Pal Joey, original Half Moon poster
Pal Joey features music and lyrics by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, along with a book by John O’Hara. The plot is based on a number of short stories that were initially published in The New Yorker magazine. The show features a number of show standards such as ‘I Could Write a Book’ and ‘Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered’ which has been covered by a number of artists around the world. Frank Sinatra starred in the film version and covered a number of the songs on his albums. Gene Kelly starred in the original production which ran for almost a year in 1940. Recent revivals have included the Studio 54 production which starred Stockard Channing.
The production transferred to the Albery Theatre, St Martin’s Lane, on 26 September 1980.
The musical was recorded at PRT Studios, London, on 9-11 February, by TER.
Denis Lawson talks about the production of Pal Joey, at Half Moon Theatre on Mile End Road, which went on to transfer into the West End. He recognises the importance of this production in his career. Interviewed by Kavanna Joyett.
Rob Walker was Artistic Director of Half Moon Theatre in the later 1970s and early 1980s in Alie Street and on the Mile End Road. He talks about Pal Joey and how the chorus girls were the antithesis of the Hollywood chorus line.
Mick Bearwish is a theatre designer who worked on many productions for Half Moon Theatre at Alie Street and on the Mile End Road. He talks about designing Pal Joey and the challenges of trying to recreate a big Hollywood musical in a small theatre. Interviewed by Rosie Vincent.
Bernadette Garrett ran the box office at the Half Moon Theatre on Alie Street and Mile End Road over a six-year period. Bernadette talks about the systems they used; productions she saw including Pal Joey and Trafford Tanzi; the involvement of young people and the move from Alie Street to Mile End Road.
Have you got a memory you’d like to share? Or perhaps you have a programme or poster from one of our shows that we're currently missing? Then we want to hear from you! The website is a living archive and we will continue to add information as it comes to light.
Read More
