Music by George Gershwin
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Book by George S. Kaufman
Book revised in 1930 by Morrie Ryskind
New adaptation by Laurence Maslon and Ted Sperling
Ted Sperling, director and conductor
Get ready for another Gershwin powerhouse! This rarely performed gem kicked off a masterful trio that came to include OF THEE I SING (performed by MasterVoices in 2017) and LET ‘EM EAT CAKE (2019). Expect soaring melodies, infectious syncopation, and a healthy dose of silliness!
A pointed satire, the show’s book (by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind) cries out to us from the 1920s about America’s increasing love of money, fear of foreigners, and penchant for war. But the real point is the lush Gershwin score – the overture alone will make you swoon, plus The Man I Love, I’ve Got a Crush On You, and more. Artistic Director Ted Sperling has teamed with writer and theater historian Laurence Maslon to fashion an entirely new edition of the show, just for MasterVoices. Learn More.
Tickets, priced from $30, are on sale on August 16, 2024, and may be purchased online at carnegiehall.org, by calling CarnegieCharge at 212.247.7800 or in person at Carnegie Hall’s box office at 57th and Seventh Avenue.
You’re invited to the MasterVoices Benefit!
Join us for an unforgettable evening at Carnegie Hall where the music never stops! After the performance, continue the celebration at our Benefit Reception – honoring Juliana Chen for her years of outstanding Board leadership – featuring tantalizing cocktails, light bites, and the chance to mingle with the stars of the show, your fellow patrons, and our visionary Artistic Director, Ted Sperling.
As a Benefit attendee, you’ll enjoy exclusive access to the best seats for this exceptional performance.
Reserve your spot today!
Learn More
STRIKE UP THE BAND was the cause of Kaufman’s famous quip that “satire is what closes on Saturday night.” The original script did just that when it opened in Philadelphia in 1927. But that all changed in 1930 when the show reopened on Broadway, thanks to some musical shuffling (songs cut, songs added, and much more swing) plus an assist from writer Morrie Ryskind – Kaufman’s partner in crime when writing for The Marx Brothers – who described the job as “rewriting War and Peace for the Three Stooges”.
Armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of both versions, Artistic Director Ted Sperling has teamed with writer and theater historian Laurence Maslon to create a new adaptation that brings out the best of both versions. That makes this a historic production, but there’s more – as with our Lady In the Dark, Babes In Toyland, and The Frogs, you may be witnessing the blueprint for future performances of this work, pared down for smaller groups with all the best parts intact.
Click here to read the press release for the 2024-2025 Concert Season.