Tony Tuesday: THE LIFE

When theatre-lovers hear ‘42nd Street’, they may think of the 1980 Broadway musical or New York City’s theatre district. Playwright and lyricist Ira Gasman walked down this street in the 1980s and witnessed a different 42nd Street, far from the glitz and glamour. One that would inspire a new musical, that years later would find its way onto that very street on Broadway. 

Remembering a different side to the bright lights of New York City’s iconic district, Ira Gasman saw the diverse low life characters and so came up with the idea for The Life. In her original musical concept, she wanted to depict the darker underground of the harsh NYC streets and showcase the lives of prostitutes and pimps attempting to navigate life.

The original Off-Broadway production opened at the Westbeth Theatre to some negative criticism in July 1990. Still determined with this project, Gasman used this opportunity to rework the show into a hit. The creative team enlisted David Newman to assist with the book and developing the characters further and added Michael Blakemore as director and Joey McKneely to choreograph.

Seven years later, the show opened on Broadway, with Off-Broadway returning cast members Lillias White and Chuck Cooper, who would later win Tony Awards for their performances. This new revamped production took the previous critics' words on board, and it paid off! The show was nominated for 10 Tony Awards, including Best New Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Score, and won the Best Supporting Actor and Actress categories. 

Other national recognition included Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Music and Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical as well as Outstanding Production of a Musical and Outstanding New Broadway Musical from Drama League and Outer Critics Circle respectively.

Despite the critical acclaim, The Life closed on 7 June 1998 after running for 466 performances.

To coincide with the show’s 20 year Broadway anniversary, The Life had its UK premiere in London. The cast included Sharon D. Clarke, T’Shan Williams, Omari Douglas and Cornell S. John and was performed at the Southwark Playhouse. 

The Life very recently returned to Off-Broadway with a limited production, adapted and directed by Billy Porter. The revival was performed at New York City Center from 16 - 20 March 2022.

FACTS:

Music: Cy Coleman

Lyrics: Ira Gasman

Book: David Newman, Ira Gasman and Cy Coleman

Original Broadway Theatre: Ethel Barrymore Theatre

Original Production Run: 26 April 1997 – 7 June 1998

TONYS:

Original Broadway production (1997):

NOMINATED: Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical – Cy Coleman, Ira Gasman and David Newman, Best Original Score – Cy Coleman and Ira Gasman, Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical – Pamela Isaacs, Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical – Sam Harris, Best Direction of a Musical – Michael Blakemore, Best Choreography – Joey McKneely, Best Orchestrations – Don Sebesky and Harold Wheeler, Best Costume Design – Martin Pakledinaz, Best Lighting Design – Richard Pilbrow

WON: Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical – Chuck Cooper, Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical – Lillias White

The 1997 Original Broadway cast, including the winner for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical, Lillias White, perform ‘My Body’:

Highlights from the 2022 Encores! production: