On A Clear Day You Can See Forever

A TAMS-WITMARK TITLE

On A Clear Day You Can See Forever

Full-Length Musical, Drama  /  2w, 4m

Alan Jay Lerner, Burton Lane

Book and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner / Music by Burton Lane / Produced for the Broadway stage by Alan Jay Lerner

Based loosely on the 1929 play Berkeley Square by John L. Balderston, On A Clear Day You Can See Forever is a quirky romantic comedy exploring ESP and past life regression.

Image: Paul Kolnik

On A Clear Day You Can See Forever

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2w, 4m
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Period, Experimental, Romantic Comedy
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences
Accolades
Accolades
  • NOMINEE: Three 1966 Tony Awards, including Best Composer and Lyricist
    WINNER! 1966 Theatre World Award for Outstanding Performance (John Cullum)
On A Clear Day You Can See Forever

Details

Summary
In order to quit smoking, eccentric Daisy Gamble seeks help from psychiatrist Dr. Mark Bruckner. Under hypnosis, Daisy describes memories of her 18th-century London life as the confident and commanding Melinda Wells. As Mark grows increasingly fascinated by Daisy's former persona, romantic complications ensue. Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner's melodic score includes the gorgeous title song, plus "Come Back To Me," "Hurry, It's Lovely Up Here," "What Did I Have That I Don't Have?" and "Melinda."
History
On A Clear Day You Can See Forever opened on Broadway at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on October 17, 1965, starring Barbara Harris and John Cullum. The original production ran or 280 performances. A revised version of the show opened on Broadway at the St. James Theatre on December 11, 2011, starring Harry Connick, Jr. as Dr. Mark Bruckner.
Keywords
Performing Groups

Act I

During a lecture at the Bruckner Clinic, psychiatrist Mark Bruckner discovers a most suitable subject in student Daisy Gamble. Daisy repeatedly lapses into hypnotic states as Dr. Bruckner explains hypnosis in his class. After class, she reveals to the doctor her many extrasensory powers, including her ability to make flowers grow. Daisy is quite concerned about her eccentricities.

The doctor agrees to treat her if she will let him try to discover, while she is under hypnosis, how she developed her powers. They are astonished to find that she starts talking about a prior life in 18th-century London as Melinda Wells. Daisy amazes Mark further when she suggests he answer his phone before it starts ringing. She apologizes for her acute perception and goes to meet her boyfriend, Warren.

At their next psychiatric session, Mark puts Daisy into a trance and summons Melinda from her subconscious. Mark’s attachment to Melinda is growing as we are transported to a colorful, 18th-century London club, and he is soon convinced that Daisy’s story is not a mere yarn. He files a medical report in the proper psychiatric channels, and as the first act ends, he sings of his love to the intangible Melinda.

Act II

Mark is ridiculed by his psychiatric colleagues and is himself beginning to doubt his findings. Just then, he gets an encouraging visit from a Greek shipping magnate who tells Mark he has financed an investigation which explains various incidents described by Melinda. In Mark’s office, Daisy comes across a tape recording of one of her sessions and realizes that Mark is really in love with Melinda and is merely using Daisy to summon her. Daisy is determined to become “normal” but Mark, through extrasensory control, proves to be her destiny.

(In order of Appearance)

Dr. Mark Bruckner
Mrs. Hatch
Student
Daisy Gamble/Melinda
Muriel Bunson
James Preston
Samuel Welles
Mrs. Welles
Sir Hubert Insdale
Hubert Insdale (Sir Hubert’s Son)
Millard Cross
Warren Smith
Edward Moncrief
Flora
Dr. Conrad Fuller
B.C.A. Official

Students, Friends, Passengers and Crew of the “Trelawney”
  • Time Period 1960s, 18th Century
  • Setting New York City. 1965.
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Smoking

Media

Photos

  • On A Clear Day You Can See Forever

    Image: Paul Kolnik

  • On A Clear Day You Can See Forever

    Image: Paul Kolnik

  • On A Clear Day You Can See Forever

    Image: Sam Norkin

Music

Music Samples

Act I

1. Overture – Chorus
2. “Hurry, It’s Lovely Up Here” – Daisy
3. “First Regression” – Edward
4. “Solicitor’s Song” – Solicitor, Trundle, Hubert, Insdale & Wells
5. “He Wasn’t You” – Daisy
6. “On A Clear Day You Can See Forever” – Mark
6a. The Gout – Orchestra
7. “S.S. Bernard Cohn” – Daisy, Muriel, Patty, Sally & Chorus
7a. Travel Montage – Orchestra
8. “She Wasn’t You” – Edward & Melinda
9. “Melinda” – Mark
10. Finale Act I – Orchestra

Act II

11. Entr’acte – Orchestra
12. “When I Come Around Again” – Preston & Students
13. “Trelawney No. 1” – Chorus
14. “What Did I Have That I Don’t Have?” – Daisy
15. “Wait Till We’re Sixty-Five” – Daisy, Warren & Chorus
16. “Come Back To Me” – Mark
17. Reprise: “Come Back To Me” – Mark
17a. End of Scene – Orchestra
18. “Trelawney No. 2” – Orchestra
19. “Finale Ultimo” – Mark
20. Curtain Calls – Chorus
21. Exit Music – Orchestra

Full Orchestration

Violin AC
Violin BD
Viola
Cello
Bass

Reed 1: Flute, Piccolo & Clarinet
Reed 2: Flute & Piccolo
Reed 3: Clarinet
Reed 4: Clarinet & Bass Clarinet
Reed 5: Oboe & English Horn

Horn 1
Horn 2
Trumpet 1 & 2 (Trumpet I in D and Bb)
Trumpet 3
Trombone 1
Trombone 2

Percussion 1 & 2:

Timpani (2)
Bass Drum
Snare Drum
Tom Tom
Finger Cymbals
Cymbals
Tambourine
Triangle
Orchestra Bells
Vibraphone
Xylophone
Slide Whistle
Boat Whistle
Sand Paper Blocks
Castanets
Wood Blocks

Harp (Optional)

  • Musical Style Classic Broadway
  • Dance Requirements Easy
  • Vocal DemandsDifficult
  • Orchestra Size Large
  • Chorus Size Large

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!
39 Libretto-Vocal Book
1 Piano-Conductor
1 Reed 1
1 Reed 2
1 Reed 3
1 Reed 4
1 Reed 5
1 Horn 1
1 Horn 2
2 Trumpet 1&2
1 Trumpet 3
1 Trombone 1
1 Trombone 2
1 Harp
2 Percussion 1&2
2 Violin AC
2 Violin BD
1 Viola
1 Cello
1 Bass
39 Libretto-Vocal Book
1 Piano-Conductor
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Authors

Alan Jay Lerner

Alan Jay Lerner

ALAN JAY LERNER wrote these plays with Frederick Loewe: Life of the Party, What’s Up, The Day Before Spring, Brigadoon, Paint Your Wagon, My Fair Lady, Camelot, Gigi. He also wrote Love Life with Kurt Weill, On A Clear Day You Can See Forever and Carmelina with Burton Lane, C ...

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Burton Lane

Burton Lane

Burton Lane, born in 1912, was – in the words of the New York Times – “one of the most respected American songwriters.”

Lane began composing when he was just 15, writing songs for musical reviews. His most revered work is the rich, classic Broadway score for Finian’s Rainbow. ...

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