1963 was a year of great change, both nationally and theatrically with Hot Spot, a musical comedy about the Peace Corps that starred Judy Holliday
REVIEW: BROADWAY BY THE YEAR-- 1963
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July 06, 2004 - by Jena Tesse Fox
1963 was a year of great change, both nationally and theatrically. Broadway, like America, was growing up and losing its innocence. Sweet, sparkling crowd pleasers like Oliver!, She Loves Me and Tovarich were giving way to more somber pieces like 110 In The Shade. There were also some impressive star vehicles, like Tovarich with Vivien Leigh, Jennie with Mary Martin, and Hot Spot, a musical comedy about the Peace Corps that starred Judy Holliday. Last week at the Town Hall, Scott Siegel ended another season of Broadway By The Year by presenting the Broadway Musicals of 1963, and gave us a taste of the changes musical theatre experienced in a brief twelve months.
Smaller or less successful shows were given their due as well. Nancy Anderson and Euan Morton sang the sparkling comic duet "Uh-oh" from Tovarich, and Julia Murney sang a tongue-twisting "Don’t Laugh" from Hot Spot, which featured dazzling lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
Extra lauds must go to George Dvorsky, who stepped in at the last moment for Robert Cuccioli and sang "Gonna Be Another Hot Day" unamplified.
