And they said it wouldn't last.
Saturday Night Fever, the Broadway musical that's nearing its one year anniversary in a couple of weeks will reach a milder milestone Oct. 3: the show celebrates its 400th performance at the Minskoff Theatre this evening.
Saturday Night Fever, the musical inspired by the hit Robert Stigwood film of the same title, opened on Broadway Oct. 21, after a month of previews which began Sept. 28.
The cast was headed by James Carpinello, Price and Orfeh. Also populating the floor at the 2001 Odyssey discotheque were Bryan Batt (as DJ Monty), Paul Castree, Richard H. Blake, Andy Blankenbuehler and Sean Palmer. The film based musical boasts a total cast of 43 and roughly a dozen dance numbers.
Broadway got a new disco king on July 7, in the form of Sean Palmer. Palmer was Carpinello's stand-by for many a month. His dancing partners remain the same. Both Price and Orfeh, the two female stars, signed on for another stint in the musical. Michael Peternostro (Fosse) is the new Monty, the DJ who spin the platters at Bay Ridge discotheque 2001 Odyssey. He replaces David Coburn, who was understudy for the original Monty, Bryan Batt, who's now in Seussical). Batt originated the role of Monty in the New York production, singing "Disco Inferno" and "Disco Duck" every night. He left the show in order to join Seussical as the standby for the Cat in the Hat. As it did in London, the musical attracted a following, selling over $20 million in tickets, and inspiring screaming, hooting and dancing in the aisles among its largely youngish audiences. In recent months, however, attendance has slipped a bit. For the week ending Oct. 1, grosses were $348,972 (less than half of a $900K potential), with audiences at 52.73 percent of capacity.
Saturday Night Fever features many Bee Gees songs from the 1977 movie, including "Stayin' Alive" (which opens the show) and "Night Fever," and others that weren't, such as "Tragedy." Also thrown into the mix are K.C. and the Sunshine Band's "Boogie Shoes," Rick Dees' "Disco Duck," and Barry Gibb's "What Kind of Fool." All the songs are woven into the coming of-age story, often functioning as plot-furthering personal statements by the story's various Brooklyn-based dancin' fools.
Saturday Night Fever is adapted for the stage by Nan Knighton, in collaboration with Broadway newcomer Arlene Phillips (who directs and choreographs), Paul Nicholas and Robert Stigwood (who will produce with Manny Kladitis and David Rocksavage). Director Phillips has served as choreographer on such feature films as "Annie" and "Monty Python's Meaning of Life."
In other news, the disco-dancing denizens of Brooklyn, circa 1977, will soon be spreading the fever across the U.S. A national tour will begin Jan. 30, 2001, at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis and then travel to more than 50 other cities over a two-year period. Casting has not been determined.
A spokesman for the producers of the tour -- which are thesame as the Broadway venturand headed by Robert Stigwood -- said the production will be of the same size and scope at the New York show. In recent years, Broadway shows such as The Scarlet Pimpernel and Ragtime have been scaled back, both in terms of cast and scenery, before hitting the road.
For information on Saturday Night Fever call (212) 307-4100.
