A TAMS-WITMARK TITLE
The Life
Full-Length Musical, Drama / 5w, 5m
Music by Cy Coleman
Lyrics by Ira Gasman
Book by David Newman, Ira Gasman and Cy Coleman
Dance and Vocal Arrangements by Cy Coleman
Based on an original idea by Ira Gasman
Original Broadway Production Produced by Roger Berlind, Martin Richards, Cy Coleman and Sam Crothers
Image: 2017 Southwark Playhouse Production (Tristram Kenton)
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Cast Size
5w, 5m -
Duration
More than 120 minutes (2 hours) -
Subgenre
Period -
Target Audience
Adult, Teen (Age 14-18)
Accolades
- Nominee: Twelve 1997 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book
Winner! Two 1997 Tony Awards, for Featured Actor and Featured Actress
Nominee: Nine 1997 Drama Desk Awards
Winner! Three 1997 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding New Musical and Outstanding Music
Details
Summary
History
Cast Attributes
Keywords
Performing Groups
- Time Period 1980s
- Setting Around 42nd Street. Then. [The late 70s or early 1980s]
- Features Period Costumes
- Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
- Cautions
- Drugs
- Intense Adult Themes
- Strong Language
Media
“The Life displays more fresh, fully realized talent and go-for-broke pizazz than can be found anywhere else on Broadway...” – Vincent Canby, The New York Times
“The best musical of 1996-97... by far the most entertaining new musical to have opened last season... Mr. Coleman has composed not only his most driving, big-beat score since Sweet Charity but also his most varied and melodic work since On the Twentieth Century.” – Vincent Canby, The New York Times
“★★★★★ Scorchingly unmissable, The Life is one of the finest shows in town! Slick movement matched with a simple design motif… combine to create an ingenious treat.” – Jonathan Baz, Jonathan Baz Reviews
“It’s a thrusting, strutting show, gritty, dark and edgy… Coleman adorns it with one of his most scintillating jazz-based scores.” – Mark Shenton, The Stage
“Gritty yet surprisingly funny… perfectly replicates the busy nightlife of New York. The Life is a real classic with an important message about loyalty... a must-see for fans of musical theatre.” – Nicky Sweetland, London News Online
“A brutal and sometimes gut-churning story of desperate individuals lurking on the fringes of New York’s Times Square. [There's a] mixture of jazz, funk and gospel in Cy Coleman’s surging score. Ira Gasman’s lyrics are often pin-sharp, and the performances pulsate with vitality.” – Henry Hitchings, The Standard
Photos
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Image: 2017 Southwark Playhouse Production (Tristram Kenton)
Music
Music Samples
- Musical Style Pop/Rock
- Dance Requirements Easy
- Vocal DemandsDifficult
- Orchestra Size Medium
- Chorus Size Large
Licensing & Materials
- Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.