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contactOpening Date: March 30, 2000
Closing Date: Sept 1, 2002 Air date: Sept 1, 2002 Medium: TV Where to watch: not available |
Stage Production Notes
Conceived, directed, and choreographed by Susan Stroman in collaboration with John Weidman, contact is a three-part “dance play” set in eighteenth century France, 1950s New York, and modern day New York. The three acts, “Swinging,” “Did You Move?” and “Contact” explored human interaction and connection, loneliness, and love. The show featured a wide range music, from classical to contemporary pop.
Although self-described a “dance play,” contact is controversial for being labelled as a musical, despite the fact it used pre-recorded music and did not contain original music, or live music performances.
Contact premiered at the Mizti Newhouse Theatre on October 7, 1999, where it received rave reviews and enjoyed a sold-out extended season.
New York Times theatre critic Ben Brantley described contact as “the most potent antidepressant available in New York,” and stated it was “a new musical throbbing with wit, sex appeal and a perfectionist's polish.” Variety’s Charles Isherwood claimed the show was “an intoxicating adornment to the young theater season.”
Contact quickly transferred to the Vivian Beaumont Theater, beginning previews on March 2, 2000, and opening on March 30, 2000. The cast featured an ensemble of 18 dancers and actors, including Boyd Gaines, Karen Ziemba, and Deborah Yates who all received excellent notices.
The show continued to garner high critical praise, and was nominated for multiple awards, including 7 Tony Awards. Contact won 4 Tonys, including Best Featured Actor (Boyd Gaines), Best Featured Actress (Karen Ziemba), Best Choreography (Susan Stroman) and Best Musical. It also won the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for Best New Musical.
The awards stirred much controversy. During the nomination season, the Musicians Union, along with several prominent Broadway orchestrators, petitioned the League of American Theatres and Producers to reconsider contact’s eligibility as a musical. In May 2000, as a result of the complaints, the League established the “Special Theatrical Event” category for future shows which did not fit neatly into the play or musical categories.
The cast performed on The Rosie O’Donnell Show on April 7, 2000.
An album with the music featured in contact was released on March 30, 2000. Writing for Playbill, reviewer Steven Suskin noted “What on earth, you might wonder, are we supposed to do with a CD of Contact? [The musical] contains no original music, and no live music, and no singing; just a selection of previously released recordings played over loudspeakers as music-to-dance-to.” Suskin argued the CD was meant to act as a “souvenir of the show,” and compelled him to see the show again.
After 1,010 performances, contact closed on Broadway on September 1, 2002.
A national tour was launched on May 22, 2001 in San Francisco. The tour finished up in Los Angeles on September 1, 2001. The touring production also received rave reviews.
Contact opened on the West End for a limited engagement at the Queen’s Theatre, Shaftesbury Ave, on October 23, 2002.
A movie version was slated to begin production in June 2003, however was delayed and ultimately shelved due to work on the musical film version of The Producers.
Conceived, directed, and choreographed by Susan Stroman in collaboration with John Weidman, contact is a three-part “dance play” set in eighteenth century France, 1950s New York, and modern day New York. The three acts, “Swinging,” “Did You Move?” and “Contact” explored human interaction and connection, loneliness, and love. The show featured a wide range music, from classical to contemporary pop.
Although self-described a “dance play,” contact is controversial for being labelled as a musical, despite the fact it used pre-recorded music and did not contain original music, or live music performances.
Contact premiered at the Mizti Newhouse Theatre on October 7, 1999, where it received rave reviews and enjoyed a sold-out extended season.
New York Times theatre critic Ben Brantley described contact as “the most potent antidepressant available in New York,” and stated it was “a new musical throbbing with wit, sex appeal and a perfectionist's polish.” Variety’s Charles Isherwood claimed the show was “an intoxicating adornment to the young theater season.”
Contact quickly transferred to the Vivian Beaumont Theater, beginning previews on March 2, 2000, and opening on March 30, 2000. The cast featured an ensemble of 18 dancers and actors, including Boyd Gaines, Karen Ziemba, and Deborah Yates who all received excellent notices.
The show continued to garner high critical praise, and was nominated for multiple awards, including 7 Tony Awards. Contact won 4 Tonys, including Best Featured Actor (Boyd Gaines), Best Featured Actress (Karen Ziemba), Best Choreography (Susan Stroman) and Best Musical. It also won the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for Best New Musical.
The awards stirred much controversy. During the nomination season, the Musicians Union, along with several prominent Broadway orchestrators, petitioned the League of American Theatres and Producers to reconsider contact’s eligibility as a musical. In May 2000, as a result of the complaints, the League established the “Special Theatrical Event” category for future shows which did not fit neatly into the play or musical categories.
The cast performed on The Rosie O’Donnell Show on April 7, 2000.
An album with the music featured in contact was released on March 30, 2000. Writing for Playbill, reviewer Steven Suskin noted “What on earth, you might wonder, are we supposed to do with a CD of Contact? [The musical] contains no original music, and no live music, and no singing; just a selection of previously released recordings played over loudspeakers as music-to-dance-to.” Suskin argued the CD was meant to act as a “souvenir of the show,” and compelled him to see the show again.
After 1,010 performances, contact closed on Broadway on September 1, 2002.
A national tour was launched on May 22, 2001 in San Francisco. The tour finished up in Los Angeles on September 1, 2001. The touring production also received rave reviews.
Contact opened on the West End for a limited engagement at the Queen’s Theatre, Shaftesbury Ave, on October 23, 2002.
