''Boobs! The Musical: The World According to Ruth Wallis'' is a musical

revue A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatre, theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketch comedy, sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural pre ...

with lyrics and music by 1950s and 1960s star

Ruth Wallis Ruth Wallis (January 5, 1920 – December 22, 2007) was a novelty and cabaret singer. She sang with a studio orchestra and often took on an accent for songs about characters from other countries. Her music was occasionally featured on the Dr. ...

. Using 20 of Wallis' songs, ''Boobs!'' tells the story of Ruth Wallis' international career and struggles in performing her naughty songs. ''Boobs! The Musical'' opened at the

Triad Theater The Triad Theater, formerly known as Palsson's Supper Club, Steve McGraw's, and Stage 72, is a cabaret-style performing arts venue located on West 72nd Street on New York's Upper West Side. The theatre has been the original home to some of the lon ...

in New York City on May 19, 2003 to critical praise. ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' review noted that ''Boobs! The Musical'' "exudes a joyous innocence" and featured "a lot of talent onstage. The six-person cast, which also includes the talented and good-looking Kristy Cates and Robert Hunt, is expertly directed by Donna Drake and choreographed by Lawrence Leritz." ''Boobs!'' eventually transferred to Dillon's Reprise Room; by closing date it had played nearly 300 performances. It had subsequent long runs in

New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

, Louisiana, in 2004, and in Wichita, Kansas, in 2005, with international productions beginning in New Zealand 2017. Broadway vets

Lawrence Leritz Lawrence Leritz (born September 26, 1952) is an American actor, dancer, singer, producer, director, fitness expert and choreographer. Life and career Born in Alton, Illinois, Leritz made his stage debut in the children's chorus of the world stag ...

was producer/choreographer and Donna Drake, director. Also notable were the costumes by J. Kevin Draves and Robert Pease and set by two time Emmy award winning set designer Eric Harriz. The book adaptation was written by Steve Mackes and

Michael Whaley Michael Whaley is an American film and television actor. He graduated from Culver City High School in 1980. Some of his most known characters are Dr. Wesley 'Wes' Hayes on ''Sisters'', Det. Nathan Brubaker on '' Profiler'', Detective Paul Armstro ...

. ''Boobs!'' originally had a workshop at The Pulse Ensemble Theatre on the

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 ...

42nd Street 42nd Street most commonly refers to: *42nd Street (Manhattan), a major crosstown street in the New York City borough of Manhattan It may also refer to: *42nd Street (film), ''42nd Street'' (film), a 1933 American Warner Bros. musical film with lyri ...

Theatre Row in December 2000. Various notable cast members from the three New York productions included J. Robert Spencer, Jenny-Lynn Suckling, Robert Hunt, Kristy Cates,

Clyde Alves Clyde Alves is a Canadian dancer, actor and singer. Alves appeared on Broadway in ''The Music Man'' in the Susan Stroman revival (2000) as Tommy Djilas, and was nominated for the Fred Astaire Award for Best Male Dancer. He repeated his role in t ...

, Alena Watters, Brad Bradley, Tony Falcon, Benjie Randall, David Villella and the New York theatre debut of

Gennifer Flowers Gennifer Flowers (born January 24, 1950) is an American author, singer, model, actress, former State of Arkansas employee, and former TV journalist. In January 1998, President Bill Clinton testified under oath that he had a sexual encounter wit ...

Musical numbers

* Boobs! * Queer Things Are Happening * The Dingy Song * Man Of My Own * All The Clowns * Pizza Every Night * Johnny's Yo Yo * Ugly Man With Money * I Know * Love Is For The Birds * Drill 'Em All * Always Be A Bride

Awards and nominations

* 2004 Mac Awards Best Musical Revue (Lawrence Leritz, nominee) * 2005 Big Easy Awards Best Musical (Lawrence Leritz, All Kinds of Theatre, nominees) * 2005 Big Easy Awards Best Costumes (Winner, Cecile Casey Covert, based on original designs by Robert Pease and J. Kevin Draves) * 2005 Big Easy Awards Best Musical Director (Harry Mayronne, nominee) * 2005 Big Easy Awards Best Director (Carl Walker, nominee) * 2005 Ambie Awards Best Ensemble Cast (Winners: Becky Allen, Maureen Brennan, Bob Edes, Jr., Ann Mahoney, Robert Thomas, Chris Wecklein)Sands, Brian and Shannon, Patrick http://www.ambushmag.com/is205/trod.htm Volume 23/ 2005 * 2006 Teall Awards Best Musical (Lawrence Leritz, Cabaret Oldtown, nominees) * 2006 Teall Awards Best Choreography (nominee, based on original choreography by Lawrence Leritz)

References

{{reflist

Sources

* Jones, Kenneth (July 30, 2003).
Boobs! The Musical Bustin' Out All Over; Cast Album, Regional Runs Expected
, ''Playbill''. * Simon, John (August 11, 2003).
Edge – Boobs! – Judy Speaks
, ''New York Magazine''. * Gates, Anita (May 29, 2003).

''The New York Times''. * Jones, Kenneth (Dec. 19, 2003) "Boobs! The Musical Busts Its Way Into NYC Theatre District Dec. 19; Clyde Alves Joins Cast" https://web.archive.org/web/20080920035044/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/83375.html Playbill

External links

Lortel Archives:Internet Off-Broadway Database

Boobs! The Musical Official Website
2003 musicals Off-Broadway musicals Original musicals Musicals inspired by real-life events Revues