''The Last Session'' is a musical with the book by

Jim Brochu Jim Brochu (born August 16, 1946) is an American actor, writer, director, and playwright. Brochu wrote and starred Off-Broadway in '' Zero Hour'', a one-person play about the life and career of actor and comedian Zero Mostel, from 2009–201 ...

and the music and lyrics by Steve Schalchlin, with additional lyrics by

John Bettis John Gregory Bettis (born October 24, 1946) is an American lyricist and songwriter whose songs have sold more than 250 million records worldwide, recorded by some of the most prominent artists of the late twentieth century. His work crosses man ...

and Marie Cain. The musical is about a singer/songwriter who has decided to commit suicide to end his battle with

AIDS The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...

, but only after one last recording session in the studio. The musical was presented

Off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...

in 1997.

Background

The musical is partially based on Schalchlin's life. ''CurtainUp'' notes that the musical is a "fictionalized and more tightly focused version of the autobiographical notes that the composer, Steve Schalchlin, has been keeping about his own life in a diary. ''TalkinBroadway'' explained: "The character of Gideon is clearly based on composer Schalchlin, who has made no secret of the fact that he has escaped HIV-related death at least three times and was convinced by his own companion of fourteen years, Brochu, to write his feelings out as songs."

Plot

Gideon is an ex-gospel singer turned pop star who has scheduled a final recording session. He invites his old band to join him including professional back-up singer Tryshia, failed rock singer turned

Mary Kay Cosmetics Mary Kay Inc. is an American privately owned multi-level marketing company. Mary Kay is based in Addison, Texas. The company was founded by Mary Kay Ash in 1963. Richard Rogers, Ash's son, is the chairman, and Ryan Rogers, Ash's grandson, was n ...

salesperson, Vicki, and studio engineer Jim. Buddy is a young Texas gospel singer, who has idolized Gideon his entire lifetime. He has come to Los Angeles to meet Gideon and to follow in his footsteps to cross over from gospel to pop. His world is shaken when, during the course of the recording session, he learns that Gideon is gay and has AIDS.

Productions

''The Last Session'' was produced

Off-Off-Broadway Off-off-Broadway theaters are smaller New York City theaters than Broadway theatre, Broadway and off-Broadway theaters, and usually have fewer than 100 seats. The off-off-Broadway movement began in 1958 as part of a response to perceived commerc ...

at the Currican Theater in May 1997, directed by Mike Wills and featuring

Bob Stillman Bob Stillman (born December 2, 1954, in New York City) is an American actor, singer, and songwriter. Biography Stillman studied piano at Juilliard, and composition at Princeton University. He made his Broadway theatre, Broadway debut in ''Grand H ...

as Gideon. The musical next was presented

at the 47th Street Theatre, running from October 17, 1997 to March 1, 1998. Directed by Jim Brochu, the cast featured Bob Stillman as "Gideon," Grace Garland as Trisha, Amy Coleman as Vicki, Dean Bradshaw as Jim and

Stephen Bienskie Stephen Bienskie is an American actor and singer, known for his role on the web series ''Submissions Only''. Career While trying to find work at the beginning of his acting career, Bienskie worked as a janitor. His earlier gigs include working ...

as Buddy.Sommer, Elyse
"Review. ''The Last Session''"
curtainup.com, October 18, 1997"'The Last Session' 1997"
lortel.org, accessed October 30, 2015 The musical was nominated for the New York

Drama League Award The Drama League Awards, created in 1922, honor distinguished productions and performances both on Broadway and Off-Broadway, in addition to recognizing exemplary career achievements in theatre, musical theatre, and directing. Each May, the awards ...

for Distinguished Production of a Musical

Simonson, Robert Robert Simonson (born September 11, 1964) is an American journalist and author. Personal life Robert Simonson was born in Wisconsin; he has lived in Brooklyn since 1988. Career Robert Simonson began writing about cocktails, spirits and bars for ...

and Viagas, Robert
"'Ragtime', 'Beauty Queen', 'Cabaret' Win Drama League Awards May 8"
Playbill, May 8, 1998 and the Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical by the New York Outer Critics Circle. A subsequent production in Los Angeles opened at the Laguna Playhouse and then transferred to the Tiffany Theatre, beginning in December 1998. The production featured two cast members from New York, Bob Stillman and Amy Coleman. New cast members included Michelle Mais (Tryshia), P.M. Howard and Joel Traywick Martinez, Julio
"Review. 'The Last Session'"
''Variety'', December 7, 1998 (who went on to be nominated for the Theatre LA

Ovation Award The Ovation Awards were a Southern California award for excellence in theatre, established in 1989. They were given out by the non-profit arts service organization LA Stage Alliance and are the only peer-judged theatre awards in Los Angeles. Win ...

for Featured Actor). The musical was produced at the Tristan Bates Theatre, London, from September 25, 2012 to October 27. Directed by Guy Retallack,

Darren Day Darren Day (born 17 July 1968) is an English actor, singer and television presenter, known for his West End theatre starring roles. Early life Day undertook drama classes at evenings and weekends until he was 13, when he turned his attention t ...

stars as Gideon. A recording of this production was made by JAY Records. An original cast album was recorded with elaborate packaging and a vocal selections book was published by Cherry Lane Music.

Critical response

The ''CurtainUp'' reviewer of the 1997 Off-Broadway production called the musical "life affirming" and wrote: "'The Last Session' combines an affecting story, songs you'll want to hear again... it's original and funny, enlightening and thoroughly enjoyable. It is not a depressing show about a disturbing subject." The ''Variety'' review of the 1998 Los Angeles production called the musical "cathartic and often hilarious musical".

Current status

The show continues to receive productions including such cities as Baltimore (1999); Rochester NY; Uptown Players at Trinity River Arts Center, Dallas in 2002(which also recorded a cast album); Omaha (1999); Denver, Chicago and Indianapolis (which also recorded their own cast album). Brochu and Schalchlin have created another musical, which, among other things, traces the history of ''The Last Session'' titled ''The Big Voice: God or Merman?''. The musical ran Off-Broadway in 2006. Composer Steve Schalchlin maintains his online diary called "Living In The Bonus Round".

Awards

*New York Drama League Award - Outstanding Production of a Musical nomination *New York

Outer Critics Circle The Outer Critics Circle Awards are presented annually for theatrical achievements both on Broadway and Off-Broadway. They are presented by the Outer Critics Circle (OCC), the official organization of New York theater writers for out-of-town news ...

- Best Off-Broadway Musical nomination * Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Awards - Nominated for Best Musical, Leading Actor/Musical (Stillman), and Featured Actor/Musical (Joel Traywick)Lefkowitz, David
"L.A.'s Ovation Awards Announced Nov. 8; David Hyde Pierce Hosts"
Playbill, November 8, 2015 *

GLAAD Media Award The GLAAD Media Award is a US accolade bestowed by GLAAD to recognize and honor various branches of the media for their outstanding portrayals of LGBTQ people and the issues that affect their lives. In addition to film and television, the Awards ...

- Best L.A. Theatrical Production *LA Drama Critics Circle - Best Score, Best Book, Musical Direction (Barry Fassman and Bob Stillman), Best Supporting Actress Michelle MaisShirley, Don
"Revivals Dominate Drama Critics Circle Awards for '98"
''Los Angeles Times'', March 17, 1999

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Last Session, The 1997 musicals Off-Broadway musicals HIV/AIDS in theatre