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Flora the Red Menace

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Saks Fifth Avenue, Macy's and Altman's before finally applying at Garret and Mellick's where she meets Harry Toukarian, a fellow artist who stutters when he's nervous. When she learns that the boss, Mr. Stanley, isn't hiring, Flora tries impressing the secretary by saying that she is "the most amazing miss in all of New York City." ("The Kid Herself"). During the song, Flora, Harry and the other artists sneak their designs into a box of Mr. Stanley's merchandise, and after the secretary kicks them out, Flora asks Harry to coffee. The coffee date conversation starts about Flora's previous employer, who paid her through the barter system and she ended up having to dig cemetery plots. Harry asks why she didn't strike, and explains the concept to her after she shows incomprehension. This ends up with Flora punching Harry in the face and, after initial refusal, taking him to her studio. Flora rents out her studio to other artists, like a dancer named Maggie and her ex-boyfriend Kenny ("All I Need is One Good Break").
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In the winter of 1935, many people are unemployed due to the Great Depression, yet they seem to have hope ("Prologue"). Valedictorian and future fashion designer Flora Meszaros inspires and leads her graduating class in taking charge of the future before them ("Unafraid"). She applies at Gimbel's,
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Although it compromises her job in an organization that does not recognize the new unions, she seeks to hold down both job and relationship. Complicating matters is a predatory communist matriarch, Comrade Charlotte, who wants Harry for herself, a secretary with designs on her boss, and Kenny and
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reviewer wrote: "The voice is not yet distinctive ... She is going to be a popular singer, all right. It has the appearance of being pasted together with bits and pieces. A promising idea has not been enlivened by a creative spark."
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Maggie, a jazz dancing duo with their sights on greater things. In the end, however, Flora finds herself torn between two vastly different ideals, and has to sacrifice one or the other for true happiness.
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Headstrong wannabe fashion designer Flora Meszaros is a member of an artists' co-operative of bohemian types – dancers, musicians, designers – struggling to find work during the
241:, the show was recorded two days before its Broadway opening. However, the New York critics were not enthusiastic, and when it closed it had lost almost all of its $ 400,000 investment. 521: 698: 161:
Although not full of well-known numbers ("A Quiet Thing" and "Sing Happy" aside), the score does present a valuable insight into the later work of Kander and Ebb. Like
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for Best Actress in a Musical. This was the first collaboration between Kander and Ebb, who later wrote Broadway and Hollywood hits such as
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was not written for Minnelli, as is sometimes said; Robert Russell was rumored to have written the show as a vehicle for
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Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama Production, March 2023 in the Richard Burton Theatre directed by Georgie Rankcom.
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at $ 30. She falls in love with Harry Toukarian, another struggling designer, who attempts to convert Flora to his
447:"Comrade Charlotte's Ballet (The Tree of Life)" – Comrade Charlotte, Comrade Ada, Harry Toukarian and Ensemble 899: 281: 906: 857: 765: 687:
Amazon.com: Flora The Red Menace: The Original Broadway Cast Recording (1965): Music: John Kander,Fred Ebb
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as Comrade Charlotte. Direction was by George Abbott, choreography by Lee Theodore, with scenic design by
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as Harry. In the Vineyard Theatre revival, the story was told as though in a presentation by the
201: 79: 928: 878: 324:(San Francisco, California) presented the musical in concert in November – December 2006. 65: 285: 365:. Hoping to find a job which pays at least $ 15 a week, she is hired by the head of a large 871: 648: 8: 885: 345:, 2011, notable for John Kander returning to his alma mater to consult on the production. 892: 850: 591: 245: 188:
on May 11, 1965, and closed on July 24, 1965, after 87 performances. The cast featured
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Little Theatre, UK, 1998, directed by Simon Cross and musically directed by Gary Nock.
836: 829: 801: 566: 154: 148: 127: 74: 661: 366: 362: 321: 257: 226: 181: 104: 815: 739: 668: 635: 628: 342: 273: 782: 582: 169:, it features a headstrong heroine and has a strong dose of political content. 587:"The Theater: 'Flora, the Red Menace'; Spoof of Communists in U.S. Begins Run" 230: 219:
for Best Actress in a Musical, the youngest person to have done so at age 19.
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in December 1987 with a new book by David Thompson. Directed by
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The 1987 off-Broadway cast recording is also available on CD.
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in the title role in her Broadway debut, for which she won a
649:"An Outstanding Ensemble Performs 'Flora, the Red Menace'" 441:"Express Yourself" – Comrade Charlotte and Harry Toukarian 477:
Broadway in May 1965; a CD was released March 10, 1992.
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Not Since Carrie: Forty Years of Broadway Musical Flops
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The original Broadway cast recording was released by
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The original 1965 production starred 921: 300:Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama 754: 595:(subscription required), p. 41. 417:"Palomino Pal" – The Lady and Cowboy 385: 335:); May 6 through May 18, 2008, with 295:Other notable productions include: 13: 720:​Flora the Red Menace​ 651:Talkin Broadway, November 26, 2006 609:"The Stage: 'Flora, the Red Menace 14: 965: 712: 732:at the Guide to Musical Theatre. 426:"Dear Love" – Flora and Ensemble 352: 39:Cover of original cast recording 253:The musical was revived at the 691: 680: 654: 641: 622: 598: 576: 555: 172: 90:Love is Just Around the Corner 1: 549: 468: 411:"Sign Here" – Harry Toukarian 565:(1991), St. Martin's Press; 512: 492: 489:Original Broadway production 122:is a musical with a book by 7: 954:Tony Award-winning musicals 634:September 30, 2007, at the 537: 10: 970: 944:Musicals by Kander and Ebb 743:. May 21, 1965. Review of 725:Internet Broadway Database 949:Liza Minnelli soundtracks 858:And the World Goes 'Round 789: 507: 504: 501: 498: 99: 85: 64: 54: 44: 32: 23: 939:Musicals based on novels 865:Kiss of the Spider Woman 544:List of musicals: A to L 495: 380: 318:, Scotland, autumn 2003. 316:Dundee Repertory Theatre 456:Finale – Entire Company 420:"A Quiet Thing" – Flora 306:, GBS Theatre, UK, 1992 278:Federal Theatre Project 208:and lighting design by 202:William and Jean Eckart 196:as Harry Toukarian and 699:"Flora the Red Menace" 667:March 2, 2008, at the 638:dundeereptheatre.co.uk 484:Awards and nominations 268:, Flora was played by 215:Liza Minnelli won the 264:with choreography by 795:Flora the Red Menace 745:Flora the Red Menace 677:, February 27, 2008. 607:(December 7, 1987). 450:"Sing Happy" – Flora 204:, costume design by 178:Flora the Red Menace 119:Flora the Red Menace 26:Flora the Red Menace 900:The Scottsboro Boys 396:Prologue – Ensemble 286:President Roosevelt 907:New York, New York 629:Dundee Rep Theatre 617:The New York Times 592:The New York Times 246:The New York Times 934:Broadway musicals 916: 915: 844:Woman of the Year 647:Connema, Richard. 561:Mandelbaum, Ken. 535: 534: 465: 464: 115: 114: 961: 775: 768: 761: 752: 751: 736:"Marx's Revenge" 707: 706: 695: 689: 684: 678: 658: 652: 645: 639: 626: 620: 612: 602: 596: 585:(May 12, 1965). 580: 574: 559: 493: 386: 367:department store 363:Great Depression 322:42nd Street Moon 258:Vineyard Theatre 227:Barbra Streisand 134:, and lyrics by 37: 27: 21: 20: 969: 968: 964: 963: 962: 960: 959: 958: 919: 918: 917: 912: 785: 779: 715: 710: 697: 696: 692: 685: 681: 669:Wayback Machine 659: 655: 646: 642: 636:Wayback Machine 627: 623: 610: 605:Goodman, Walter 603: 599: 583:Taubman, Howard 581: 577: 560: 556: 552: 540: 491: 486: 471: 466: 430: 383: 355: 343:Oberlin College 284:established by 274:Peter Frechette 175: 107: 77: 40: 25: 19: 12: 11: 5: 967: 957: 956: 951: 946: 941: 936: 931: 914: 913: 911: 910: 903: 896: 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270:Veanne Cox 217:Tony Award 192:as Flora, 180:opened on 144:Tony Award 886:The Visit 703:Amazon UK 502:Category 371:communist 339:as Flora. 235:New Haven 194:Bob Dishy 893:Curtains 851:The Rink 730:Synopsis 674:Playbill 665:Archived 632:Archived 573:, p. 233 538:See also 505:Nominee 373:ideals. 310:Brighton 182:Broadway 136:Fred Ebb 105:Broadway 59:Fred Ebb 837:The Act 830:Chicago 802:Cabaret 723:at the 508:Result 184:at the 167:Chicago 163:Cabaret 155:Chicago 149:Cabaret 18:Musical 569:  499:Award 460: 436:Act II 239:Boston 55:Lyrics 816:Zorba 513:1965 496:Year 391:Act I 381:Songs 272:with 223:Flora 108:1987 103:1965 86:Basis 45:Music 740:Time 567:ISBN 531:Won 237:and 165:and 152:and 126:and 73:and 66:Book 282:WPA 92:by 925:: 701:. 671:, 615:. 589:. 331:, 302:, 212:. 158:. 774:e 767:t 760:v 747:. 705:. 619:. 613:" 611:'

Index


John Kander
Fred Ebb
Book
George Abbott
Robert Russell
David Thompson
Lester Atwell
Broadway
off-Broadway
George Abbott
Robert Russell
John Kander
Fred Ebb
Liza Minnelli
Tony Award
Cabaret
Chicago
Broadway
Alvin Theatre
Liza Minnelli
Bob Dishy
Cathryn Damon
William and Jean Eckart
Donald Brooks
Tharon Musser
Tony Award
Barbra Streisand
Eydie Gormé
New Haven

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