Do I Hear a Waltz? is a musical with a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Richard Rodgers, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. It was adapted from Laurents' 1952 play The Time of the Cuckoo, which was the basis for the 1955 film Summertime starring Katharine Hepburn.
Background Laurents originally conceived the production as a small chamber musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, and Mary Martin in the lead role of spinster Leona Samish.Laurents, Arthur, Original Story By (2000). New York: Alfred A. Knopf, , p. 212 By the time the project began to jell, however, Hammerstein had died, and Stephen Sondheim was asked by Laurents and Mary Rodgers, Richard Rodgers' daughter, to write the lyrics. Even so, Rodgers felt that the original play did not lend itself to musicalization; Sondheim agreed.Secrest, Meryle, Stephen Sondheim: A Life (1998). New York: Alfred A. Knopf, , pp. 174-175 According to Peter Filichia, "Sondheim didn't want to do the musical in the first place, but given that Laurents sought him – and had recommended him for 'West Side Story' when he was a novice — he accepted. Also a factor was that his now-deceased mentor Oscar Hammerstein had recommended that he succeed him as Rodgers' lyricist."Filichia, Peter. "Forgive Me, Stephen Sondheim" masterworksbroadway.com, March 23, 2015
Rodgers, who was producing the Broadway production, rejected Martin as too old for Leona.
Franco Zeffirelli was the first choice for director, and he met with Laurents, Sondheim, and Rodgers, who fell asleep during their discussion. Laurents suspected Rodgers had been drinking, and when he discovered a bottle of vodka secreted in the toilet tank during a later visit to the Rodgers apartment, he realized he had been correct. The composer's chronic drinking proved to be a major problem throughout the rehearsal period and pre-Broadway run at the Colonial Theatre in Boston and the Shubert Theatre in New Haven.Laurents, pp. 213-214
Laurents suggested that John Dexter direct the show, but later regretted the choice. Dexter insisted on giving the lead role of Leona to Elizabeth Allen, who Laurents felt could manage the acting and singing but had a cold personality too contrary to that of the character. Rodgers' mistreatment of Sondheim left the lyricist feeling apathetic if not outright sour about the project, but he maintained his professionalism. The first run-through was disastrous, and Dexter immediately lost interest, leaving most of the work to his assistant-choreographer Wakefield Poole. Herbert Ross was called in to work on the dance routines and brought with him his wife Nora Kaye, who served as a mediator among the warring factions. She was faced with an arduous task, given Rodgers' open dismissal of Sondheim's lyrics as "shit," as well as his eventual ban of Laurents from rehearsals completely.Laurents, pp. 213-217
Synopsis New York City secretary Leona Samish arrives in Venice ("Someone Woke Up"), where she is staying at the Pensione Fioria, where she is greeted by owner Fioria ("This Week Americans"). There she meets Americans Eddie and Jennifer Yaeger, who are living in Rome and have come to Venice for a vacation, and the McIlhennys, an older couple on a package tour ("What Do We Do? We Fly!").
While shopping, Leona sees a ruby glass goblet in a store window and goes inside to inspect it. The owner, Renato di Rossi, tells her it is an authentic 18th-century piece, not a reproduction. He offers not only to find her a matching glass to make up a pair, but to show her the sights of the city, as well. Leona refuses his offer and leaves, but returns the next day to buy the goblet. Later that day, a package with a second goblet is delivered to the hotel. Soon after, Renato arrives to invite Leona to join him for coffee in Piazza San Marco that evening. When the McIlhennys show her their purchase of a set of glasses exactly like hers, Leona believes Renato misrepresented their value, but Signora Fioria assures her they are antiques.
Later in the day, Renato's son Vito comes to tell Leona that Renato will be late for their meeting because one of his children is ill and needs to see a doctor. Realizing Renato is married, she cancels their rendezvous. He comes to the pensione and explains he and his wife have not loved each other for years but divorce is not an option, not only because the country does not permit it, but because they have their children to consider as well. To Leona, his casual attitude about extramarital affairs is wrong, but she still finds herself attracted to him, and agrees to keep their date.
