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Based on the Motion Picture More About the Show Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens' nostalgic musical comedy My Favorite Year, is based on the beloved 1982 hit film starring Peter O'Toole. The original story line was fondly based on an encounter that Mel Brooks had with Errol Flynn while working together on Sid Caesar's Your Show of Shows. The Story...Setting: 1954 - A Television Studio in New York City (and a brief trip to Ocean Parkway in Brooklyn)It is 1954 and Benjy Stone (Andrew Cannata), a freshman writer for the hottest show on television, The King Kaiser Comedy Cavalcade, is assigned the daunting task of "baby-sitting" his childhood hero, Alan Swann (Scott Shipman) - once a veteran Hollywood swashbuckler, now a washed-up alcoholic - while he is preparing for a guest appearance on the show. My Favorite Year begins with a brief glimpse into the behind-the-scenes chaos just five minutes before the King Kaiser Comedy Cavalcade show goes on the air... broadcast LIVE every Saturday night... to 20 million people! The story quickly shifts to the following Monday morning. It is the start of the writing process for the next weekly King Kaiser Comedy Cavalcade show. The zany antics of the comedy writers (Emily Bem, Joe Hartman, Kirk German) and their egos go awry as each writer tries to come up with jokes faster and funnier than the others; each aspiring to be King Kaiser's favorite! Soon after they begin working, they learn that Swann is running late due to a strange "mix up" at the airport. When Swann does finally arrive at the studio, he is clearly drunk! After a bit of pleading with King Kaiser (Neal Gibson) to give his childhood hero another chance, Benjy accepts sole responsibility for keeping the reckless Swann off the booze and out of the tabloids during the rehearsal week... a task that proves to be more difficult than expected! Swann proceeds to take Benjy out on the town in Manhattan, where Swann manages to make a scene (and the headlines)... even though he was stone cold sober. King Kaiser lays down the law, and Swann and King finally come to a mutual understanding. In the meantime Benjy's mother, Belle Steinberg-Carroca (Nicole Marosis), has invited Benjy and Swann to dinner in that "Other World" known as Brooklyn. Once in Brooklyn, Benjy's childhood insecurities are quickly revisited when he is embarrassed by his family's behavior. Swann finds Benjy's family (Tomas Contreras, Leslie Hollingsworth, Keith Hale) and their neighbors to be quite amusing, as he proceeds to raise a glass with the family. Swann's drinking binge ensues despite Benjy's attempts to get Swann back to the Waldorf Hotel, and sobered up, in time for the next day's show. During this time, Benjy is given an unexpected glimpse into Swann's broken heart, teaching him about human frailty, tragedy, comedy and love. Benjy also learns that Swann has been estranged from his own daughter, Tess (Liz Newchurch), for several years and longs to be the father he can't seem to be for her. This information hits hard with Benjy, who remembers his own long-lost father who walked out on him when he was young. Back at the studio, it is show day. The cast and crew ready themselves for the chaos of the final preparations essential to broadcasting "live!" All is going as planned until Swann discovers the true meaning of the word "live!" Swann's insecurities get the best of him and he storms out of the studio. Meanwhile, the show has begun and 20 million people are glued to their TV sets waiting for Swann to enter... and waiting... and waiting... Through this whole experience - a mere six days - Benjy has lived and learned considerable lessons, causing him to realize that 1954 was "not my best year... not the year I had the most success... but... My Favorite Year!"
The Songs...
Cast & Production Staff • Directions & Theater Information
Celebrating
our 49th year of family-oriented musical entertainment!
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