Today is Sunday, and this week’s Report contains my abbreviated notes on A Beat of Our Own at McCarter Theatre Center and Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen at the Night Egg at the Culture Club. Plus, a quote of the week; select press announcements from the past week; and the upcoming week’s previews and openings. Note: I am in the midst of writing a new book, so my notes on this fall’s productions are likely to be uncharacteristically brief.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK

The lyric, by Harold Rome, for “Vassar Girl Finds a Job,” from the 1937 revue Pins and Needles.

When I was young, I studied hard and thirsted after knowledge,
And often burned the midnight oil so I could get to college.
They told me my fine education
Would help improve my situation.
So then I crammed and crammed till I was almost in a coma,
And thesesed and examed until I got me a diploma.
“Aha,” they said, “now comes admission
Into a very high position.”

So out I went and looked around,
And Macy’s is the place I found.
I filled my blanks and application,
And went for my examination.

They took my weight and took my height,
And tapped my chest and tested my sight,
Examined my head, took prints of my toes,
Looked at my teeth and up my nose.
Examined my throat, measured my hips,
And even took prints of my finger tips,
They made me say “ah,” they told me to grunt,
Examined my back, examined my front.

Then they tested my “I.Q.”
And asked what I’d like to do,
And when that exam was through
What there was to know Macy’s knew!

Spoken.
So I got the job.

Sung.
Life is a bitter cup of tea,
Now I’m just salesgirl seventy-three,
I used to be on the daisy chain,
Now I’m a chain store daisy.
Once they gave me the honor seat,
Now I stand up with pains in my feet,
I used to be on the daisy chain,
Now shoppers drive me crazy.
I sell smart but thrifty corsets at three-fifty,
Better grade: four-sixty-nine.
I sell bras and girdles for Mauds and Myrtles
To hold in their plump behind – this counter.
Once I wrote poems put people in tears,
Now I write checks for “Red Star” brassieres,
I used to be on the daisy chain,
Now I’m a chain store daisy.

Spoken over the first two As of chorus music.
Oh! Yes, madam.
Oh! No, madam.
I guess, madam.
That’s so, madam.
Of course, madam, that’s the very best,
Exactly the kind that’s worn by Mae West.
For you, madam?
That’s true, madam.
We do, madam.
In blue, madam?
That one is nineteen seventy-four.
It ought to be expensive – it’s the largest in the store.

Sung.
Once I had a yearning for all higher learning,
And studied to make the grade.
For subjects pedantic I shunned the romantic,
And look at the kind of grade I made.
I’m selling things to fit the figger.

Spoken.
Make the big things small and the small things bigger!

Sung.
I used to be on the daisy chain,
Now I’m a chain store daisy!

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A BEAT OF OUR OWN AT McCARTER THEATRE CENTER

A Beat of Our Own, a new musical about Bhangra competitors at East Lansing University, is currently playing an out-of-town engagement at McCarter Theatre Center, after previously having been seen, not by me, at Birmingham Rep and La Jolla Playhouse. It has a book by Rehana Lew Mirza and Mike Lew, lyrics and music by Sam Willmott, and direction by Stafford Arima, and it is not without possibilities – certain moments, especially in the first act, could, with a relatively modest reworking of material and production, become quite strong – but the musical currently suffers from a handful of large-scale problems, including a muddled narrative, a shapelessness (especially in terms of the production numbers), and a serious case of “musical theatre.” Mara Isaacs, Tom Kirdahy, and Peggy Koenig are leading the commercial charge, and members of the team know where to find me should they desire a detailed analysis.

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MEMOIRS OF AMOROUS GENTLEMEN AT THE NIGHT EGG AT THE CULTURE CLUB

Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen, a new musical based on the graphic novel, recently opened an Off-Broadway engagement at the Night Egg at the Culture Club. It has a book by Leah Nanako Winkler, lyrics and music by Duncan Sheik, and direction by Rob Ashford, and it is a dreary affair.

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PRESS ANNOUNCEMENTS

Here is a list of select press announcements from the past week. Each headline is clickable for more information.

• Rhinoceros to Open on Broadway; The Full Monty Postponed
• The Baby-Sitters Club Musical Will Have World Premiere in Los Angeles
• Complete Cast Set for Adrienne Warren-Led Imitation of Life World Premiere Off-Broadway
• Julie Taymor & Elliot Goldenthal’s The Grand Delusion and More Set for BAM Winter/Spring 2027 Season
• Tristen Buettel & Sadie Dickerson Will Play Sandra Dee in Just in Time This Fall
• Barrett Doss Joins Wild Rose at New York Theatre Workshop
• Barrington and Tectonic Will Co-Produce Sunday in the Park With George in Summer 2027
• Ms. Blakk for President to Extend Run Off-Broadway
• Donna Vivino to Star as Dorothy Kilgallen in Kilgallen World Premiere Off-Broadway
• Jordan Tyson, Christopher Sieber, Alyse Alan Louis, More Join 38th Annual Festival of New Musicals
• Falsettos 10th Anniversary Reunion Concert Adds London Palladium Show
• Heathers The Musical Breaks All-Time House Record at New World Stages
• Hell’s Kitchen Profit Interest Sold to Ovation Rights
• Mandy Moore Will Choreograph La La Land Stage Musical

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PREVIEWS AND OPENINGS

Here is a list of the new musicals and revivals either opening or beginning previews during the upcoming week, specifically on Broadway and Off-Broadway. It contains, as well, select new musicals beginning performances regionally, and select new musicals and revivals beginning performances in New York City. Each title is clickable for more information.

Monday, October 19

Tuesday, October 20
• Regional: Slippin’ Through the Cracks

Wednesday, October 21
• Opening: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Thursday, October 22
• Previews: The Fantasticks
• Previews: Ms. Blakk for President

Friday, October 23

Saturday, October 24

Sunday, October 25

Photo of a scene from A Beat of Our Own by T. Charles Erickson.