MORGAN
SILLS sings THE ROGER EDENS SONGBOOK
On
Tuesday February 5 at 7:00 pm, Morgan Sills will make his New York
cabaret debut singing THE ROGER EDENS SONGBOOK. Performances continue
Tuesdays in February (2/12, 2/19, & 2/26) at 7 pm at DANNY'S SKYLIGHT
ROOM (342 West 46th Street, NYC - 212-265-8133 - http://www.dannysgrandseapalace.com/).
This is the first cabaret
show to celebrate the work of three-time Academy Award winning composer,
lyricist and producer Roger Edens, who composed songs for Ethel Merman,
Fred Astaire, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, and many other legends
from the golden age of the Hollywood musical. Musical direction and
arrangements are by Ed Goldschneider, conductor of the Broadway hit
URINETOWN. There will be a $15 cover charge and a $10 food and drink
minimum for the performance.
Mr. Sills has toured nationally
in FOREVER PLAID and appeared in the off-Broadway revival of FLAHOOLEY.
Other New York singing appearances include Avery Fisher, Rockefeller
Center, and LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN. Regional and stock credits
include HOW TO SUCCEED, A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN, GREASE, and FOREVER
PLAID, in which he has played or understudied all four roles.
Ed Goldschneider (Musical
Direction and Arrangements) is currently conductor of the Broadway
hit, URINETOWN. Other New York credits include YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE
BROWN, THE FANTASTICKS, and national tours of RENT, FAME, and WEST
SIDE STORY.
Roger Edens was born in
Hillsboro, Texas November 9, 1905. He received his BA from the University
of Texas and studied music in Paris, eventually settling in New York
City. While playing the piano in the pit of the Broadway smash, GIRL
CRAZY (1930) Edens met Ethel Merman and began a lifelong association
with her as a composer, arranger, and coach. He contributed songs
to the scores of Merman's Broadway shows TAKE A CHANCE and HAPPY HUNTING,
in addition to writing and arranging for her concert, nightclub, and
television appearances.
In 1933, Roger Edens went
to Hollywood and soon became the man behind the music of the MGM musical.
For Judy Garland, he wrote "Dear Mr. Gable" and "Born in a Trunk."
Garland cited Edens as one of her greatest musical influences, and
sang his songs and special material for the rest of her life.
While serving as a producer
and musical supervisor in the famous Arthur Freed Unit at MGM, Edens
befriended Kay Thompson, who later sang Mr. Edens's songs in the Paramount
film FUNNY FACE (1957), which Edens also produced. He served as associate
producer on nearly all the classic MGM musicals, including: THE HARVEY
GIRLS (1945), GOOD NEWS (1947), THE BARKLEYS OF BROADWAY (1949), THE
BELLE OF NEW YORK (1952), THE BAND WAGON (1953).
Edens won three Academy
Awards (out of eight nominations) for Best Scoring of a Musical for
EASTER PARADE (1948), ON THE TOWN (1949), and ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (1950).
He is the only person in history to win three consecutive Academy
Awards in the same category.
In addition to Garland
and Merman, other stars who introduced Edens's songs include Fred
Astaire, Frank Sinatra, Shirley Temple, Audrey Hepburn, Doris Day,
Gene Kelly, Martha Raye, Ann Miller, Esther Williams, June Allyson,
and The Marx Brothers. Edens wrote club acts and/or concert material
for Judy Garland, Ethel Merman, Ann Sothern, Van Johnson, Helen Traubel,
Marti Stevens, Judy Holliday and Peter Lawford.
As a composer, some of
his song hits included "Our Love Affair" (Academy Award nomination:
Best Song), "Pass That Peace Pipe" (Academy Award nomination: Best
Song), "Think Pink," "Bonjour Paris," "Minnie from Trinidad," and
"The French Lesson." His songwriting collaborators included Betty
Comden & Adolph Green, Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane, Leonard Gershe,
E.Y. Harburg, and Arthur Freed.
In the latter part of
his career, he served as associate producer on JUMBO (1962), the last
real MGM musical THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN (1964), and HELLO DOLLY!
(1969). He died of cancer July 13,1970. His legacy can be explored
at the Roger Edens Archives at the University of Southern California.
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