Promenade is an experimental musical comedy with book and lyrics by María Irene Fornés and music by Rev. Al Carmines. In a review in The New York Times for a 1983 New York revival, Stephen Holden linked the production to the Theatre of the Absurd: "This work, which suggests a mixture of Candide and Samuel Beckett viewed through Lewis Carroll's looking glass, is a little too avant-garde and absurdist to appeal to mainstream tastes. But in its odd way it's an exquisite piece of musical theater."

Production History The Promenade premiered on April 9, 1965 at the Judson Poets' Theater, where it played for three weekends.

It was then produced four years later, titled now as just Promenade, in a commercial run Off-Broadway at the Promenade Theatre (for which it was named), produced by Edgar Lansbury and Joseph Beruh, opening on June 4, 1969. The cast was led by Madeline Kahn, playing the role of the Servant. When Kahn left Promenade, claiming illness, she was replaced by Pamela Hall, who had just closed on Broadway as Nina in Jerry Herman's Dear World. Hall was understudied by Sandra Schaeffer, Later the role was played by Marie Santell. Pamela Hall went on to direct the revival of Promenade in 2010, which was produced by Original Cast member Edmund Gaynes. After a successful run, Promenade closed on January 18, 1970 after 259 performances.

On Monday, April 12, 2010, a semi-staged concert of Promenade was performed Off-Broadway at New York City's New World Stages (Stage 2) as the first of a planned series called Legacy: the Musicals of Off-Broadway. It was produced by Edmund Gaynes and directed by Pamela Hall. Ken Lundie was music director.

On July 10 and 11, 2019, as part of the Encores! Off Center series, a staged concert of Promenade was performed at New York City Center. The concert featured the original Off-Broadway orchestrations, and was directed by Laurie Woolery.

Casts Character Off-off BroadwayOff-BroadwayOff-BroadwayConcertEncores!19651969198320102019 105David Vaughn Ty McConnellJason GraaeBrian ChildersJames T. Lane 106George Bartenieff Gilbert PriceTim EwingKent Overshown JailerMichael Elias Pierre EpsteinBill BuellGene CastleMark Bedard ServantSheila Roy Madeline KahnRegina O'MalleyJulie CardiaBryonha Parham Miss I*Gretal Cummings Margot AlbertSusan FeldonVictoria MalloryCarmen Ruby Floyd Miss O†Crystal Field Carrie WilsonConnie CoitNeva SmallSoara-Joye Ross Miss U§Joan Fairlee Alice PlaytenMarcie ShawAndrea McArdleMarcy Harriell Mr. RChristopher Ross Marc Allen IIIMichael HalpernRon SpivakEddie Cooper Mr. S‡Christopher Jones Glenn KezerHal RobinsonJim BrochuJ.D. Webster Mr. TJohn Toland Michael DavisMark McGrathJames DoneganDaniel Everidge Miss Cake Florence TarlowJudith CohenVirginia SeidelBonnie Milligan WaiterHoward Roy Edmund GaynesRobert McNamaraAllen E. ReadDon Darryl Rivera Dishwasher Art OstrinJames HindmanJoshua NicholsonSteve Routman Mayor George S. IrvingMitchell JasonDale RadunzBecca BlackwellMotherJerri BanksShannon BolinGeorgia CreightonLoni AckermanSaundra Santiago

Notes:

*Originally named Miss C

†Originally named Miss F

§Originally named Miss B

‡Originally named Mr. J

Notable replacements for 1969 Production:

105: Kenneth Carr, Paul Eichel

106: Tony Falco

Servant: Pamela Hall, Sandy Schaeffer, Marie Santell

Mother: Mary Jo Catlett

Musical Numbers ACT 1

Promenade Theme—Orchestra Dig Dig Dig* -- 105 & 106 Unrequited Love—Misses I, O, U, Messrs. R, S, T, Servant, Waiter, 105, 106 Isn't That Clear—Mr. S with Ensemble Don't Eat It* -- Ensemble Four (Naked Lady) -- Misses I, O, U, Messrs. R, S, T, Servant, Waiter, 105, 106, Dishwasher Chicken Is He—Rosita The Moment Has Passed—Miss O A Flower—Miss I Rosita Rodriguez* -- Mayor Apres Vous* -- 105, 106, Jailor Bliss* -- Servant, 105, 106, and Ensemble The Cigarette Song—Servant, 105, 106 Thank You* -- Dishwasher The Clothes Make The Man—Servant, 105, 106 Two Little Angels—Mother, 105, 106 The Passing of Time—105, 106 Capricious and Fickle (You Cad) -- Miss U Crown Me—Servant, 105, 106

ACT 2

Mr. Sidney N. Phelps* -- Waiter Madeline* -- Waiter Spring Beauties* -- Ensemble Apres Vous (reprise)* -- Ensemble A Poor Man (When I Was Born) -- 105, 106 Why Not? (Promenade Theme)* -- Servant, 105, 106, Mother, Dishwasher, Waiter The Finger Song* -- Mr. R, Ensemble Little Fool—Mr. T, Ensemble Chardiz* -- Servant The Laughing Song* -- Ensemble A Mother's Love* -- Mother Listen, I Feel—Servant I Saw A Man—Mother All is Well in the City—105, 106, Ensemble

(*Not on the original cast recording)

References