''So Long, 174th Street'' is a musical with a book by

Joseph Stein Joseph Stein (May 30, 1912 – October 24, 2010) was an American playwright best known for writing the books for such musicals as ''Fiddler on the Roof'' and '' Zorba''. Biography Born in New York City to Jewish parents, Charles and Emma ( ...

and lyrics and music by

Stan Daniels Stanley Edwin Daniels (July 31, 1934 – April 6, 2007) was a Canadian-American screenwriter, producer and director, who won eight Emmy Awards for his work on ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' and ''Taxi''. Early life Born in Toronto to Jewish pa ...

. Based on Stein's play '' Enter Laughing'', which had been adapted from the

Carl Reiner Carl Reiner (March 20, 1922 – June 29, 2020) was an American actor, stand-up comedian, director, screenwriter, and author whose career spanned seven decades. He was the recipient of many awards and honors, including 11 Primetime Emmy Awards, ...

book of the same name and served as the basis for a 1967 film, it focuses on the journey of David Kolowitz from factory helper to actor and from insecure adolescence to self-assured adulthood in three whirlwind days in New York City in the late 1930s. After six previews, the Broadway production, directed by

Burt Shevelove Burt Shevelove (September 19, 1915 – April 8, 1982) was an American musical theater playwright, lyricist, librettist, and director. Biography Born in Newark, New Jersey, he graduated from Brown University and Yale (Master's degree). At ...

and choreographed by

Alan Johnson Alan Arthur Johnson (born 17 May 1950) is a British politician who served as Secretary of State for Education and Skills from 2006 to 2007, Secretary of State for Health from 2007 to 2009, Home Secretary from 2009 to 2010, and Shadow Chanc ...

, opened on April 27, 1976, at the Harkness Theatre, where it closed after only 16 performances. The cast included

Robert Morse Robert Alan Morse (May 18, 1931 – April 20, 2022) was an American actor, who starred in ''How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (musical), How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying'', both the 1961 original Broadway production ...

, George S. Irving,

Loni Ackerman Loni Ackerman (born April 10, 1949) is an American Broadway musical theatre performer and cabaret singer. Career Born in New York City, she made her Broadway debut in '' George M!'' in 1968, then, in the hit Off-Broadway production of ''Dames ...

, and

Rita Rudner Rita Rudner (born September 17, 1953) is an American comedian. Beginning her career as a Broadway dancer, Rudner noticed the lack of female comedians in New York City and turned to stand-up comedy, where she has flourished for over three deca ...

. Morse starred as David. Though "boyish looking," he was 45 years old and played a character half his age.

Clive Barnes Clive Alexander Barnes (13 May 1927 – 19 November 2008) was an English writer and critic. From 1965 to 1977, he was the dance and theater critic for ''The New York Times'', and, from 1978 until his death, '' The New York Post.'' Barnes had sig ...

of the ''New York Times'' observed "The people involved are talented enough...So what went wrong? How did ''Enter Laughing'' end up leaving us yawning?" He noted composer/lyricist Stan Daniels was a producer of ''

The Mary Tyler Moore Show ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (also known simply as ''Mary Tyler Moore'') is an American television sitcom created by James L. Brooks and Allan Burns and starring actress Mary Tyler Moore. The show originally aired on CBS from 1970 to 1977. Mo ...

'' and suggested "he should stay where he is well off...when the music and lyrics do not work for a musical, the musical does not work." Reiner said years later that he walked out on the play, that Morse was too old, and that "they made an abortion out of it." Despite the initial unfavorable reviews, one number from the show, "The Butler's Song," became a cabaret standard. A recording of the score, with

Kaye Ballard Kaye Ballard (November 20, 1925 – January 21, 2019) was an American actress, comedian, and singer. Early life Ballard was born Catherine Gloria Balotta in Cleveland, Ohio, one of four children born to Italian immigrant parents, Lena (née Nac ...

added to the cast, was released in 1981.

Song list

*"David Kolowitz, the Actor" * "It's Like" * "Undressing Girls with My Eyes" * "Bolero on Rye" * "Whoever You Are" * "Say the Words" * "You" * "My Son the Druggist" * "You Touched Her" * "Men" * "Boy Oh Boy" * "The Butler's Song" * "Being with You" * "If You Want to Break Your Father's Heart" * "So Long, 174th Street"

Revivals

The musical was revised in 2008 as ''Enter Laughing'' and staged Off-Broadway by the

York Theatre York Theatre is an off-Broadway theatre company based in East Midtown Manhattan, New York City. In its 50th year, York Theatre is dedicated to the production of new musicals and concert productions of forgotten musicals from the past. Each seas ...

. The York revived ''Enter Laughing'' again in 2019.

References

External links

* * {{iobdb show, Enter Laughing, Enter Laughing 1976 musicals Broadway musicals Musicals based on plays Plays set in New York City