She Loves Me Performance Guide

PERFORMANCE GUIDE TO

STARRING BEN FANKHAUSER* DANIEL A. LOPEZ* DAVID BAIDA* HANA CULBREATH

LEE HARRINGTON* WITH

KATE MARILLEY* JACK MASTRIANI*

OLIVIA GJURICH

KEVIN PATRICK MARTIN*

ADRIANA MILBRATH* DAVID STUDWELL*

BEN SEARS*

Scenic Designer

Costume Designer

Lighting Designer

DAVID L. ARSENAULT**

KIRCHE LEIGH ZEILE

DALTON HAMILTON

Sound Designer

Intimacy Coach

Assistant Stage Managers

VICTORIA DEIORIO**

ERICA MANSFIELD

MADELYN HAWVER

Casting

Production Stage Manager

MICHAEL CASSARA, CSA

KELLI KAREN*

Choreographer

Music Director

DANN DUNN

ANDREW SMITHSON

COO & Managing Director JOEL MARKUS

Director of Production RAY INKEL

CEO & Producing Artistic Director KRISTEN COURY

Directed by KRISTEN COURY (*) DENOTES A MEMBER OF ACTORS EQUITY ASSOCIATION, THE, UNION OF PROFESSIONAL ACTORS AND STAGE MANAGERS INTHE UNITED STATES. (**) DENOTES A MEMBER OF UNITED SCENIC ARTISTS, LOCAL USA 829

TABLE OF CONTENTS ABOUT THE CREATORS........................................................................................................................................................................................................2 HAROLD PRINCE...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................3 VERSIONS OF THIS STORY.........................................................................................................................................................................................4 LONELY HEARTS ADS...............................................................................................................................................................................................................5 PERFUMES OF THE 1930S...................................................................................................................................................................................6-7 FURTHER VIEWING........................................................................................................................................................................................................................8 FURTHER READING.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................9

Study Guide Materials Assembled by AUDREY ZIELENBACH, Literary Manager MEREDITH SINGLETON & JOHN PERINE, Education Associates

ABOUT THE CREATORS PLAYWRIGHT JOE MASTEROFF Born in Philadelphia on December 11, 1919, Joe Masteroff was an award-winning American playwright. After serving in World War 2, Masteroff studied in New York City at the American Theatre Wing. He went on to write several plays that would appear on Broadway, including The Warm Peninsula, She Loves Me, and Cabaret, which won the Tony Award for Best Musical. in 1966.

COMPOSER JERRY BOCK Composer Jerry Bock was born in 1928 and spent most of his childhood in Queens, New York. He originally trained as a pianist and studied at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and toured several shows through the Poconos. After meeting fellow songwriter Sheldon Harnick in the 1950s, the two began a strong partnership that led to the creation of several award-winning shows. Their first hit, Fiorello!, premiered in 1959 won the Tony Award for Best Musical that year as well as a Pulitzer Prize for Drama. In 1963, the pair released She Loves Me and then began work on Fiddler on the Roof, which went on to win 9 Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

LYRICIST SHELDON HARNICK Composer and lyricist Sheldon Harnick was born in 1923 in Chicago. He attended Northwestern University where he studied music and traveled around the area with various orchestras before meeting his longtime songwriting partner Jerry Bock in 1953. With Bock, he went on to win several awards and honors, including multiple Tony Awards, a Drama League Award, and an induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

2

HAROLD PRINCE The original Broadway production of She Loves Me opened in 1963 and was produced and directed by Harold Prince, affectionately known as Hal, a man who would go on to become one of the most influential and successful theatre makers of the 20th century.

Prince was born in 1928 in Manhattan. He got his start in the theatre working under the renowned director and Producer George Abbot. With Abbot’s assistance, Prince co-produced his first Broadway musical, The Pajama Game, in 1954. The Pajama Game won Best Musical at the Tony Awards, earning Prince his first of many Tonys.

When Harnick and Bock began work on She Loves Me in the 1960s, Prince came on board as the show’s director. She Loves Me was the first Broadway production that Prince directed, and it earned him his first Best Director nomination at that year’s Tony Awards. She Loves Me was nominated for five Tony Awards that year, including Best Musical. It lost to Hello, Dolly!

Most famously, Harold Prince entered an incredibly successful partnership with Stephen Sondheim. Prince directed six of Sondheim’s musicals: Company, Follies, A Little Night Music, Pacific Overtures, Sweeney Todd, and Merrily We Roll Along. All of these shows except Merrily were nominated for multiple Tony Awards and won at least one each. Merrily We Roll Along was a flop when it first premiered and ended Prince and Sondheim’s partnership for nearly twenty years.

In addition to his work with Sondheim, Harold Prince worked with countless other Broadway legends, including Bob Fosse, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Kander and Ebb, and Leonard Bernstein. He helped bring to life over 50plays, musical, and operas, including classic shows like Cabaret, Phantom of the Opera, and West Side Story. During his lifetime, he earned 21 Tony Awards and 10 Drama Desk Awards.

Prince passed away in 2019, at the age of 91.

3

VERSIONS OF THIS STORY Parfumerie (1936) The first iteration of this storyline was created by Hungarian playwright Miklós László, for his stage play Parfumerie in 1936. Like She Loves Me, Parfumerie follows two employees at a perfume store who cannot stand each other but who unknowingly form a relationship as pen pals through their letters. The play premiered in Budapest, shortly before László immigrated to the United States in 1938. Parfumerie was not performed in English until 2006. Despite having a few contracts with the film studio MGM, Miklós László never broke through as playwright in America outside of this play.

The Shop Around the Corner (1940) The Shop Around the Corner, starring Margaret Sullivan and Jimmy Stewart keeps most of László’s original story intact, with a few alterations. Instead of working at a perfume store, the two romantic leads work at a leather goods store. Today, this film is regarded as a classic, and as one of the best romantic comedy films ever made.

In the Good Old Summertime (1949) László’s story was adapted again in 1949, this time into a musical starring Judy Garland. This version changes our setting to Chicago at the turn of the century, where our two lovers meet face-to-face at a music store. In the Good Old Summertime is also the film debut of actress Liza Minelli, who at three years old, had a brief cameo at the end of the film. This is one of the final films Judy Garland made with MGM before she ended her contract with the studio.

She Loves Me (1963) Of all of the adaptations of Parfumerie, She Loves Me is the most accurate to the source material, keeping the setting and the characters the same as in the original. Since its original Broadway run, She Loves Me has seen a West End production, two Broadway revivals, two West End revivals, and countless regional and community productions. Stars such as Madeline Kahn, Rita Moreno, Kelli O’Hara, and Gavin Creel have all starred in She Loves Me over the years.

You’ve Got Mail (1998) The most recent adaptation of Parfumerie is the 1998 classic film You’ve Got Mail, starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. This time, our two lovers run rival bookstores, with Joe (played by Tom Hanks) running the chain bookstore Fox Books and Kathleen (played by Meg Ryan) running the much smaller children’s bookstore, The Shop Around the Corner. In a modern twist, the two first meet in an online chatroom.

4

LONELY HEARTS ADS The earliest known personal ads were published in the early 1600s. These ads tended to be written by alleged widows in search of a new husbands. It is interesting to note that these ads were also fake and intended to be read as satire. But in the late 1600s, some newspapers started including what appeared to be genuine personal advertisements in their personal section. This section was essentially a dating service where people could drop adverts for themselves in search for partners. Some of these ads were published by corporations for members of their “Lonely Hearts Clubs,” which would catalog and compile personal ads from people who paid a fee.

However, these ads were still viewed with suspicion.

Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), 8 April 1900, page 10

Lonely Hearts ads led to one of the earliest forms of what we would today call catfishing. It was easy to pretend to be someone else through personal ads in the newspaper. Notably, a group of British college students from Harrow School in 1825 placed false ads in a local paper, claiming to be a wealthy and attractive widow in search of a new husband. The ad garnered dozens of responses. The students wrote back to the men telling them to meet “their date” at the Drury Lane Theatre to see a show. The men were instructed to stand up after the show ended and apply a monocle to their right eye. so that their date could recognize them. When the time came, 50 men stood up, put on their monocles, and realized they had been part of an enormous practical joke.

Rupert Holmes’ hit song “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)” features a husband and wife who each attempt to start an affair through the personal ads in the newspaper. This song, which was released in 1979, was the last number one hit in the US of the 1970s.

With the advent of the internet, personal newspaper ads became less common, but online personal ads started to pop up more and more. Famously, the website Craigslist that allowed people to post ads for various sales and services outlawed its personal ads in 2018 due to safety concerns. These online ads gave way to modern online dating services and, and in more recent years, dating apps.

5

PERFUMES OF THE 1930S “A woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future.”

– Coco Chanel

Chanel No. 5

Launched in 1921, it was the first perfume developed by Coco Chanel and is one of the best-selling fragrances of all time. It has been a signature scent of celebrities for decades., being used by stars like Brad Pitt, Celine Dion, and Nicole Kidman. In 1952, when LIFE Magazine asked film star Marilyn Monroe what she wore to bed, she famously responded with, “Chanel No. 5”.

“With its unprecedented use of aldehydes and layers of complexity, N°5 was the world’s first abstract fragrance.” - Chanel Fragrance notes: Top notes: Aldehydes, Ylang-Ylang, Neroli, Bergamot and Peach Middle notes: Iris, Jasmine, Rose and Lily-of-the-Valley Base notes: Sandalwood, Vanilla, Oakmoss, Patchouli and Vetiver.

Available for purchase at Sephora.

Tabu by Dana Released in 1931., this was the first fragrance released by House of Dana Perfumerie. The name is a spin on the word “taboo” and was inspired by the title of a recent Sigmund Freud book at the time. It was advertised as “the forbidden fragrance”.

