min. For the next 10 min. Robbins speaks from prepared notes about his ideas for the show, then called Jerome Robbins' Broadway dances. Robbins discusses the contribution the cast will make to the show; his desire to present the reconstructed material freshly; the length of the rehearsal process; the way his choreography is embedded in the texts of musical shows, and the need for cast members to research and develop their characters; the importance of communities in his work; the difficulty of putting together the order of the show; the rehearsal schedule. Robbins reads a list of the shows from which material will be drawn.
• Production supervisor Charles Blackwell speaks (ca. 5 min.) about daily procedures for the cast. Robbins speaks briefly about his working methods and his reputation for being a hard taskmaster. Co-director Grover Dale speaks (ca. 4 min.) about Robbins' working methods, and his own previous experiences of working with Robbins. Robbins describes the schedule for rehearsals and tryout performances and speculates on how the show will develop. Production stage manager Beverly Randolph gives instructions for dancers to report to studios for rehearsals. Content ends ca. 37 min. into recording.
• Track 2 (ca. 21 min.) Jerome Robbins speaks about West Side story to dancers before the beginning of rehearsals for the West Side story portion of Jerome Robbins' Broadway. Robbins discusses the origin of his concept for show; his ideas about gang mentality, and how it is reflected in the show; the impact of the show at its premiere and its relation to contemporary events. Robbins asks dancers to write histories of their characters. Robbins discusses the difficulty of getting rights to West Side story from collaborators; his uncertainty about the form of the West Side story segment; the difficulty of taking dance numbers from the show out of context. These remarks last ca. 10 min. Production scenic designer Robin Wagner speaks about the sets for the West Side story sequence, using models. [Portions of these remarks are inaudible.] A dance captain reads a list of dancers present in the studio before the beginning of rehearsals. Content ends ca. 19 min. into recording.

Series Statement

Jerome Robbins Collection

Alternative Title

Dance Audio Archive.

Subject

• Musical theater > Production and direction
• Choreography > Reconstruction

Note

• Recorded on Aug. 15, 1988.

Access (note)

• Permission required.

Funding (note)

• Preservation made possible in part with public funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Source (note)

• WNET/13

Biography (note)

• Jerome Robbins' Broadway was a revue of dances from musicals choreographed by Jerome Robbins. Directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, it opened on Broadway Feb. 26, 1989.

Call Number

*MGZTL 4-3295 JRC

OCLC

NYPT04-R168

Author

Robbins, Jerome, speaker.

Title

Jerome Robbins' Broadway [sound recording] : first day of rehearsals briefing. Aug. 15, 1988.

Imprint

1988.

Series

Jerome Robbins Collection

Access

Permission required.

Funding

Preservation made possible in part with public funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Local Note

For transcript see *MGZMT 3-3295 JRC. The transcript was created by WNET/13 in connection with the documentary: Jerome Robbins: Something to dance about.

Biography

Jerome Robbins' Broadway was a revue of dances from musicals choreographed by Jerome Robbins. Directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, it opened on Broadway Feb. 26, 1989.

Local Note

Archival transcript: *MGZMTO 3-3295

Archive original: *MGZTCO 3-3295 JRC

Preservation master: *MGZTP 10-3295 JRC

Dubbing master: *MGZTD 4-3295 JRC

Source

Transcript Gift; WNET/13, 2008. NN-PD

Connect to:

Request Access to Special Collections (Dance Division) material

Local Subject

Audiotapes -- Robbins, J.

Musical comedies. Jerome Robbins' Broadway.

Musical comedies. West Side story.

Added Author

Dale, Grover, speaker.

Blackwell, Charles, speaker.

Research Call Number

*MGZTL 4-3295 JRC