Meanwhile, the Yaegers are facing problems of their own. Eddie, finding himself enamoured with Signora Fioria, announces he wants to put distance between himself and the woman by returning to the United States.
Renato arrives with a garnet necklace for Leona, who is thrilled with his gift and agrees to extend her stay in Venice. She hosts a party in the garden of the pensione, and as the party is in progress, Renato's son Vito comes to tell his father that the jeweler wants his money; overhearing this, Leona happily gives him the money. However, when she discovers Renato has received a commission on the sale of the necklace, she accuses him of being interested only in her money, and he leaves.
Fioria and Jennifer attempt to comfort Leona, who drunkenly reveals Eddie and Fioria spent the previous evening together, only to immediately regret her words ("Everyone Loves Leona"). The following day both the Yaegers and the McIlhennys check out of the pensione as Fioria is happy that everyone is leaving and making way for the next group of guests ("Last Week Americans"). On hearing Renato had been there before she awoke, Leona goes to his store to make amends, but he tells her a relationship with her would be impossible because of her complicated outlook on life. His affection for her is gone, and they part as friends ("Thank You So Much").
Original cast and characters CharacterBroadwayPlaybill 1965 Bio Cast List accessed 07/09/2023George Street PlayhousePlaybill 1999 Bio Cast List accessed 07/09/2023Pasadena PlayhouseVariety Bio Cast List accessed 07/10/2023Encores!NY Times Bio Cast List accessed 07/10/2023Leona SamishElizabeth AllenPenny FullerAlyson ReedMelissa ErricoRenato de RossiSergio FranchiCharles CioffiAnthony CrivelloRichard TroxellSignora FioraCarol BruceLynn CohenCarol LawrenceKaren ZiembaMrs. McIlhennyMadeleine SherwoodLuce EnnisElmarie WendelNancy OpelMr. McIlhennyJack ManningRobert LevineJack RileyRichard PoeEddie YaegerStuart DamonTodd GearhartBenjamin Sprunger Claybourne ElderJennifer YaegerJulienne MarieAnna BelknapAnnie Wersching Sarah HuntGiovannaFleury D'AntonakisCarla BiancoTina GasbarraSarah StilesVitoJames DybasNick PotenzieriNino Del PreteMichael RosenMauroChristopher VotosNicholas Cutro Eddy MartinZachary Infante
Song list
Act I Overture "Someone Woke Up" – Leona Samish "This Week Americans" – Signora Fioria "What Do We Do? We Fly!" – Leona Samish, Mrs. McIlhenny, Mr. McIlhenny, Eddie Yaeger and Jennifer Yaeger "Someone Like You" – Renato Di Rossi "Bargaining" – Renato Di Rossi "Here We Are Again" – Leona Samish, Vito and Ragazzi "Thinking" – Renato Di Rossi and Leona Samish "No Understand" – Signora Fioria, Eddie Yaeger and Giovanna "Take the Moment" – Renato Di Rossi
Act II "Moon in My Window" – Jennifer Yaeger, Signora Fioria and Leona Samish "We're Gonna Be Alright" [revised] – Eddie Yaeger and Jennifer Yaeger "Do I Hear a Waltz?" – Leona Samish and Company "Stay" – Renato Di Rossi "Perfectly Lovely Couple" – Leona Samish, Renato Di Rossi, Mr. McIlhenny, Mrs. McIlhenny, Jennifer Yaeger, Eddie Yaeger, Giovanna and Signora Fiora "Thank You So Much" – Renato Di Rossi and Leona Samish Finale
Cut songs "Two by Two" - Leona, Vito, girl, Eddie, Jennifer, Fioria, male companion, Mr. McIlhenny, Mrs. McIlhenny "We're Gonna Be Alright" [original] – Eddie Yaeger and Jennifer Yaeger "Everybody Loves Leona" - Leona (restored in the George Street Playhouse production)" Do I Hear a Waltz Songs", Sondheimguide.com, accessed July 18, 2012 "Perhaps" "Philadelphia"
Productions The musical opened on Broadway on March 18, 1965, at the 46th Street Theatre and closed on September 25, 1965, after 220 performances. Choreography was by Herbert Ross, with scenery and costumes by Beni Montresor and lighting by Jules Fisher."Do I Hear A Waltz Broadway", Sondheimguide.com, accessed July 18, 2012 Do I Hear a Waltz? ibdb.com, accessed April 3, 2016
Laurents rued the casting - he felt Allen was too young and colorless and Franchi couldn't act - and ignored all the ongoing problems in favor of making his dream a reality, but most of all he regretted the break in his friendship with Sondheim after the show.Laurents, pp. 217-219
The musical received three nominations for the Tony Awards: Elizabeth Allen was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical; nominated for Best Original Score; and nominated for Best Scenic Design, but lost in all three categories.