“The very essence of sensuality and passion” - House of Dana Fragrance Notes: Top Notes: spices, orange, neroli, bergamot, coriander Middle Notes: cloves, rose, narcissus, ylang-ylang, jasmine Base Notes: amber, benzoin, civet, sandalwood, musk, patchouli, oakmoss, cedar, vetiver Available for purchase at the Dana Fragrance website.

What are Aldeyhydes?

Aldehydes are a chemical ingredient that were first introduced to the perfume world in the early 1900s. They function a bit like scent enhancers, making certain scents more powerful and effervescent. Aldehydes are what give perfumes like Chanel No. 5 their iconic scent.

6

PERFUMES OF THE 1930S “A woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future.”

– Coco Chanel

Vol de Nuit Developed in 1933 by Guerlain, this fragrance was made to honor French aviators who served in the first World War, with the name of the perfume translating to “Night Flight” in English.

“Brimming with audacity, it is one of the most sophisticated faceted creations. With its assertive personality, its floral and woody facets blossom in a bold oriental trail.” - Guerlain Fragrance Notes: Top Notes: Galbanum, Bergamot, Petitgrain Middle Notes: Narcissus, Spices, Jasmine Base Notes: Iris, Vanilla, Woody Notes, Amber, Patchouli Available for purchase at the Guerlain website.

Old Spice Created by the Shulton factory, who started producing soaps, cosmetics, and perfumes for women in the early 1930s. In 1937, the company expanded into men’s products. The Shulton company shifted away from women’s fragrances in the 1970s, focusing more on men’s grooming supplies.

“If your grandfather hadn't worn it, you wouldn't exist.” - Old Spice Original Fragrance Notes: Top Notes: Nutmeg, Star Anise, Aldehydes, Orange, Lemon Middle Notes: Cinnamon, Carnation, Pimento, Geranium, Heliotrope, Jasmine Base Notes: Benzoin, Musk, Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Cedar, Ambergris Available for purchase at a drug store near you!

Why don’t new bottles of vintage perfumes smell like they used to?

If you’ve been wearing the same perfume for many years, you might notice that newer bottles don’t smell the same as the original formula. There are many reasons why a company might decide to reformulate a classic fragrance. Some ingredients that were used in classic fragrances have since been banned, others have become increasingly expensive. Companies might also make changes to a scent based on what they think customers want.

7

FURTHER VIEWING Moonrise Kingdom (2012) Set in 1964, this Wes Anderson film follows two 12 year-old pen pals who run away into the woods to be together. This film was groundbreaking for its portrayal of young people’s relationships and their struggles with mental health, all while being visually and audibly stunning.

This film is rated PG-13.

When Harry Met Sally. . . (1989) This classic film starring Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan addresses the age-old question, “Can men and women ever just be friends?” The story follows two people over the course of 12 years as they connect, disconnect, and reconnect. When Harry Met Sally was directed by famed actor and director Rob Reiner and was based in part of Reiner’s real-life divorce and relationships.

This film is rated R.

Love Is Blind (seasons 1-6) (2020-present) Love Is Blind is a reality dating show that has contestants meet, fall in love, and get engaged, all without seeing one another, and it is currently one of Netflix’s most popular programs. Contestants are kept in separate “pods” for their interactions so they can get a chance to know each other without getting hung up on appearances. Follow along to see if love is truly blind.

This program is rated TV-MA.

It Happened One Night (1934) It Happened One Night, starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert, is widely regarded as one of the greatest movies of all time. An heiress (Claudette Colbert) and a newspaper reporter (Clark Gable) embark on a cross-country road trip from Florida to New York City. It Happened One Night is one of only three films to win all five major Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

This film is rated G.

8

FURTHER READING Foreign Correspondence by Geraldine Brooks In this memoir, Australian author Geraldine Brooks reflects back on the pen pals she had from around the world as a child. As an adult, Brooks attempts to reconnect with her pen pals to see how the world has changed them and they have changed their world. Brooks is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author who has published several international best sellers.

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone In this award-winning sci-fi novella, two time-travelers working for warring empires leave each other letters in the past, present, and future. The two slowly start to form a relationship that spans their entire lifetimes. One set of letters were written entirely by Amal El-Mohtar and the other were written

by Max Gladstone.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen In one of Jane Austen’s most popular novels, the anti-social Mr. Darcy crosses path with the quick-witted Elizabeth Bennet, and it is hatred at first sight. But first impressions aren’t always true, and sometimes there is much more to a person than they show on the surface.

If film adaptations are more your style, there are several incredibly versions of Pride and Prejudice to choose from.

Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West: Love Letters In addition to being well-known for writing, pioneering author Virginia Woolf famously entered into a 20-year correspondence with fellow author and aristocrat Vita Sackville-West. The two entered a love story primarily remembered through their exchange of beautiful love letters and passionate diary entries. Vita became the inspiration for Orlando, one of Virginia Woolf’s most memorable books.

9