Goodspeed Offers Another Look at Amour

Goodspeed Musicals will present a reconceived version of the short-lived Broadway musical Amour during its 2005 season. The show will play at the theater's developmental Norma Terris space along with The Flight of the Lawnchair Man and Pamela's First Musical, a collaboration between Cy Coleman, Wendy Wasserstein and David Zippel.

Set in Paris in the 1950s, Amour is the story of a minor civil servant who finds his life transformed by a magical ability to walk through walls. His liberating discovery provides a new outlook on life and ultimately leads him into the loving arms of a beautiful young woman. The show features music by Michel Legrand, book and lyrics by Didier van Cauwelaert, English adaptation from the French version known as Le Passe Muraille by Jeremy Sams.

The show had a total of 31 previews and 17 performances on the Great White Way. Despite its short run, it was remembered during Tony time, receiving five nominations, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score.

While the show received mostly negative reviews, many critics noted that it would be more at home and viable at a more intimate space. According to a spokesperson, Goodspeed is presenting the tuner from August 4 through August 28 to afford the show "another chance for the production to be reconceived and done on a smaller scale." James Lapine directed the Broadway production, but a director for the Goodspeed mounting has yet to be named.

The Flight of the Lawnchair Man, directed by Lynne Taylor-Corbett, is scheduled to run from May 19 through June 12. The show features music and lyrics by Robert Lindsey Nassif and a book by Peter Ullian. The tuner centers on Jerry Gorman, a not-very-special guy from Passaic, New Jersey, who longs to find his "Jerriosity." Then, he gets the idea to tie 400 helium-filled balloons to a Wal-Mart lawnchair and launches himself 13,000 feet into the air, where he encounters some pretty famous folks.

Pamela's First Musical, directed by Graciela Daniele, is scheduled to run from November 3 through November 27. Based on Wasserstein's children's book of the same name, the show centers on the title character, whose birthday wish comes true when her glamorous Aunt Louise whisks her away to see the biggest hit Broadway musical ever. Whether being enraptured by the song-and-dance numbers or meeting everyone backstage, Pamela will remember this special night long after the curtain falls.

The last mounting of the 2004 Norma Terris season, Princesses which also has lyrics by Zippel, as well as being conceived and directed by him, is scheduled to run from November 4 through November 28.