Producer Scott Perrin has dropped the song "Aging Planes" from the productions of Secrets Every Smart Traveler Should Know now running in New York, Boston and Miami, following the crash of EgyptAir 990.
Secrets just celebrated its second anniversary in New York with its 824th performance. The show opened at Boston's Copley Theatre on Oct. 26 and at Miami's Actors Playhouse on Oct. 1.
"It just seems inappropriate," producer Scott Perrin told Playbill On-Line. Perrin explained his reasons for removing "Aging Planes" from the show at this time.
"This show is a parody and it is truthful honest and deals with things that actually happen in travel everyday," Perrin said. "The source material is so real and factual and relatable, that we have to make sure -- in this most immediate context -- that we are not going into depth about a tragedy."
Perrin said the show had back up material that is put into the show in a situation like this. Secrets runs at a middle Eastern nightclub, Ibis, located on West 44th Street.
"Aging Planes" was written by Jay Leonhart. The song was sung on the RCA cast album by Nick Santa Maria, who portrayed a pilot flying an older aircraft that creaks and shutters during a bumpy landing.
Based on Wendy Perrin's Fodor's travel guide of the same name, Smart Traveler covers the globe in 100 minutes with 20 original songs and sketches that take the audience to 40 different countries. Wendy Perrin is the sister of the show's producer.
Traveler inspired a slew of revue writers including Douglas Bernstein, Francesca Blumenthal, Michael Brown, Barry Creyton, Lesley Davison, Stan Freeman and songwriters Dave Frishberg and Murray Grand.
Patrick Quinn, a veteran of another revue Forbidden Broadway, directed with musical direction by Stan Freeman.
The current cast features Ray DeMattis, Maribeth Graham, Denise Nolin and Nick Santa Maria. Charlie Alterman accompanies the four on piano with Jay Leonhart on bass.
For tickets to the New York Smart Traveler, call Telecharge at (212) 239-6200. The show is running at the Ibis Theatre, located at 327 W. 44th St.
-- By Murdoch McBride
