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Portofino

Portofino

Shows · Portofino

in the New York Post said the musical was a “primitive” and “epoch-making disaster,” one of “the dullest and clumsiest musical exhibits in the melancholy annals of theatrical mishaps,” and prayed that with Portofino the theatre season had “reached its nadir.” John McClain in the New York Journal-American found the new musical “unbelievably bad” and “a catastrophe all around.” Brooks Atkinson in the New York Times not…

Opened
1958
Performances
3
Type
Musical
Era
Golden Age
Music: Louis Bellson and Will IrwinLyrics: Richard Ney (additional lyrics by Sheldon Harnick)Book: Richard Ney

Productions1 on Broadway

1958 Adelphi Theatre Original. February 21, 1958 · Karl Genus 3 performances

Every Broadway staging held in broadway-data, sourced to IBDB. West End runs are not yet held.

Licensing not confirmed

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In the literature18 passages

The musical had two distinctions: it was the first to open on Broadway in the 1950s, and along with Portofino was the decade’s shortest-running musical, chalking up just three performances. book:complete-book-of-1950s-broadway-musicals-the-dan-dietz#p8

Portofino [1958], which tied with Happy as Larry as the shortest running musical of the decade). But like Fabray, Guetary enjoyed a fabulous MGM musical moment, when he was cast in book:complete-book-of-1950s-broadway-musicals-the-dan-dietz#p30

There have been a few exceptions, such as A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1962) and Nine (1982), but the odds are against success: over three dozen musicals set wholly (or partially) in Italy have floundered on Broadway, Off-Broadway, or on the road. Seven alone opened during the 1950s; besides The Liar… book:complete-book-of-1950s-broadway-musicals-the-dan-dietz#p61

When it comes to the hallowed flops of the 1950s, Buttrio Square is spoken of in the same hushed and solemn tones as Hit the Trail and Portofino. book:complete-book-of-1950s-broadway-musicals-the-dan-dietz#p282

Bock had also been one of the composers of Mr. Wonderful , and the month following the premiere of The Body Beautiful Harnick was represented on Broadway with a few lyrics for the misbegotten Portofino . book:complete-book-of-1950s-broadway-musicals-the-dan-dietz#p675

The six book musicals for which it appears no songs have been commercially recorded are: Happy as Larry, The Liar, Jotham Valley, Hit the Trail, Portofino, and Happy Town. book:complete-book-of-1950s-broadway-musicals-the-dan-dietz#p875

Passages naming this show, found by keyword across 178 books. Where this show turns up in the literature, not curated trivia about it.

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