My View: Can’t Remember A Tune From A Musical? Here’s A Show You Can

Three of America’s greatest songwriters were in The Berkshires last night as The Berkshire Theatre Group presented the World Premiere of  Coming Back Like A Song! on The Fitzpatrick Main Stage.  (Check out complete photos on Broadwayworld)

Sometimes the critique of new musicals mentions that the scores are lacking in Melody.  Well, Coming Back Like A Song! is one show that the public was singing the tunes going into the theatre and also as they were leaving.  David Garrison played Irving Berlin, Phillip Hoffman was Harold Arlen, and Jimmy Van Heusen was played by David Rasche, need more be said about the melodies heard in this interesting slice of “what if” music history.

It’s 1956, and three of America’s great songwriters, are at a crossroads in their lives;

rock ‘n roll is now king, and their careers could be over.  Directed by Tony Award-nominated Gregg Edelman (City of Angels, 1776, Into The Woods;BTF:Arsenic and Old Lace, Constellations), Emmy Award-winner Lee Kalcheim’s (All in the Family), Coming Back Like a Song! follows the story of the three old friends and music icons on Christmas Eve in New York City, as they drink, fight and sing.

For 90 minutes you believe the composers are really on the Fitzpatrick Mainstage and you even get to hear all the great music sung in the typical songwriters characteristic imperfect but genuine style.

The world will always come back to the songs of Berlin, Arlen, and Van Heusen and Berkshire audiences are going to be coming to Coming Back Like A Song!

Coming Back Like A Song!   July 1-21st  Berkshire Theatre Group The Fitzpatrick Main Stage

by Lee Kalcheim

directed by Gregg Edelman

Phillip Hoffman (Harold Arlen), David Garrison (Irving Berlin), David Rasche ( Jimmy Van Heusen)

Phillip Hoffman, David Garrison, David Rasche

Berkshire Theatre Group, Fitzpatrick Mainstage

Eda Sorokoff & David Rasche