I Never Miss a Vivien Leigh Musical!

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Welcome to a new Musical Theatre Monday! This month, we’re spotlighting a show that debuted on Broadway 60 years ago — Tovarich (1963), with songs by Lee Pockriss and Anne Croswell, and a script based on the 1937 film of the same name. The original production notably starred Tony Award-winning Vivien Leigh in her only musical. (Incidentally, she was replaced in the run by Joan Copeland, and eventually, Eva Gabor, who was apparently a delight.)

Tovarich is not a musically top-shelf affair by the standards of its era, but the original cast album is a lot of fun — albeit, truncated. That is, a handful of songs were left unrecorded. So, to hear the full score, I’m offering — for subscribers who comment below to alert me of their private, non-commercial interest — access to a live audio of the 2008 Musicals Tonight! production, which includes almost all the songs ever written for (and utilized in) the show. For example, here’s “I Refuse” — which was added for Leigh during the Broadway run.

I’ll also throw in a few tracks of the original cast — live — performing four numbers (two of which are instrumental) excluded from the official album. Here’s Vivien Leigh herself with “You’ll Make An Elegant Butler” (the one song NOT by Pockriss and Croswell; it was deleted during the run and is NOT in the Musicals Tonight! audio). Enjoy!

 

 

Come back next month for another musical rarity! And stay tuned tomorrow for Ellen!

28 thoughts on “I Never Miss a Vivien Leigh Musical!”

  2. I’ve always wanted to hear the music from Tovarich. And now you’re making it possible! Thank you for your continuing generosity.

  3. I’m so excited to see that you have access to the Musicals Tonight recording! I’ve enjoyed listening to the cast album ever since I came across Leigh’s appearance performing “Wilkes Barre, PA” on the Sullivan show and would love to hear more numbers from the show. (Now, all you need to do is find a recording of Eva Gabor’s summer stock performances in the show. I hear that she was great in the role as well!)

  5. Hi Jackson,

    I’ve always been very fond of the cast album of Tovarich. The show’s a lot of fun, and had some good hummable tunes. I’d love to get the Musicals tonight audio. Thanks for finding it and making it available.

  6. Hello Jackson
    Love to hear the full score of Tovarich and the extras from the original.
    You really are a resource to be able to hear the musicals of the past. There are no programs any more to hear those and new musicals on a regular basis unless there is a revival touring or a PBS program but most are only the popular ones.

    So thanks.
    Donna

  11. Hi Jackson,
    I love the recording if Tovarich, especially, i go to sleep. Please send me link for the Musical Tonight!
    version.
    Thank you,
    Bob Murphy

  12. I bought this CD after hearing it a couple years ago. Really a fun score. Would love hearing more!

  13. I would love to hear the 2008 recording of Tovarich. I just noticed that Vivien Leigh won a best actress Tony for her performance. Wow! I’ve seen the movie but never heard of the musical. Thanks so much for alerting us!

  14. Don’t know too much about this score… would love to be able to hear how it functions in performance. Thanks, Jackson!

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