When you open up a letter and it says Dear Debbie Benton,... but I guess you wouldn't do that, cause your name's not Debbie Benton."
So starts one of the many songs in the Off-Broadway production of Debbie Does Dallas soon to be released on the cast recording Jan. 14, 2003, on the previously announced label, Sh-K-Boom Records.
"First it was a historic film classic, then it was the most important live stage event of the 21st century, now its about to become a stunning theatrical recording and aural delight," reads the joking release. In addition to the songs in the show, the album will include "scenes, cheers, sex, bloopers and karaoke."
The album's executive producer Kurt Deutsch told Playbill On-Line "Because the show is not a traditional musical, the cast album of Debbie Does Dallas will not be a traditional cast album." He described the album as "somewhere between 'South Park' and the 'National Lampoon' comedy albums of the '70s."
The song titles include the aforementioned "Debbie Benton;" "Small Town Girl," - a lament about her desires to be "one step closer" to her dream of Dallas; the ballad sung by Debbie's boyfriend Rick, "I Wanna Do Debbie;" the interludes "Ten Dollars Closer: Parts 1, 2 and 3;" a redemption song for Debbie's rival Lisa, "God Must Love a Fool;" and the big finish, Debbie's "Dallas... I'm Coming." A special bonus track, sung by title star Sherie René Scott, not heard in the production is the ballad "Where I Need To Go" (Debbie's Theme). According to the release, "This song will make Celine Dion weep for the memory of her ditty from 'Titanic.'" Scott belts out most of the album's rock-infused songs — by Andrew Sherman, Erica Schmidt, Tom Kitt and Jonathan Callicutt — along with the help of her ensemble cast that includes her fellow cheer squad as played by Mary Catherine Garrison, Caitlin Miller, Tricia Paoluccio, Jama Williamson, Del Pentecost, Paul Fitzgerald and Jon Patrick Walker.
Sh-K-Boom Records can be found on the web at www.sh-k-boom.com.
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Debbie Does Dallas opened at the Jane Street Theatre, Oct. 29. The production, which started performances Oct. 8, takes its story from the popular porn film with the same name.
The dimly-lit Jane Street Theatre is given a strip joint feel — with a fully-stocked bar in the rear and a set that includes two go-go poles— for the play with-music by adapter director Erica Schmidt. The production, which lasts approximately 90 minutes (with no intermission), takes major liberties with the film, adding original contemporary music by Andrew Sherman. Debbie Does Dallas still, however, revolves around the aforementioned smalltown girl and her unstoppable quest to become a Dallas cheerleader.
Tom Kitt is musical supervisor. The artistic team features Jennifer Cody (choreography), Juman Malouf (costumes), Christine Jones (sets), Shelly Sabel (lighting) and Laura Grace Brown (sound).
Read comments by the show's star in Playbill On-Line's Brief Encounter with Sherie René Scott.
The Off-Broadway production (produced by special arrangement with VCX Limited) is produced by The Araca Group (Urinetown, the Musical, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune), Jam Theatricals and Waxman-Williams Entertainment.
For tickets to Debbie Does Dallas, at the Jane Street,113 Jane Street, (between the West Side Highway and Washington St.) call Telecharge at (212) 239-6200 or visit www.telecharge.com. For more information, visit the show's website — complete with pulsating music, a cowboy themed cast page and yes, bananas — at www.debbiedoesdallas-live.com.