A movie version was slated to begin production in June 2003, however was delayed and ultimately shelved due to work on the musical film version of The Producers.
Filmed Production Notes
The final performance of the Broadway run was broadcast live on PBS’ program Live from Lincoln Center. The broadcast was available in real-time to East Coast viewers, and delayed for viewers in other time zones.
Contact was filmed with at least four cameras, all placed in the orchestra — two mid-orchestra, a camera on a track in the front, and one in the rear orchestra where seats were to accommodate a platform and 25-foot boom.
The broadcast won the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Classical Music-Dance Program.
Contact is not currently available to view.
The final performance of the Broadway run was broadcast live on PBS’ program Live from Lincoln Center. The broadcast was available in real-time to East Coast viewers, and delayed for viewers in other time zones.
Contact was filmed with at least four cameras, all placed in the orchestra — two mid-orchestra, a camera on a track in the front, and one in the rear orchestra where seats were to accommodate a platform and 25-foot boom.
The broadcast won the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Classical Music-Dance Program.
Contact is not currently available to view.
contact PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Vivian Beaumont Theater
Producer: Lincoln Center Theater
Book and Music: John Weidman
Director and Choreography: Susan Stroman
Scenic Design: Thomas Lynch
Costume Design: William Ivey Long
Lighting Design: Peter Kaczorowski
Sound Design: Scott Stauffer
Hair and Wig Design: Paul Huntley
Stage Manager: Thom Widmann
Cast:
Joanne Manning (Girl on the Swing), Seán Martin Hingston (Frenchman/Johnny), Scott Taylor (Frenchman), Charlotte d’Amboise (Wife), Danny Mastrogiorgio (Husband/Bartender), Alan Campbell (Michael Wiley), Colleen Dunn (Girl in the Yellow Dress), Jack Hayes (Jack), Robert Wersinger (Joe)
Theatre: Vivian Beaumont Theater
Producer: Lincoln Center Theater
Book and Music: John Weidman
Director and Choreography: Susan Stroman
Scenic Design: Thomas Lynch
Costume Design: William Ivey Long
Lighting Design: Peter Kaczorowski
Sound Design: Scott Stauffer
Hair and Wig Design: Paul Huntley
Stage Manager: Thom Widmann
Cast:
Joanne Manning (Girl on the Swing), Seán Martin Hingston (Frenchman/Johnny), Scott Taylor (Frenchman), Charlotte d’Amboise (Wife), Danny Mastrogiorgio (Husband/Bartender), Alan Campbell (Michael Wiley), Colleen Dunn (Girl in the Yellow Dress), Jack Hayes (Jack), Robert Wersinger (Joe)
Sources
Books
Articles
Websites
- Dan Dietz, The Complete Book of 2000s Broadway Musicals, Rowman & Littlefield (2017)
Articles
- Ben Brantley, “Musical Elixir Afoot,” New York Times (Oct 8, 1999)
- Ben Brantley, “Still the Belle of That Swinging Ball,” New York Times (Jan 5, 2001)
- Christine Ehren, “L.A. Contact Ends Sept. 1,” Playbill (Sept 1, 2001)
- Andrew Gans, “Stroman/Weidman Contact Wins 2003 Emmy Award,” Playbill (Sept 16, 2003)
- Andrew Gans, “Making Contact: North Shore Presents Stroman-Weidman Musical Beginning June 10,” Playbill (June 10, 2008)
- Dennis Harvey, “Review: ‘Contact’,” Variety (June 10, 2001)
- Charles Isherwood, “Review: ‘Contact’,” Variety (Oct 11, 1999)
- Murdoch McBride, “Musicians Union Protests Contact's Eligibility for Best Musical Tony,” Playbill (April 18, 2000)
- Murdoch McBride, “Orchestrators Urge Tonys to Reconsider Contact,” Playbill (May 4, 2000)
- Jesse McKinley, “On Stage and Off,” New York Times (Oct 15, 1999)
- Jesse McKinley, “Tonys Get a New Category,” New York Times (May 25, 2000)
- Steven Oxman, “Review: ‘Contact’,” Variety (July 9, 2001)
- Robin Pogrebin, “Making 'Contact' Without Conflict; How a Hit Dance Play Evolved, Cordially,” New York Times (Oct 18, 1999)
- Robert Simonson
- “Contact Makes Contact with 'Rosie,' April 7,” Playbill (April 6, 2000)
- “Contact Album to Be Released on March 6,” Playbill (March 6, 2001)
- “Contact's Final Show Airs Live on PBS, Sept. 1,” Playbill (Sept 1, 2002)
- “Filming for Contact Movie to Begin in June 2003,” Playbill (Oct 25, 2002)
- “Contact Movie to Wait Until Completion of Producers Film,” Playbill (Aug 18, 2004)
- Steven Suskin, “ON THE RECORD: Contact, Bloomer Girl and Phantom,” Playbill (March 11, 2011)
- TheatreNow, “Stroman's Contact Dances Into London's Queen's Theatre,” Playbill (Oct 3, 2002)
- Alfred Uhry, “THE TONYS; How Much Book?,” New York Times (June 4, 2000)
Websites
- Lincoln Center Theater, “Contact (Beaumont)”, Accessed via: http://www.lct.org/shows/contact/
- Playbill, “Contact,” Accessed via: http://www.playbill.com/production/contact-vivian-beaumont-theatre-vault-0000011229
Written by Luisa Lyons (May, 2017)