First Wives Club is a musical with music and lyrics by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Eddie Holland. The musical is based on the 1996 movie of the same name.
The musical premiered in San Diego, California, in 2009, with a book by Rupert Holmes. A reworked version had a production in Chicago, in 2015, with a new book by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason.
Productions
The premiere opened at The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California, on July 17, 2009, in previews, through August 23, 2009,Jones, Kenneth. "Musical First Wives Club Will Now Convene July 17 Toward July 31 Opening". Playbill.com, June 1, 2009 prior to a projected Broadway engagement. The book was by Rupert Holmes, with a score by the "one-time only reunited" Holland-Dozier-Holland (H-D-H) songwriting team from 1960s Motown soul music fame. Many of the songs in the score (including the first four musical numbers) were Motown hits composed by H-D-H; they also composed new songs for the musical, which were especially prominent in act 2. Francesca Zambello directed.Hebert, James. "Globe to be first to stage musical First Wives Club" , The San Diego Union-Tribune, September 5, 2008Jones, Kenneth. "First Wives Club Musical Will Premiere in San Diego in 2009; Zambello Directs", playbill.com, September 5, 2008 The creators and Zambello were engaged for the project in 2006.Simonson, Robert. "Rupert Holmes to Pen Book for First Wives Club Musical", playbill.com, May 26, 2006 An industry reading of the musical was held in February 2009, with principals Ana Gasteyer, Carolee Carmello and Adriane Lenox.Jones, Kenneth. "Lenox, Carmello, Gasteyer, Oscar, Dossett, Harris and More Sing First Wives Club in NYC", Playbill, January 27, 2009
The San Diego cast included Karen Ziemba as Annie, Sheryl Lee Ralph as Elise, Barbara Walsh as Brenda, John Dossett as Aaron, Kevyn Morrow as Bill, Brad Oscar as Morty, Sara Chase as Trophy Wife, and Sam Harris as Duane. Lisa Stevens choreographed, with scenic design by Peter J. Davison and costumes by Paul Tazewell.Jones, Kenneth. "Tell Us, Miss Jones: Sheryl Lee Ralph Will Be Part of First Wives Club", playbill.com, June 16, 2009Jones, Kenneth. "First Wives Club – The Musical Convenes July 17 at Old Globe" playbill.com, July 17, 2009 The production received mixed to negative reviews.Vaughan, Carson. "Critics have issues with 'First Wives'". Variety, August 3, 2009
The musical was reworked and a new production opened in Chicago in March 2015 at the Oriental Theatre with a book re-written by Linda Bloodworth-Thomason.Jones, Chris. "Not so sweet revenge in pre-Broadway First Wives Club", Chicago Tribune, March 12, 2015 Originating producers Jonas Neilson and Paul Lambert teamed with Elizabeth Williams and John Frost; Simon Phillips directed.Hetrick, Adam. "The First Wives Club Musical Confirms 2015 Chicago Pre-Broadway Premiere", playbill.com, June 30, 2014
Musical numbers
Act I "Stop! In the Name of Love" – Elise, Cynthia "Reach Out" – Young Cynthia, Brenda, Annie, and Elise "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" – Young Girl, Bill, Aaron, and Morty "Forever Came Today" – Young Husbands and Wives "Forever Came Today" (reprise) – Cynthia "I'm So Lucky" – Annie, Brenda, Elise "I'm Not That Kind of Girl" – Cassandra and the Boys "Stir It Up" – Dr. Leslie Rosen "My Heart Want to Try One More Time" – Brenda "Stir It Up" (reprise) – Club Singers "Whirlpool of Emotions" – Annie "My World Is Empty Without You" – Cynthia, Brenda, Annie, and Elise "Shoulder to Shoulder" – Annie, Elise, and Brenda
Act II "Morty Is the Best" – Morty, Shelley, Ensemble "I'm So Lucky" (several reprises) – various "I Am Duarto" – Duane "One Sweet Moment" – Elise, Brenda, Annie, Aaron, Bill, and Morty "Remember Jerusalem" – Jason, Ensemble "Payback's a Bitch" – Brenda, Elise, Annie, Duane, Shelley, Ensemble "Old Me New Me (Part 1) " – Bill "Old Me New Me (Part 2)" – Aaron "Old Me New Me (Part 3)" – Morty "Finale" – Elise, Annie, Brenda, Ensemble
References