Ain't Misbehavin' (musical)

Ain't Misbehavin opened in the Manhattan Theatre Club's East 73rd Street cabaret on February 8, 1978. The cast included Irene Cara, Nell Carter, André DeShields, Armelia McQueen, and Ken Page and was staged by Arthur Faria, now recognized as one of the original authors, stage managed by David Rosenak, and directed by Maltby. The New York Times reviewer wrote: "The show moves with the zing and sparkle of a Waller recording-filled with bright melodies and asides."{{cite news| last = Wilson| first = John S.| title = 'Here'Tis'-A Musical Bow to Fats Waller; The Cast| newspaper = The New York Times| pages = C13| date = February 20, 1978| url = http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F3071EFF3E5413728DDDA90A94DA405B888BF1D3&scp=2&sq=Ain%27t+Misbehavin%27+&st=p|access-date = January 17, 2012}} Its reception was such that it was decided to develop it into a full-scale production.

The musical opened on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre on May 9, 1978, and transferred to the Plymouth Theatre and then to the Belasco Theatre and closed on February 21, 1982, after 1,604 performances and fourteen previews. Maltby was the director, with musical staging and choreography by Arthur Faria. The original cast featured Nell Carter, André DeShields, Armelia McQueen, Ken Page, and Charlayne Woodard. Luther Henderson, who adapted Waller's music for the revue, appeared as the production's original pianist. Replacements later in the run included Debbie Allen, Yvette Freeman, Adriane Lenox, and Alan Weeks. An original cast recording was released by RCA Victor.

The London West End production opened on March 22, 1979, at Her Majesty's Theatre. DeShields and Woodard were joined by Evan Bell, Annie Joe Edwards, and Jozella Reed. It was revived in London in 1995 at the Tricycle Theatre and then the Lyric Theatre, with Debby Bishop, Dawn Hope, Melanie Marshall, Sean Palmer, and Ray Shell.{{cite web | title = Ain't Misbehavin'(London Revival, 1995)| work = broadwayworld.com| url = http://broadwayworld.com/bwidb/productions/Ain't_Misbehavin'_3088/| access-date = January 16, 2012}} A London revival cast recording was released by First Night.{{cite web| last = Ankeny| first = Jason | title = Ain't Misbehavin': The Fats Waller Musical Show (1995 London Cast Recording)| website=AllMusic|url = http://www.allmusic.com/album/aint-misbehavin-the-fats-waller-musical-show-1995-london-cast-recording-w110341| access-date = January 16, 2012}}

On June 21, 1982, NBC broadcast the revue with the original Broadway cast.

A Broadway revival with the same director, choreographer, and cast as the original 1978 production opened on August 15, 1988, at the Ambassador Theatre, where it ran for 176 performances and eight previews. Frank Rich, in his review for The New York Times, wrote "In their scrupulous re-creation of the Fats Waller show that first electrified Broadway a decade ago, the original cast and creators have conjured the same between-the-wars dream world as before... Though almost bereft of dialogue, this musical anthology expands beyond its form to become a resurrection of a great black artist's soul. Perhaps the key to the musical's approach, as conceived by the director Richard Maltby Jr., is its willingness to let Waller speak simply and eloquently for himself, through his art but without show-biz embroidery."Rich, Frank. "Review/Theater;A Harlem Legend Lives Again On Broadway". The New York Times. August 16, 1988. Section C; p. 15

In 1995, a national tour directed and choreographed by Faria starred the Pointer Sisters, Eugene Barry-Hill, and Michael-Leon Wooley. Although it never reached Broadway as originally planned, a recording of highlights from the show was released by RCA.[http://www.masterworksbroadway.com/music/aint-misbehavin-1996#synopsis "'Ain't Misbehavin' (1996) Track Listing, Synopsis, Background and Cast Credits"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111106172220/http://www.masterworksbroadway.com/music/aint-misbehavin-1996 |date=2011-11-06 }}, masterworksbroadway.com, accessed January 16, 2012

Beginning in November 2008 and lasting until at least May 2009, season two American Idol contestants Frenchie Davis, Trenyce Cobbins and winner Ruben Studdard starred in the 30th anniversary national tour of the show.{{cite web |access-date = 2008-03-29

|url = http://www.broadway.com/Gen/Buzz_Story.aspx?ci=558651

|title = Ruben Studdard, Frenchie Davis to Tour in Ain't Misbehavin'

|work=Broadway Buzz

|publisher=Broadway.com}}

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;Act I

• "Ain't Misbehavin'"
• "Lookin' Good but Feelin' Bad"
• "Tain't Nobody's Biz-ness if I Do"
• "Honeysuckle Rose"
• "Squeeze Me"
• "Handful of Keys"
• "I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling"
• "How Ya Baby"
• "Jitterbug Waltz"
• "Ladies Who Sing with the Band"
• "Yacht Club Swing"
• "When the Nylons Bloom Again"
• "Cash for Your Trash"
• "Off-Time"
• "The Joint is Jumpin'"

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;Act II

• "Spreadin' Rhythm Around"
• "Lounging at the Waldorf"
• "The Viper's Drag"
• "Mean to Me"
• "Your Feet's Too Big"
• "That Ain't Right"
• "Keepin' Out of Mischief Now"
• "Find Out What They Like"
• "Fat and Greasy"
• "Black and Blue"
• "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter"
• "Two Sleepy People"
• "I've Got my Fingers Crossed"
• "I Can't Give You Anything but Love"
• "It's a Sin to Tell a Lie"
• "Honeysuckle Band"

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{{Reflist}}

• {{ibdb title|4058}}
• [http://mtishows.com/show_detail.asp?showid=000002 Ain't Misbehavin] at the Music Theatre International website
• [http://www.ovrtur.com/content/show.php?id=118817 Ovrtur.com Page]{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
• {{IMDb title|0227999}}

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{{DramaDesk Musical 1975–2000}}

{{Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album}}

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Category:1978 musicals

Category:Broadway musicals

Category:African-American musicals

Category:All-Black cast Broadway shows

Category:Drama Desk Award–winning musicals

Category:Jukebox musicals

Category:Sung-through musicals

Category:Tony Award for Best Musical

Category:Revues

Category:Tony Award–winning musicals