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Jerry Springer the OperaOpening Date: Nov 10, 2003
Closing Date: Feb 19, 2005 Air date: Jan 8, 2005 Medium: TV Where to watch: DVD (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from this link) |
Stage Production Notes
Written by Stewart Lee and Richard Thomas, Jerry Springer the Opera was developed through Kombat Opera. The musical drew its inspiration from the 90s reality television show Jerry Springer, a controversial American talk show famous for tabloid-esque stories and on-air disputes.
Initially titled How to Write an Opera about Jerry Springer, the show was workshopped at London’s Battersea Arts Center in 2001 through the annual festival of new opera, “The Works.”
As reported by the New York Times, the show could have been called “Jerry Springer The Musical.” By juxtaposing “a stupid kitsch thing next to an important thing,” Jerry Springer the Opera capitalized on making a scandal out of high art.
A concert version played at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2002 and became one of the surprise hits of the festival.
Following the success at the Edinburgh Fringe, the production was picked up by Nicholas Hytner at the National Theatre. It opened at the Lyttelton Theatre in April 2003, where it played in rep until August 30, 2003. The entire run was almost entirely sold out.
The show received rave reviews, with The Guardian’s Susannah Clapp stating it was “the most explosive theatrical event for years, and the biggest thrill at the National for decades.”
Jerry Springer transferred to the West End, beginning previews at the Cambridge Theatre on October 14, 2003, and officially opening a few weeks later on November 10th.
Despite some critics’ belief that the West End transfer would not be successful, the production was a smash hit. It won the Best Musical Award at the Olivier Awards, Critics’ Circle Awards, Evening Standard Awards, and What’s On Stage Awards, and was credited for bringing the elusive youth market back to the West End.
The Guardian’s Michael Billington stated “it is lewd, rude and outrageous and yet manages to turn trash TV into something musically sophisticated.”
Shortly before closing on the West End, Jerry Springer the Opera was broadcast live on BBC television.
After 552 performances, Jerry Springer closed in London on February 19, 2005.
The show embarked on a UK national tour in 2006. Initially scheduled for 39 cities, the tour faced consistent protests, and the threat of legal action. More than a third of the booked theatres cancelled, and despite enthusiastic crowds, and many sold out houses, the show was a financial flop.
A Broadway transfer was announced to take place in October 2005, but due to financial disagreements amongst the producers never eventuated. The first full-scale American production opened at the Balliwick Repertory Theatre in Chicago in May, 2007. A concert version was performed at Carnegie Hall in January 2008 for a special two-night only engagement.
The show returned to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2009 in a production featuring actors from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Theatre blogger Rob Marks stated gave the new production high praise, stating the cast and crew “deserve more stars than I can hand out. So, go and see Jerry Jerry. Now.”
Jerry Springer the Opera has been performed in Australia, Canada, and Ireland, continues to be performed in the UK and in the US in limited engagement regional productions.
Written by Stewart Lee and Richard Thomas, Jerry Springer the Opera was developed through Kombat Opera. The musical drew its inspiration from the 90s reality television show Jerry Springer, a controversial American talk show famous for tabloid-esque stories and on-air disputes.
Initially titled How to Write an Opera about Jerry Springer, the show was workshopped at London’s Battersea Arts Center in 2001 through the annual festival of new opera, “The Works.”
As reported by the New York Times, the show could have been called “Jerry Springer The Musical.” By juxtaposing “a stupid kitsch thing next to an important thing,” Jerry Springer the Opera capitalized on making a scandal out of high art.
A concert version played at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2002 and became one of the surprise hits of the festival.
Following the success at the Edinburgh Fringe, the production was picked up by Nicholas Hytner at the National Theatre. It opened at the Lyttelton Theatre in April 2003, where it played in rep until August 30, 2003. The entire run was almost entirely sold out.
The show received rave reviews, with The Guardian’s Susannah Clapp stating it was “the most explosive theatrical event for years, and the biggest thrill at the National for decades.”
Jerry Springer transferred to the West End, beginning previews at the Cambridge Theatre on October 14, 2003, and officially opening a few weeks later on November 10th.
Despite some critics’ belief that the West End transfer would not be successful, the production was a smash hit. It won the Best Musical Award at the Olivier Awards, Critics’ Circle Awards, Evening Standard Awards, and What’s On Stage Awards, and was credited for bringing the elusive youth market back to the West End.
The Guardian’s Michael Billington stated “it is lewd, rude and outrageous and yet manages to turn trash TV into something musically sophisticated.”
Shortly before closing on the West End, Jerry Springer the Opera was broadcast live on BBC television.
After 552 performances, Jerry Springer closed in London on February 19, 2005.