In May 1966, Do I Hear a Waltz? made its regional theatrical debut at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee (Wisconsin): Dorothy Collins as Leona led a cast which also included Ron Holgate (Collins' husband) as Renato, Joel Fabiani as Eddie Yaeger.Waukeesha Daily Freeman 17 May 1966 "Play at Pabst is 'Interesting Evening'" by Tom Smith p.2 The production encored at the Paper Mill Playhouse in May–June 1966.Paper Mill Playbill, May/June 1966"Listing" ovrtur.com, accessed January 12, 2016 Also in the summer of 1966 Do I Hear a Waltz made its West Coast premiere, with Anne Jeffreys as Leona leading the Valley Music Theater production in which Richard Torigi played Renato and Fleury D'Antonakis again played Giovanna.Los Angeles Times 25 August 1966 "Waltz Not Rodgers' Best Effort" by Cecil Smith p.IV-13
Dorothy Collins would reprise her role of Leona in the summer of 1967 when Do I Hear a Waltz? was presented by the St. Louis Municipal Opera, with a cast also including Fleury D'Antonakis (reprising her Broadway role as Giovanna), Clifford David (Eddie Yaeger), Enzo Stuarti (Renato), Monique van Vooren (Fioria) and Karin Wolfe (Jennifer Yaeger).St Louis Post-Dispatch 25 June 1967 "Do I Hear a Waltz Premieres at the Opera" p.4g With Holgate encoring as Renato opposite Collins as Leona, the production was scheduled for two subsequent Boston-area engagements of Do I Hear a Waltz? that summer: however Collins' maternity leave mandated Julia Meade instead headlining those two engagements opposite Holgate.Newport Daily News 9 August 1967 "Maurice Chevalier is Billed for N.E. Summer Theaters" by Harold F. Angione p.3 Also in the summer of 1967 Monique van Vooren encored as Fioria in the Kenley Players of Dayton (Ohio) production of Do I Hear a Waltz? which starred Anita Bryant as Leona and featured Don Amendolia as Vito (Carol Bruce had originally been announced as encoring her Broadway role of Fioria for Kenley Players).
A 1969 production starring Patricia Morison as Leona, Mitchell Gregg as Renato, Ken Gilman as Eddie Yeager and Dennis Grimaldi as Vito.
In the summer of 1972 Ronald Holgate again encored as Renato in a tour of Do I Hear a Waltz? with Patrice Munsel headlining as Leona: also in the cast were Richard Kline (Eddie Yaeger) and Denise Lor (Fioria).Camden Courier-Post 12 July 1972 "Waltz in Park Good Three-Fourths of Time" by Scott Hockenberry p.65
In March 1975 Rosalind Harris starred as Leona in a revival of Do I Hear a Waltz? by the Equity Library Theatre of the New York [City] Public Library whose cast also included Melanie Chartoff (Jennifer Yaeger) and Barbara Lea (Fioria).