Show History

History

Inspiration

Andrew Lippa's Wild Party is based on Joseph Moncure March's 1928 narrative poem of the same name. Lippa came across March's narrative poem while wandering through Barnes & Noble's poetry section, searching for a story to musicalize. He'd never heard of March's piece and did not know the 1975 James Ivory film version that starred James Coco and Raquel Welch.

Productions

Based on Joseph Moncure's narrative poem, Andrew Lippa's Wild Party was first developed in 1997 at the National Music Theatre Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, CT. It received further development at Manhattan Theatre Club in 1999 before opening Off-Broadway at the Manhattan Theatre Club on February 24, 2000. Directed by Gabriel Barre and choreographed by Mark Dendy, the production ran for 54 performances, closing in April of 2000. It starred Julia Murney as Queenie, Brian D'Arcy James as Burrs, Idina Menzel as Kate and Taye Diggs as Mr. Black.

In 2004, Andrew Lippa's Wild Party was produced as a part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. In recent years, it has been staged in cities throughout the United States, including Chicago, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Memphis and Reno.

Cultural Influence

• Andrew Lippa's Wild Party Off-Broadway cast recording was released by RCA Victor on July 11, 2000.

Trivia

• Besides winning for Outstanding Music, Andrew Lippa's Wild Party was nominated for an additional twelve Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding New Musical.
• Andrew Lippa's Wild Party coincidentally debuted during the same theatre season (1999-2000) as a Broadway production with the same name and source material.