Blood Brothers, the musical.

Starring Melanie C.
Voting information can be found in the Blog.
Also, vote for Melanie C for 'Best Takeover In A Role' in the What's On Stage Awards.

Blood Brothers on Broadway.

The Broadway production opened on 25 April 1993 at the Music Box Theatre. The show closed on 30 April 1995 after 840 performances. Several of the British actors made their Broadway debuts, including Stephanie Lawrence as Mrs. Johnstone, Con O'Neill as Mickey, Mark Michael Hutchinson as Eddie and Warwick Evans as the narrator. Kerry Butler made her Broadway debut in the ensemble. In order to boost box office sales, Bill Kenwright convinced Petula Clark to make her Broadway debut as Mrs. Johnstone, with real-life brothers David Cassidy and Shaun Cassidy as her sons. She later starred in the U.S. national tour from 1994–95. Clark and the Cassidys also recorded the international cast album, with Willy Russell as the Narrator. Following Clark's portrayal, Mrs. Johnstone was played other 1960s pop singers, with Carole King and Helen Reddy later playing the role on Broadway.

Philip Lehl exclusive interview.

Philip Lehl understudied and played Mickey in the Broadway production of the show, and played opposite Stephanie Lawrence, Petula Clark, Carole King and Helen Reddy. Here, he has given the site an exclusive interview.

  Carole King on Broadway

Philip: One thing I'll tell you now about BB is that because of Bill Kenwright's Everton F.C. fanaticism, I'm breathlessly awaiting the FA Cup final!  Everton!  Everton!  Everton!

1.) How did you get to be in Blood Brothers?

I auditioned in NYC.  Travelled to Toronto, where the UK cast was performing.  The five leads were going to Broadway, and the rest of us were there to rehearse and see the show.  The folks we were replacing were very sad, as they had only just found out that they were being replaced (by we New Yorkers) for Broadway.  No one had prepared us for that, and we were all feeling quite confused: ecstatic because we were going to Broadway, many of us for the first time; and guilty, because we were taking over jobs from folks who thought they deserved to go to Broadway.

2.) When were you in Blood Brothers, and who did you star opposite?

First, as an understudy, I appeared opposite Stephanie Lawrence, and Petula Clark.  When Carole King opened in the show, I was promoted to play Mickey.  So I starred opposite Carole, and Helen Reddy.


3.) How was BB special to you and what did you learn from it? Was it your 'Big Break'?
It was my big break.  My opportunity came when as Con O'Neill's understudy I was pressed into service about four days after we opened.  I'd only been rehearsed in the first act at that point, and Con lost his voice during the first act that particular night, so when our Stage Manager, Mary Porter Hall came to my dressing room at intermission, she had to tell me that, under union rules, I didn't have to go on.  I was nervous as hell, but I thought I knew the part pretty well, so I said, "I'll do it."  It went very well, and I'll never forget Stephanie Lawrence pushing me out in front of the cast to take a solo bow afterwards.  (The bow on Broadway was a company bow - solo bows weren't taken- so Stephanie doing that was a HUGE honor.)  I had a bottle of champagne from the great Bill Kenwright later on, and I'm convinced that my having taken that risk helped convince Bill to elevate me into the role of Mickey later on.

4.) What was it like to work with Carole King, Helen Reddy and Petula Clark?
All incredibly professional, kind, wonderful women.  I didn't get to work a lot with Petula, but I remember that she was very nervous the first time I filled in for David Cassidy.  Again, that performance went well, and she trusted me on the few occasions that I went on after that.  Carole was very business-like, kind, earthy, complimentary towards me.  Her performance was incredibly realistic, and down to earth.  Helen was very brassy, fun-loving, talkative.  Her performance was much more theatrical.  Every bit as good as Carole's, but different.

5.) What was your opening night like and your opening night as Mickey?
I don't remember!!!!  I remember the understudy night much more vividly; I guess maybe that really was MY opening night.

6.) How did you find the Liverpudlian accent?
I'm not sure I did!  It's difficult, and Bill Kenwright told us that if we did it perfectly, American audiences would be baffled.  I think what we did was sort of halfway between Liverpool and NYC.

7.) Would you ever return to BB, in the UK, or if it ever returned to Broadway?
I can't think of anything I 'd like to do more.

8.) Did you ever see BB before you were in it? Were you influenced?
As I said, we saw it in Toronto.  Iwas  greatly influenced by Con's performance.  He was truly amazing.  I stole everything I could from him when I went on for him, and when I went into the role.

9.) Were you surprised by how successful BB was, after some of the opening reviews, which weren't so great?
We all were surprised.  I even left the show for a time, to do another Broadway show (THe Kentucky Cycle - a straight play).  When BB was still around after that show closed, you can't imagine my relief when my track opened up, and I was offered my old job back.  (Oddly enough, the actor who replaced me, and then left just in time was Broadway's Shrek: Brian D'Arcy James!)

10.) Did you enhoy your time in BB?
It was one of the great chapters of my life so far.

Philip went on to say the following:
I love that you're such a fan!

I'm currently appearing in a Tom Stoppard play, Rock 'n' Roll, at the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas.  I'm about to go into rehearsal during the day for the next play at the Alley, Aaron Sorkin's The Farnsworth Invention.
Best,
Philip

 

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