Jack Viertel Creating New Randy Newman Musical for Mark Taper Forum

By Kenneth Jones
12 Oct 2009

"Short People," anyone? The work of songwriter Randy Newman will echo in a new musical, Harps and Angels, in fall 2010, at Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, Variety reported.

In recent weeks, Center Theatre Group had coyly announced a new musical with songs by a famous living songwriter for its 2010 season. Newman — known for his plucky, folky and often ironic-sentimental songs — is the man in question. The new piece will end Taper's 2010 season.

According to Variety, Jack Viertel (creative director of Jujamcyn Theaters, and artistic director of Encores!) conceived the musical, which will feature musical numbers culled from Newman's song catalog. The show aims to be a Newman-esque take on living in America.

The songlist, CTG announced, will include "I Love L.A.," "I Think It's Going to Rain Today," "Sail Away," "Marie," "Rednecks," "My Country," "Louisiana 1927," "Feels Like Home" and "You've Got a Friend in Me."

Previews will start Nov. 10, 2010, toward a run Nov. 21-Dec. 19, 2010.

No creative team was announced, nor was a plan for a commercial future.

Newman is an Oscar, Emmy and Grammy Award-winning songwriter and singer. His work has been heard in the stage musicals The Education of Randy Newman (seen at South Coast Rep in 2000; and ACT in Seattle in 2002) and Randy Newman's Faust, and in countless cabarets around the world. He also wrote music for a stage adaptation of "All the King's Men."

Center Theatre Group operates the Ahmanson, Mark Taper Forum and the Kirk Douglas Theatre in L.A.