SHE LOVES ME '93:"12 Days"/Finale-Judy Kuhn/Boyd Gaines & Co.

First Broadway revival of "She Loves Me":
"Twelve Days to Christmas"/Final Scene/Curtain Calls

[@nancyklein2622]

Judy Kuhn and Boyd Gaines were so incredibly good in this. I love how he nods and mouths "Yes," when she sings "Dear Friend."

[@sammyarriba8929]

Both Laura (the revival) and Judy do such an amazing job that I can’t even compare them. They play such different versions of the same character and it’s incredible to watch both of them just be themselves on stage. This is truly and amazing cast.

[@DonDonadio]

So glad to see these videos. We went to NYC for our annual visit and saw this amazing production of my favorite musical. I saw the original with Barbara Cook and have loved the show ever since. We loved this new production so much we went again the next night to see it again and missed part two of Angels in America. What a jewel box of a production.

[@pamelalabarbiera7308]

I saw this production, too, and it was fantastic. I really wish that the NYPL would make its Theater on Film and Tape Archive available to the public after a certain amount of time after a production has closed, because I love this stuff.

[@AvalonMorley]

It's not within the NYPL's power to allow that. There are so many contractual issues, and for most shows of the past, it just wouldn't be possible. Give thanks that some of the LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER broadcasts from PBS are now being made more available, online or on DVD. If you love theater and haven't seen it yet, look for the video of ACT ONE that PBS broadcast. Last I knew it was still available to watch on pbs.org, and is an absolute joy! It's worth making a contribution to a pbs station (I think minimum $60) to get their passport access.

[@pamelalabarbiera7308]

I know--the unions were really tough about letting the shows be recorded for any reason in the first place, and there was a lawsuit between directors that didn't help. There's so much out there that isn't available, and it's really frustrating.

[@burntnolan]

Thank you so much! The ending is so happy. I do wonder about why Georg didn’t tell her earlier, but I’ve only heard the songs and seen some clips like these on KZbin, not the whole thing.

[@MyChewbacca]

Had to rewatch this on Sheldon Harnick's birthday - such a beautiful and brilliant show!

[@kathleenw6984]

This song so accurately describes what it's like to work retail at Christmas

[@potatoe3675]

Brad Kane, what a stud!

[@kennethwayne6857]

He's one jump ahead of all of us.

[@AvalonMorley]

Thank you so much for this! What brilliant staging. Do you by chance have the dance at the café? I love listening to that on the cast recording of this production, and imagining ways to choreograph and stage it. Also, do you know why it was that Judy Kuhn did not do the recording? Did she leave the cast very early or something? I love hearing the actress who is on it, Diane Fratantoni, but would also love to have had Ms. Kuhn's voice.

[@auroraspiderwoman5886]

+AvalonMorley The '93 Broadway revival of "She Loves Me" opened at Roundabout's Criterion Center on Broadway. After great reviews, the production moved to a commercial Broadway run at the Brooks Atkinson. But Judy Kuhn chose to open the American premiere production of "Sunset Boulevard" in Los Angeles in late fall '93 rather than transfer with "She Loves Me." Not long after, Kuhn became pregnant and was thus unable to continue with "Sunset Boulevard" when it arrived on Broadway in fall '94.

[@AvalonMorley]

aurora spiderwoman Thanks so much for that info. How great to have to make choices like she was making!

[@BakingItOnBroadway]

+AvalonMorley To be fair, I'm pretty sure Kuhn was already contractually obligated to do Sunset Boulevard, since She Loves Me was supposed to be just for the summer. Wonderful as Frantantoni is, and she IS wonderful, the fact that Kuhn wasn't allowed to do the recording is one of the biggest artistic misfires of the 90's (and that's saying a LOT). How fantastic we now get to see these videos.