Caleb Grochalski

MT Lit project points

Grand Hotel: The Musical

Opened at the Martin Beck Theatre

November 12, 1989 and ran 1,017 performances

Basis: Menschen im Hotel novel by Vicki Baum

Libretto by: Luther Davis

Music and Lyrics by: Robert Wright and George Forrest

Additional Music and Lyrics by: Maury Yeston and Wally Harper

Directed and Choreographed by: Tommy Tune

Scene/ Song: Love Can't Happen

Grand Hotel: The Musical was based on a novel, Menschen im Hotel (People in a Hotel), about

a Berlin, Germany hotel and its many guests and employees that inhabit it. The book originally was
made into a 1932 MGM feature film which was of the same name as the novel. The story centers
around this busy hotel over a weekend in the roaring 20s. The guests include, Elizaveta Grushinskaya,
a faded prima ballerina on her last farewell tour and her devoted companion, Raffaela. Otto Kringelein,
a jewish bookkeeper, about to die of a terminal illness, looking to live the last of his life in luxury
before he leaves this earth. Baron Felix Amadaeus Benvenuto Von Gaigern, a resident at the hotel, a
nobelman and a theif. Frieda Flamm, or Flaemmchen, a young typist and employee of Grand Hotel
with big aspirations of becoming a Hollywood actress. And, Hermann Preysing a businessman and the
general director of a Textile mill. Also, several other smaller characters and employees appear
throughout the story. Every character has a subplot, but they all get interwoven throughout the course
of the show.

The first draft of the show, At The Grand, opened in Los Angeles in 1958 and received many criticisms
for its several plot changes from the original book and questionable choices made by the original
writers. The production closed pre- broadway due to Paul Muni (Otto) not extending his contract and
leaving the production. The entire production was put away until about 30 years later when Tommy
Tune decided to try to raise up this sinking ship. Tommy invisioned the pieces of music, dances, and
dialogue overlapping to really make the audience feel as if they were part of this hustling and bustling
hotel. Tune himself said about the original show, Bluntly stated, the show didnt work. With the
exception of the choreography and the physical trappings, the show was deadly." Tune also hired
people to doctor the show's original material, such as Peter Stone to doctor the book, and he brought on
his friend Thommie Walsh to assist him with choreography. Stone and Walsh actually didn't want to be
credited for their work on this particular show. Actually, most of the dances in the show were
choreographed by Thommie Walsh. Frustrated with the miscooperation of the original composers, Tune
fired them and called Maury Yeston to come to Boston and save the show. The show itself was a mess
until it neared the end of its Boston tryout. The final product went on Broadway in 1989 after 31
previews the production ran for 1, 1017 performances making it the first american musical since Big
River to top 1,000 performances. The much awaited cast recording was delayed over two years due to
legal disputes between the original composers and the producers and Tommy Tune. David Carroll, the
original Baron Felix, was seriously ill with AIDS shortly after the production opened, and never got to
record on the original cast album. Carroll was so ill, he wasn't healthy enough to perform on the Tony
Awards in 1990. Though, one day Maury Yeston had them record Love Can't Happen before his death
and it is a special bonus on the original cast recording. Brent Barrett is Baron Felix on the original cast
recording. At the 1990 Tony Awards, the show was nominated for 12 tonys and won 5 including Best
Direction of a Musical, Best Choreography, Best performance by a featured actor in a musical (Michael
Jeter), and Best Costume Design. The show closed at the George Gershwin theater after 1017 shows.