Back to Bacharach and David, The Music Box @ Fonda, 6126 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Performances Wed.-Fri., 8 pm; Sat., 5 and 9 pm; Sun., 3 pm; through May 17. Tickets at 800.514.ETIX or www.etix.com
Burt Bacharach and Hal David had more than 30 Top 40 US singles during the span of their writing career. Back to Bacharach and David, the 1993 Off-Broadway tribute to the songs the team wrote from 1960 to 1970, receives its Los Angeles debut with a new look and a new cast but retains its three original creators: Co-conceiver-Arranger Steve Gunderson, Co-Conceiver-Director Kathy Najimy and Choreographer Javier Velasco. The LA cast consists of Diana DeGarmo, Tom Lowe, Susan Mosher and Tressa Thomas.
Gunderson and Najimy took a break from rehearsals to answer a few questions:
LA STAGE: How are you making this version different for 2009?
STEVE GUNDERSON: We just took a fresh look at everything. In some cases we found new approaches to certain numbers and other times we ended up sticking with the way it was originally done.
Kathy Najimy
KATHY NAJIMY: We started by casting four new ultra superstars for this production, then we added a song called “Wives and Lovers” whose lyrics are a bit…well let’s say…”period specific.” To juxtapose the somewhat dated image of a woman being afraid her husband is at the office cheating on her, we fling “Wives and Lovers” straight into our new added number “What’s New Pussycat,” a sexy, wild punk anthem of independence sung by Diana De Garmo in a leather rock cat suit!
SG: It’s such an amazing cast and you want to make sure to present them in the best way possible. Sometimes that means looking at something with a new eye rather than just do it like the last version.
LAS: How did you decide on which songs to include from the vast catalog?
KN: Steven picked them. I guess you could say they are the soundtrack to the first 20 years of our lives.
SG: Kathy really helped me with that. We picked our favorites, also some unknown gems. Sometimes we couldn’t keep some of our favorite songs or the show would be too long. The first time around Hal David came up with some requests to add to the show when we moved Off Broadway. So it was a gradual process getting to this song list but it’s very close to my original wish list! We never, ever, could have gotten all these songs without the help of Hal and Burt. Their support and enthusiasm paved the way for this great catalog of music we are so lucky to be able to play with!
LAS: Your cast of four must keep very busy on stage. If you are putting 30 songs in the show, does each singer do several solos along with group numbers and duets?
Steve Gunderson
SG: Yes, all kinds of combinations. Solos, duets, trios, quartets and everyone gets a moment with everyone! It was fun to do all sorts of voice combinations. Everyone gets their great solos, their “back up” singer moments and some nice vocal quartets also.
LAS: Having done all this work and rehearsing, with only 23 performances at the Music Box, are you planning to tour the show afterwards?
KN: YES! We have designed and directed this show with the intention of moving the new version (THIS version) around the country.
LAS: There is a new generation who is not so familiar with this music. How to you plan to reach them?
KN: The great thing about the Bacharach/David catalog is that it spans every generation. The songs are songs that are being recorded by relevant young recording artists THIS year! The music is so good it has been kept alive by the likes of Elvis Costello, Tamyra Gray and Christina Aguilera and of course featured in the Austin Powers movies. One of our stars, Diana, is 21 and has a huge young audience.
Gunderson and Najimy are producing with Jim Gunderson. The executive producer is Joan Stein. The designers include Myung Hee Cho (sets), Gregg Barnes (costumes), Martin Carrillo (sound) and Anne Militello (lighting).
Images featuring Susan Mosher, Tressa Thomas, Tom Lowe, and Diana DeGarmo in Back to Bacharach & David
Photos by: Robert Millard
