Keywords

Anthony Newley, Roar of the Greasepaint, Stop the World, Letters of Life Lust and Love: The Music of Anthony Newley

Abstract

Letters of Life, Lust, and Love: The Music of Anthony Newley will be focused entirely on the writing, performance, and private life of Anthony Newley. The show's book will connect each of the musical numbers through a series of letters written to his mother, Frances "Gracie" Newley. This will serve as the dramatic through-line correlating both his professional and private lives. The actor in this piece will be performing as "Mr. Newley," and will intensely focus on his mannerisms and personality. Costume and make-up will also be used to augment his physicality. The actor will be accompanied by a pianist. Newley's unusual and innovative writing and performance abilities are often ones that are underestimated due to a smaller body of work. Further study would reveal the autobiographical inspiration behind his unique librettos, mastery of performance, and scope of abilities extending into both commercial and artistic areas of theatre. The writing is filled with social and economic issues, religious references, and metaphorical concepts inviting audiences to think. These productions were holding their own during the period of Styne, Bernstein, and the beginnings of Sondheim. Before and after the performance, observers will have a chance to peruse through a display consisting of posters, articles, photos, and other Newley memorabilia to supplement further understanding of the subject. Observers will leave with a fresh (if not entirely new) idea of the experiences that drove this remarkably talented showman to contributing his part in the American musical theatre spotlight.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2006

Semester

Spring

Advisor

Bell, John

Degree

Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Theatre

Degree Program

Theatre

Format

application/pdf

Identifier

CFE0000950

URL

http://purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/CFE0000950

Language

English

Length of Campus-only Access

None

Access Status

Masters Thesis (Open Access)

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