J.P. Morgan Saves the Nation

J.P. Morgan Saves the Nation is a 1995 musical with a book by Jeffrey M. Jones and music by Jonathan Larson.[1]

J.P. Morgan Saves the Nation
MusicJonathan Larson
LyricsJonathan Larson
BookJeffrey M. Jones
BasisThe life and times of J.P. Morgan

Jonathan Larson was invited to compose music for En Garde Arts‘s production of Jeffrey M. Jones’ J.P. Morgan Saves the Nation, a postmodern work detailing the life of financier J. P. Morgan. Larson was called in as a replacement as Jones' long-time collaborator, Dan Moses Schreier, dropped out, suggested by artistic director Annie Hamburger after hearing a recording of the workshop production of Rent at New York Theatre Workshop.[2]

Development

The score for J.P. Morgan contains "Larson’s musical recipe" including classic composer John Philip Sousa, soul, Seattle-inspired music, and electric-guitar-heavy grunge.[2] Meanwhile, Entertainment Weekly described it as a "ragtime-to-rock satire".[3]

The show was staged at the "pointedly appropriate setting" of the Federal Hall National Memorial on Wall Street, which was across the street from the Morgan Guaranty Trust Company, founded by the titular character.[4]

Critical reception

According to The Atlantic, J.P. Morgan Saves the Nation, along with Larson's other shows Superbia and Tick, Tick... Boom!, "opened and closed quickly, in out-of-the-way venues".[5] The New York Times noted the piece's "intricate, even esoteric book...obviously the product of many hours of library research" and "peppy score in a post-modernist medley of musical voices".[4]

References
  1. D'artes, E. Engar (1996-01-25). "JP MORGAN SAVES THE NATION". Engarde Arts. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  2. Istel, John (1996-07-01). "'Rent' Check: Did Jonathan Larson's Vision Get Lost in the Media Uproar?". AMERICAN THEATRE. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  3. May 10, EW Staff Updated; EDT, 1996 at 04:00 AM. "Rent composer had a bright future". EW.com. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  4. Brantley, Ben (1995-06-16). "THEATER REVIEW; 'J. P. Morgan' and Some Heavy Site-Specificity". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  5. Davis, Francis (1996-09-01). "Victim Kitsch". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2022-04-03.


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