Promenade was an experimental musical comedy with book and lyrics by María Irene Fornés and music by Rev. Al Carmines, originally produced off-Broadway by Edgar Lansbury and Joseph Beruh. In a review in The New York Times for a 1983 New York revival, Stephen Holden linked the production to the Theatre of the Absurd: "This work, which suggests a mixture of Candide and Samuel Beckett viewed through Lewis Carroll's looking glass, is a little too avant-garde and absurdist to appeal to mainstream tastes. But in its odd way it's an exquisite piece of musical theater."
Original production
Promenade premiered on April 9, 1965 at the Judson Poets' Theatre, Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square, NYC, where it played for three weekends. It was then produced four years later in a commercial run Off-Broadway at the Promenade Theatre, which was produced by Original Cast member Edmund Gaynes.. After a successful run, Promenade closed on January 18, 1970 after 259 performances. Subsequently, it was produced in Chicago under the direction of June Pyskacek by her theater, the Kingston Mines Theatre Co., where in 1971 the world premiere of "Grease" commenced its long run. Promenade is listed in the Time Life Decade Books Series as an "anti-Vietnam War statement," perhaps because of the scene towards the end where rich people are dancing in a maypole around the two convicts who are now dressed in bandages as war victims. Complete original cast:
105
Ty McConnell
106
Gilbert Price
Jailer
Pierre Epstein
Servant
Madeline Kahn
Miss I
Margot Albert
Miss O
Carrie Wilson
Miss U
Alice Playten
Mr. R
Marc Allen III
Mr. S
Glenn Kezer
Mr. T
Michael Davis
Miss Cake
Florence Tarlow
Waiter
Edmund Gaynes
Dishwasher
Art Ostrin
Mayor
George S. Irving
Mother
Shannon Bolin
Originally, Columbia was interested in recording the cast album as a two-record set, but after a disagreement between the record company and the cast over salaries, Columbia abandoned the project. RCA agreed to record the album, but only as a single LP. By the time the recording was finally made, Kahn was no longer available, playing in SHOW BOAT in San Diego. Pamela Hall was also out of town, so the role was sung on the album by Sandy Schaeffer. Cast members George S. Irving and Mark Allen III were on vacation, and so their musical numbers were not recorded. Because of the time limitations of a single disc, several production numbers, including "Spring Beauties" and "The Laughing Song," also were not recorded. The recording, such as it is, can be found on CD. Scenes and Musical Numbers ACT 1 SCENE 1: THE CELL Promenade Theme—Orchestra Dig Dig Dig* -- 105 & 106 SCENE 2: THE BANQUET ROOM Unrequited Love—Misses I, O, U, Messrs. R, S, T, Servant, Waiter, 105, 106 Isn't That Clear—Mr. S with Ensemble Don't Eat It* -- Ensemble Four -- Misses I, O, U, Messrs. R, S, T, Servant, Waiter, 105, 106, Dishwasher Chicken Is He—Rosita The Moment Has Passed—Miss O A Flower—Miss I Rosita Rodriguez* -- Mayor Apres Vous* -- 105, 106, Jailor Bliss* -- Servant, 105, 106, and Ensemble SCENE 3: THE STREET The Cigarette Song—Servant, 105, 106 Thank You* -- Dishwasher The Clothes Make The Man—Servant, 105, 106 Two Little Angels—Mother, 105, 106 The Passing of Time—105, 106 Capricious and Fickle -- Miss U Crown Me—Servant, 105, 106 ACT 2 SCENE 1: THE BATTLEFIELD Mr. Sidney N. Phelps* -- Waiter Madeline* -- Waiter Spring Beauties* -- Ensemble Apres Vous * -- Ensemble A Poor Man -- 105, 106 Why Not? * -- Servant, 105, 106, Mother, Dishwasher, Waiter SCENE 2: THE DRAWING ROOM The Finger Song* -- Mr. R, Ensemble Little Fool—Mr. T, Ensemble Chardiz* -- Servant The Laughing Song* -- Ensemble A Mother's Love* -- Mother SCENE 3: THE CELL Listen, I Feel—Servant I Saw A Man—Mother All is Well in the City—105, 106, Ensemble
2010 Concert
On Monday, April 12, 2010, a semi-staged concert of Promenade was performed Off-Broadway at New York City's New World Stages as the first of a planned series called Legacy: the Musicals of Off-Broadway. It was produced by Edmund Gaynes and directed by Pamela Hall. Ken Lundie was music director. 2010 Concert Cast:
