Mr. Saturday Night (musical)

Mr. Saturday Night is a stage musical with music by Jason Robert Brown, lyrics by Amanda Green, and a book by Billy Crystal, Lowell Ganz, and Babaloo Mandel, based on the 1992 film. It premiered at Barrington Stage Company in October 2021. The musical moved to Broadway with an opening date at the Nederlander Theatre on April 27, 2022.

Mr. Saturday Night
MusicJason Robert Brown
LyricsAmanda Green
BookBilly Crystal
Lowell Ganz
Babaloo Mandel
BasisMr. Saturday Night
by Billy Crystal
PremiereOctober 16, 2021 (2021-10-16): Barrington Stage Company
Productions2021 Barrington Stage
2022 Nederlander Theater

Production history

The musical had its world premiere at Barrington Stage Company on October 22, 2021, for a limited run until October 30.

The production began previews on Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre on March 29, 2022, prior to officially opening on April 27.[1]

Musical numbers

Barrington Stage[2]

  • "Once Upon a Time"
  • "Mr. Saturday Night" – Buddy's Singers
  • "A Little Joy" – Buddy
  • "The Living Room" – Abie & Stan
  • "There’s a Chance" – Susan
  • "That Guy" – Buddy
  • "At Farber’s" – Farber & Ensemble
  • "Until Now" – Buddy, Elaine & Stan
  • "Timing" – Buddy, Howie, Will & Ronnie
  • "What If I Said?" – Annie
  • "Unbelievable" – Full Company
  • "Maybe It Starts With Me" – Susan
  • "Tahiti" – Elaine
  • "My Wonderful Pain" – Elaine & Buddy
  • "Broken" – Stan
  • "Any Man But Me" – Buddy
  • "Stick Around" – Susan, Elaine, Buddy, Annie & Company

Cast and characters
Character Barrington Stage (2021)[3] Broadway (2022)
Buddy Young, Jr. Billy Crystal
Farber, Howie & Others Jordan Gelber
Larry Myerson, Will & Others Brian Gonzales
Elaine Young Randy Graff
Annie Wells Chasten Harmon
Ronnie, Karen & Others Mylinda Hull
Stan Yankelman David Paymer
Susan Young Alysha Umphress Shoshana Bean

Reception

The play officially opened on April 27, 2022 with many in the industry attending opening night including Steve Martin, Martin Short, Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon, Bryan Cranston, and Alex Borstein.[4]

The show has been met with positive reviews from critics particularly for Crystal's lively performance.The New York Times praised Crystal's performance writing, "Crystal is utterly in his element performing live...It's a pleasure to watch.". Critic Adam Feldman of Time Out wrote, "By Broadway standards, Mr. Saturday is a modest little show... But it delivers exactly what it promises: Crystal, completely in his element, with a crowd that is more than happy to buy what he’s selling".[5] Variety declared, "[its] the funniest show on Broadway in years, if not the most likable."[6] Peter Marks of The Washington Post described the show as "a slender but agreeable Broadway musical" in which the jokes "are old-school funny, polished and impeccably timed".[7]

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2022Drama League AwardOutstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway MusicalMr. Saturday NightPending
Distinguished Performer AwardBilly CrystalPending
Distinguished Performer AwardShoshana BeanPending
2022Outer Critics Circle AwardsOutstanding New Broadway MusicalMr. Saturday NightPending
Outstanding Featured Actress in a MusicalShoshana BeanPending
Outstanding Book of a MusicalBilly Crystal, Lowell Ganz, and Babaloo MandelPending
Outstanding Video/Projection Design (Play or Musical)Jeff SuggPending

References
  1. Rabinowitz, Chloe (January 12, 2022). "Shoshana Bean & More Complete the Cast of MR. SATURDAY NIGHT on Broadway". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 2022-01-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. "Mr. Saturday Night (program)" (PDF). Barrington Stage Company. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
  3. "Mr. Saturday Night". BarringtonStageCo.org. 2020-10-22. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  4. "Bryan Cranston and Alex Borstein Fan Over Billy Crystal in N.Y.C". People. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  5. "Mr. Saturday Night - Review". Time Out. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  6. "'Mr. Saturday Night' Review: Billy Crystal Brings the Laughs in His New Broadway Musical". April 28, 2022.
  7. "Billy Crystal, bringing the funny in Broadway's 'Mr. Saturday Night'". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
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