Brooklyn (musical)

Using the play within a play structure, Brooklyn focuses on a group of five ragtag homeless musicians known as the City Weeds. The group periodically transforms a street corner under the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge into a stage where they present their play about a Parisian singer Brooklyn, named after the New York City borough from which her wayward father Taylor hailed. Orphaned when her depressed mother Faith hangs herself, the girl in quick succession is sent to live in a convent where she discovers her vocal talents, becomes a star, performs at Carnegie Hall, sets out in search of her father (who she discovers is a drug-addicted Vietnam War vet), and engages in a competition with local diva Paradice at Madison Square Garden.

From the original Broadway souvenir program:

Once upon a time, a famous young Parisian came to America to search for the Father she never knew. Her only clue, her name... Brooklyn. The "Reigning Diva of the Decade", Ms. Paradice is threatened by Brooklyn's new-found fame. She challenges Brooklyn to a "Battle Of The Divas" at Madison Square Garden. Brooklyn accepts to deliver the Father she has yet to find. Feeling the soul of the city that bears her name, Brooklyn is moved by a street performer who plays a rusty old crowbar as if it were a Golden Saxophone. The Streetsinger leads Brooklyn to her father. She learns the truth of who he is and where he's been. Although our "Wicked Witch Of The Hood" Ms. Paradice is about to wreak havoc with our heroine and her father, she doesn't mind if you love to hate her, because after all that's still love. Moments before showtime, the wicked Ms. Paradice confronts Brooklyn's Father she comes bearing gifts. The "Battle Of The Divas" begins. Ms. Paradice takes the stage. She warns America not to turn its back on her now or they call "Kiss My Black Ass!" Brooklyn finds herself center stage, abandoned by her Father. The crowd roared, the votes poured in. Paradice Won! Brooklyn was just another face in the crowd. However, in that crowd was another face. "So you gotta ask yourself, do you believe in happy endings?"

Schoenfeld and McPherson had collaborated on a record more than two decades earlier but lost touch until McPherson, now a Massachusetts housewife, encountered her former partner singing on a Brooklyn street corner as a means of support. She invited him to live with her and her family, and the two began to write songs based on Schoenfeld's experiences. They eventually wrote the plot with elements of Annie, Madame Butterfly, Movin' Out, Rent, and every fairy tale that ever ended happily ever after.[3][4]

The musical's stage premiere was on April 30, 2003 at the New Denver Civic Theater (Denver, CO) and ran through June 15, 2003. This production starred Eden Espinosa.[5]

The musical premiered on Broadway on October 21, 2004 at the Plymouth Theatre (renamed the Gerald Schoenfeld), and closed on June 26, 2005 after 284 performances and 27 previews. Directed by Jeff Calhoun, the cast included Eden Espinosa as Brooklyn, Karen Olivo as Faith, Kevin Anderson as Taylor, Ramona Keller as Paradice, and Cleavant Derricks as a street singer who acts as the narrator. [4][6][7]

A 2006 national tour starred American Idol finalist Diana DeGarmo as Brooklyn and Melba Moore as Paradice. Cleavant Derricks reprised his performance as Street Singer, with original cast member Julie Reiber as Faith, and Lee Morgan as Taylor Collins.[8]

In 2008 Brooklyn made its professional regional premiere at Wisconsin's The Armory located in Janesville, WI. The limited engagement, arranged through Brooklyn's original producers, ran from May 8 to June 1, 2008. The Armory production featured Elyssa Samsel in the title role with John Edwards (Street Singer), Brett J. Frazier (Taylor Collins), Chelsea Waller (Paradice), and Julie Marie Eberhart (Faith). This production also added two more voices and featured Don Seward and Amy Linden in the ensemble.

Baldwin Wallace College was granted the rights to put on a regional production in Berea, Ohio in April 2008. It played at Playhouse Square's 14th Street Theatre in May 2008.

A Brazilian production played in June 2012 in São Paulo.

In February, 2018, Footlite Musicals was granted rights to put on a production in Indianapolis, Indiana. The production was staged in cabaret style with the audience seated on the stage. The production was received favorably, selling out the vast majority of the shows. The production was nominated for and won Encore Association Awards in the following categories: Best Production of a Musical (Amy Douglas), Best Director of a Musical (Kathleen Clarke Horrigan), Best Lead Actress in a Musical (Shelbi Berry), Best Female Singer (Shelbi Berry), Best Ensemble in a Musical, Best Vocal Direction (Caleb Morgan), Best Music Direction (Linda Parr), Best Set Design of a Musical (Stepen Matters), Best Set Decoration of a Musical (Stephen Matters, Mary Lich, Laura Baker), Best Lighting Design for a Musical (Andrew Stephens), Best Light Board Operator for a Musical (Sean Cassada) and received the following Encore Association nominations: Best Lead Actor in a Musical (Stevie Jones, Donny Torres), Best Lead Actress in a Musical (Paige Brown, Kendra Randle), Best Male Singer (Stevie Jones, Donny Torres), Best Female Singer (Paige Brown, Kendra Randle), Best Costumes for a Musical (Curt Pickard.) [9]

Upon closing, Broadway Licensing acquired the rights for stock and amateur performances.[10]

Brooklyn has been professionally staged twice in London. The first production took place at Greenwich Theatre in 2019 with Adam Haigh as director-choreographer.[11] A digital production (stylized BKLYN) was produced and streamed during COVID-19 lockdowns in early 2021. Produced by Lambert Jackson Productions, with direction by Dean Johnson and musical direction by Leo Munby. The cast featured Emma Kingston as Brooklyn, Jamie Muscato as Taylor, Marisha Wallace as Paradice, Sejal Keshwala as Faith, and Newton Matthews as the Street Singer.[12]

A cast album recorded live during a performance before an invited audience was released on the Razor & Tie label.

• Internet Broadway Database listing