The show embarked on a UK national tour in 2006. Initially scheduled for 39 cities, the tour faced consistent protests, and the threat of legal action. More than a third of the booked theatres cancelled, and despite enthusiastic crowds, and many sold out houses, the show was a financial flop.
A Broadway transfer was announced to take place in October 2005, but due to financial disagreements amongst the producers never eventuated. The first full-scale American production opened at the Balliwick Repertory Theatre in Chicago in May, 2007. A concert version was performed at Carnegie Hall in January 2008 for a special two-night only engagement.
The show returned to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2009 in a production featuring actors from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Theatre blogger Rob Marks stated gave the new production high praise, stating the cast and crew “deserve more stars than I can hand out. So, go and see Jerry Jerry. Now.”
Jerry Springer the Opera has been performed in Australia, Canada, and Ireland, continues to be performed in the UK and in the US in limited engagement regional productions.
Filmed Production Notes
In November 2004, it was announced the BBC would air Jerry Springer the Opera live on television in early 2005. The BBC received up to 60,000 complaints, and regulator Ofcom received more than 16,000 complaints (sources vary as to the exact number), until that time the highest number of complaints for a single show received by either company. MediaWatch-U.K. requested the BBC reconsider the programming, and lobby group Christian Voices attempted to sue the BBC for blasphemy.
Despite the complaints, the program went ahead as scheduled on January 8, 2005.
A DVD was released in November 2005. It contained bonus features including a commentary track, history of the show, and an interview with the composers. Complaints from Christian Voice led two major UK retailers, Sainsbury’s and Woolworths, to stopping selling the DVD.
Jerry Springer the Opera was briefly available to stream on BroadwayHD.
Jerry Springer the Opera is available on DVD for Region 2 countries only (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from this link).
In November 2004, it was announced the BBC would air Jerry Springer the Opera live on television in early 2005. The BBC received up to 60,000 complaints, and regulator Ofcom received more than 16,000 complaints (sources vary as to the exact number), until that time the highest number of complaints for a single show received by either company. MediaWatch-U.K. requested the BBC reconsider the programming, and lobby group Christian Voices attempted to sue the BBC for blasphemy.
Despite the complaints, the program went ahead as scheduled on January 8, 2005.
A DVD was released in November 2005. It contained bonus features including a commentary track, history of the show, and an interview with the composers. Complaints from Christian Voice led two major UK retailers, Sainsbury’s and Woolworths, to stopping selling the DVD.
Jerry Springer the Opera was briefly available to stream on BroadwayHD.
Jerry Springer the Opera is available on DVD for Region 2 countries only (as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases from this link).
Jerry Springer the Opera PRODUCTION CREDITS
Theatre: Cambridge Theatre, London
Producer: Avalon Television, Jon Thoday, Richard Allen-Turner
Book and Lyrics: Stewart Lee and Richard Thomas
Music: Richard Thomas
Director: Stewart Lee; film: Peter Orton
Musical Director: Mike England
Music Arranger: Martin Koch
Choreography: Jenny Arnold
Scenic Design: Julian Crouch
Costume Design: Leah Archer
Lighting Design: Rich Fisher; film: Martin Kempton
Sound Design: Mike Walker
Hair and Wig Design: Eva Marieges-Moore
Stage Manager: Marcus Watson
Cast:
David Soul (Jerry Springer), David Bedella (Warm Up Man & Satan), Carrie Ellis (Peaches & Baby Jane), Alison Jiear (Shawntel & Eve), Christopher Key (Chucky & Adam), Benjamin Lake (Dwight & God), Ryan Molloy (Tremont & Angel Gabriel), Claire Platt (Zandra & Irene & Mary), Guy Porritt (Steve), Annabelle Williams (Andrea & Archangel Michael)
Ensemble:
Adriano Agostino, Richard Alliston, Edward Baruwa, Leroy Charlery, John Coats, Jennie Dale, Jason Griffits, Trevor Jary, Kiara Jay, Nicole Joy-Fraser, Ruby King, Kirsty Malpass, Tania Mathurin, Scott Monello, Ellen Mon Wayne, Aoife Nally, David O’Dell, Kareen O Novak, Johan Pearson, Andrew Playfot, Verity Quade, Nicole Rutherford, Jeremy Secomb, Philip Sutton, Stephanie Tavernier, Gayle Telfer Stevens, Phong Truong, Elin Wyn Lewis
Theatre: Cambridge Theatre, London
Producer: Avalon Television, Jon Thoday, Richard Allen-Turner
Book and Lyrics: Stewart Lee and Richard Thomas
Music: Richard Thomas
Director: Stewart Lee; film: Peter Orton
Musical Director: Mike England
Music Arranger: Martin Koch
Choreography: Jenny Arnold
Scenic Design: Julian Crouch
Costume Design: Leah Archer
Lighting Design: Rich Fisher; film: Martin Kempton
Sound Design: Mike Walker
Hair and Wig Design: Eva Marieges-Moore
Stage Manager: Marcus Watson
Cast:
David Soul (Jerry Springer), David Bedella (Warm Up Man & Satan), Carrie Ellis (Peaches & Baby Jane), Alison Jiear (Shawntel & Eve), Christopher Key (Chucky & Adam), Benjamin Lake (Dwight & God), Ryan Molloy (Tremont & Angel Gabriel), Claire Platt (Zandra & Irene & Mary), Guy Porritt (Steve), Annabelle Williams (Andrea & Archangel Michael)
Ensemble:
Adriano Agostino, Richard Alliston, Edward Baruwa, Leroy Charlery, John Coats, Jennie Dale, Jason Griffits, Trevor Jary, Kiara Jay, Nicole Joy-Fraser, Ruby King, Kirsty Malpass, Tania Mathurin, Scott Monello, Ellen Mon Wayne, Aoife Nally, David O’Dell, Kareen O Novak, Johan Pearson, Andrew Playfot, Verity Quade, Nicole Rutherford, Jeremy Secomb, Philip Sutton, Stephanie Tavernier, Gayle Telfer Stevens, Phong Truong, Elin Wyn Lewis
Sources
Articles
Websites
- Arifa Akbar, “Arts Council pulls plug on 'Jerry Springer the Opera’,” The Independent (Aug 14, 2005)
- BBC News, “Protests as BBC screens Springer,” BBC News (Jan 10, 2005)
- Michael Billington, “Jerry Springer - The Opera,” The Guardian (April 30, 2003)
- Phillipe Bowgen, “New Line Unleashes Jerry Springer the Opera and Bonnie & Clyde On St. Louis,” Playbill (July 11, 2014)
- Jennifer Carlile, “‘Jerry Springer the Opera’ goes on the offense,” NBC News (Jan 7, 2005)
- Laurie Cicotello, “Jerry Springer just as bad in opera as on TV,” The Independent (Aug 30, 2002)
- Susannah Clapp, “Devilishly delightful,” The Guardian (May 4, 2003)
- Maddy Costa, “Jerry Springer the Opera,” The Guardian (Nov 11, 2003)
- Andrew Gans, “Cincinnati's New Stage Collective to Present Jerry Springer: The Opera,” Playbill (May 20, 2008)
- Lyn Gardner, “Jerry Springer: the Opera,” The Guardian (Feb 9, 2002)
- Lee Glendinning, “Jerry Springer opera forced to face the music,” The Guardian (Oct 26, 2004)
- Ernio Hernandez, “Casting Complete for Jerry Springer — The Opera Carnegie Hall Concert,” Playbill (Jan 8, 2008)
- James Inverne, “Richard Dreyfuss Considers Jerry Springer; BBC to Air Opera in January,” Playbill (Nov 18, 2004)
- Caryn James, “How Jerry Springer Inspired an Opera,” New York Times (May 11, 2003)
- Kenneth Jones, “Jerry Springer — The Opera Will Make U.S. Debut in Chicago in Spring 2007; Cast Sought,” Playbill (Nov 8, 2006)
- Stewart Lee, “'Christian Voice is outside, praying for our souls…” The Guardian (Feb 15, 2006)
- Rob Marks, “Jerry Springer The Opera,” BroadwayBaby (Aug 16, 2009)
- Anna Picard, “Jerry Springer the Opera/Kombat Opera, Battersea Arts Centre; May We Borrow Your Husband/Grantworks, Battersea Arts Centre,” The Independent (Aug 26, 2001)
- Campbell Robertson, “With Practice, ‘Jerry Springer’ Gets to Carnegie Hall,” New York Times (Sept 14, 2007)
- Polly Toynbee, “This is your last chance to offend the holy zealots,” The Guardian (June 27, 2006)
- Chris Tryhorn, “Springer opera not blasphemous, court rules,” The Guardian (Dec 5, 2007)
- TV News Desk, "JERRY SPRINGER OPERA Comes to BroadwayHD on August 30th," Broadway World (Aug 21, 2018)
- Jason Zinoman, “TROUBLE FOR 'SPRINGER' ON BROADWAY,” New York Times (Aug 18, 2004)
Websites
- Jerry Springer the Opera, Accessed via: http://web.archive.org/web/20131221134259/http://www.jerryspringertheopera.com/
- Internet UK Theatre Database, “Archive listings for Jerry Springer - The Opera,” Accessed via: http://www.uktw.co.uk/archive/opera-or-operetta/jerry-springer-the-opera/S452130418/
Written by Luisa Lyons (May, 2017; updated Aug 2018)