Shenandoah is a 1974 musical with music by Gary Geld, lyrics by Peter Udell, and book by Udell, Philip Rose, and James Lee Barrett. It is based on Barrett's original screenplay for the 1965 film Shenandoah.
Synopsis Charlie Anderson, a widower, lives with his large family in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia, during the American Civil War. Anderson does not wish to be involved with the war because he doesn't consider it "his" war, but he is forced to take action when his youngest son Robert is taken prisoner by Union soldiers. In the course of searching for Robert, Charlie, his daughter Jenny, and some of his sons rescue Sam (Jenny's newlywed Confederate soldier husband) from a Yankee POW train. After enduring the tragedy of losing his eldest son Jacob (to a sniper) and his second eldest son James and James' wife Anne (to deserters), Charlie and the rest of the family return home, defeated. In his despair, Charlie is reminded to return to church, where he, at long last, is reunited with Robert once more.
Original cast and characters CharacterBroadway (1975)Playbill 1975 Bio Cast Listaccessed September 7, 2023First National Tour (1977)Playbill 1977 Bio Cast Listaccessed September 7, 2023First Broadway Revival (1989)Playbill 1989 Bio Cast Listaccessed September 7, 2023Charlie AndersonJohn CullumJohn RaittJohn CullumAnn AndersonDonna TheodoreJana SchneiderCamilla ScottJenny AndersonPenelope MilfordSuzy BrabeauTracey MooreJames AndersonJoel HigginsPaul MyrvoldChristopher MartinJacob AndersonTed AgressDean RussellBurke Lawrence SamGordon HallidayTom CavanaghGabrielChip FordCal BoneyRoy McKayRobert (The Boy)Joseph ShapiroSteve GroberJason ZimblerHenry AndersonRobert RosenMartin MeredithRobin BlakeJohn AndersonDavid RussellStephen McIntyreNathan AndersonJordan SuffinRobert QuigleyNigel Hamer
Musical numbers
Act I Raise the Flag of Dixie (Prologue) - Ensemble I've Heard it All Before - Charlie Pass the Cross to Me - Ensemble Why Am I Me? - The Boy and Gabriel Next to Lovin' (I Like Fightin') - Jacob, James, Nathan, John and Henry Over the Hill - Jenny The Pickers are Coming - Charlie Next to Lovin' (I Like Fightin') (Reprise) - Jacob, James, Nathan, John, Henry and Jenny Meditation - Charlie We Make a Beautiful Pair - Anne and Jenny Violets and Silverbells - Jenny, Sam and Ensemble It's a Boy! - Charlie, Jacob, James, Nathan, John and Henry
Act II Entr'acte - Orchestra Freedom - Anne and Gabriel Violets and Silverbells (reprise) - James and Anne Papa's Gonna Make it Alright - Charlie The Only Home I Know - Corporal and Ensemble The Only Home I Know (Reprise) - Corporal Papa's Gonna Make it Alright (Reprise) - Jenny Meditation II - Charlie Pass the Cross to Me (Finale) - Ensemble Freedom (curtain call) - Ensemble
Productions The play was first performed at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut, during 1974. It then moved to the Colonial Theater in Boston for a pre-Broadway run from November 25, 1974 - December 14, 1974. It then transferred to the Alvin Theatre on Broadway beginning on January 7, 1975. where it played for a total of 1,050 performances, ending August 7, 1977, at the Mark Hellinger Theatre, which it transferred to beginning March 30, 1977, after closing on March 27, 1977, at the Alvin, to make room for Annie.
The production was directed by Philip Rose, with scenery by Chuck Murawski, lighting by Thomas R. Skelton, costumes by Pearl Somner and Winn Morton, choreography by Robert Tucker, dance arrangements by Russell Warner, musical direction by Lynn Crigler, and orchestrations by Don Walker. Michael P. Price was executive director of the Goodspeed Opera House.
The production was nominated for six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and won two: one for Best Actor in a Musical (John Cullum) and the other for Best Book of a Musical.
Shenandoah was revived at the Virginia Theatre on Broadway, again with Cullum in the main role, on August 8, 1989, and ended September 2, 1989. It returned to the Goodspeed Opera House during 1994, featuring Marc Kudisch.Klein, Alvin (August 21, 1994). "After 20 Years, Goodspeed Opera's 'Shenandoah' Back Again" The New York Times. A new production began on March 22, 2006, at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C., featuring Scott Bakula. A positive critical response and strong sales resulted in the run being extended through May 21, although Bakula left the production April 30.Jones, Kenneth (April 10, 2006). "D.C. Shenandoah Extends; Bakula Will Leave, Sutherland Joins the Fray" Playbill.com.
Shenandoah was staged by The Serenbe Playhouse in Serenbe, Georgia in spring 2019. It featured Taylor Hicks and Rachel Potter in the cast. It received positive reviews.
References
External links
Shenandoah at Ford's Theatre