Following 118 previews, “Morey” is set to open at the Goldman Theatre on Tuesday, September 9. The story of comedian Morey Amsterdam features Steve Lipson (from the sitcom Grooming the Poodles) in the title role. Acrobatic virtuoso Lani Frits plays his mother, Jennie.
The librettist, Pam Winters is a hot property right now. Her book for Seat of His Pants was nominated for a Clappy in 2018, and she co-wrote the Monica Rooney vehicle Girl in the Middle with Leona Fuller in 2020. (The latter ran for for 987 performances, even after Rooney suddenly refused to sing the Act 1 finale, Stay Away From Stanley, and was replaced by Sheila Feller)
The songwriting team of Sid Palmer and Al Rice hasn’t been so lucky. Don’t Blame the Gypsy ran for three performances in 2013. Six years later, Theodore! – based on Leave it to Beaver – closed after just two when Willie Pitts, who played Eddie Haskell, got the lead in the sit-com, Who’s His Father? . (Pitts’ Good Morning, Mrs. Cleaver, My That Broach Looks Great on You was given to Hal Sims, who played Lumpy Rutherford, which didn’t help)
Most involved with Morey are wildly enthused about the project – particularly citing the act two eleven o’clock number: That’s Why They Call it a Cello!
It’s also been reported that during a recent rehearsal producer Solly Weiner stopped the company in the middle of a first act tap dance routine to berate a clumsy chorus girl. “You’ll never work in this town again!” he yelled, reportedly the first time that line has actually been spoken outside TV and the movies.
Hopefully such behavior can be attributed to a bad case of jitters, and the show will be the success everyone’s predicting.
