This in-depth and original study examines 100 productions and analyses why George Abbott's name became synonymous with the 'golden age' of Broadway. What did Abbott contribute? How did he work? How did he innovate the industry? How did he survive so long? All of these inquiries, and more, lead to the most fundamental question of all: what exactly was the famous “Abbott touch”?
For sixty years, George Abbott was a vital force in the American theatre. As an actor, playwright, director, librettist, play doctor, and producer, he laid his ""touch"" on approximately 100 New York productions, from The Pajama Game and Damn Yankees through to Once Upon a Mattress and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
Spanning this incredible figure’s work chronologically, each chapter of The Abbott Touch examines a period of creativity in his life, culminating in how he became the famous multi-hyphenate artist he is now celebrated as. Beginning with his early career in 1913 through to his work on the 1994 revival of Damn Yankees, this book analyses his key contributions to his primary works, all of which have relied on his genius.
The first study of its kind, The Abbott Touch provides key insights into the working life of one of the 20th Century's most prolific theatre practitioners, as well as a vital history for theatre scholars and fans alike.
By:
Thomas Hischak (Flagler College USA)
Imprint: Methuen Drama
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 234mm,
Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781350340589
ISBN 10: 1350340588
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 06 April 2023
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Preface Acknowledgements Prologue: The Paradox Known as Mister Abbott Chapter 1: Pounding and Progressing on 42nd Street (1913-1925) The Misleading Lady; Lightnin’ Daddies; The Broken Wing; Dulcy; Zander the Great; White Desert; Hell Bent for Heaven; Lazybones; Processional Chapter 2: If You Want it Done Right, Write It and Direct It Yourself (1925-1934) The Fall Guy; A Holy Terror; Love ’Em and Leave ’Em; Broadway; Chicago; Spread Eagle; Four Walls; Coquette; Bless You, Sister; Gentlemen of the Press; Ringside; Jarnegan Poppa; Those We Love; Louder, Please; The Great Magoo; Small Miracle; Ladies’ Money; Page Miss Glory Chapter 3: If You Really Want It Done Better, Produce It Yourself (1932-1940) Lilly Turner; Heat Lightning; The Drums Begin; John Brown; Kill that Story; Sweet River; Angel Island; Brown Sugar; The Primrose Path; Ring Two; The Unconquered; Goodbye in the Night Chapter 4: How Did I Get Typecast in Farce? (1932-1939) Twentieth Century; Boy Meets Girl; Three Men on a Horse; Brother Rat; Room Service; All that Glitters; What a Life; See My Lawyer Chapter 5: The Celluloid Sidestep (1918-1931) The Imposter; The Carnival Man; The Bishops Candlesticks; Why Bring that Up?; The Saturday Night Kid; Halfway to Heaven; All Quiet on the Western Front; Manslaughter; The Sea God; Stolen Heaven; Secrets of a Diary; My Sin; The Cheat Chapter 6: Adding Songwriters to the Mix (1935-1945) Jumbo; On Your Toes; The Boys from Syracuse; Too Many Girls; Best Foot Forward; Beat the Band Chapter 7: Entertaining the Homefront (1942-1945) Jason; Kiss & Tell; Get Away, Old Man; A Highland Fling; Snafu Image Selection Chapter 8: Working with New (and Usually Younger) Faces (1944-1949) On the Town; Billion Dollar Baby; Barefoot Boy with Cheek; High Button Shoes; Look Ma, I’m Dancin’; Where’s Charley?; Touch and Go Chapter 9: Post-War Blues (1946-1961) The Dancer; It Takes Two; Mrs. Gibbons’ Boys; The Number; In Any Language; Drink to Me; Only; A Call on Kuprin; The Skin of Our Teeth (revival) Chapter 10: That’s Entertainment? (1940-1960) Pal Joey; Beggar’s Holiday; A Tree Grows in Brooklyn; New Girl in Town; Fiorello!; Tenderloin Chapter 11: All They Want Is Musicals (1950-1955) Call Me Madam; Out of This World; Wonderful Town; Me and Juliet; The Pajama Game; On Your Toes (revival); Damn Yankees Chapter 12: Ignoring the Sixties (1959-1962) Take Her, She’s Mine; Never Too Late; Once Upon a Mattress; A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Chapter 13: Almost But Not Quite (1964-1989) Fade Out – Fade In; Flora, the Red Menace; Anya; Help Stamp Out Marriage!; Agatha Sue, I Love You; How Now, Dow Jones; The Education of H*Y*M*A*N K*A*P*L*A*N; The Fig Leaves Are Falling; Norman, Is That You?; Not Now, Darling; Music Is; Tropicana; Frankie Chapter 14: Looking Back with Dubious Success (1969-1994) Three Men on a Horse (revival); The Pajama Game (revival); On Your Toes (revival); Broadway (revival); Damn Yankees (revival) Epilogue: No Exit Music, Please Appendices: George Abbott’s New York Theatre Productions George Abbott's Films George Abbott’s Awards and Honors End Notes Selected Bibliography Index About the Author
Thomas Hischak retired from full time teaching in New York State and now teaches theatre and part time at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, USA. He is the author of over 30 non-fiction books on theatre, film and popular music.
