Lyrics Alfred Uhry Playwright Terrence McNally Composer Robert Waldman | Productions 1968 Broadway Lyricist Alfred Uhry Basis East of Eden | |
Book Alex Gordon
Terrence McNally Similar Terrence McNally plays, Musicals | ||
Here's Where I Belong is a musical with a book by Alex Gordon and Terrence McNally, lyrics by Alfred Uhry, and music by Robert Waldman. The musical closed after one performance on Broadway.
Contents
Background
Based on John Steinbeck's novel East of Eden, the allegorical tale centers on the Trasks and the Hamiltons, two families drawn to the rich farmlands of Salinas, California in the early 20th Century. While Steinbeck traced the two clans through three generations, the musical limits the action to the period between 1915 and 1917 and focuses primarily on the Cain and Abel aspects of the work.
Production
McNally asked that his name be removed from the credits prior to opening night. The official opening on Broadway was postponed from February 20, 1968 to March 2, 1968 to allow time for rewrites to the book.
The musical premiered on Broadway at the Billy Rose Theatre on March 3, 1968 and closed after one performance and twenty previews. Directed by Michael Kahn and choreographed by Tony Mordente, the cast included Paul Rogers as Adam Trask, Walter McGinn as Caleb Trask, Ken Kercheval as Aron Trask, James Coco as Lee, Graciela Daniele as Faith, and Heather MacRae as Abra Bacon. The scenery was by Ming Cho Lee, costumes by Ruth Morley, and lighting by Jules Fisher.
Clive Barnes, in his review in The New York Times, questioned whether the book (East of Eden) could be a viable musical as it was "too serious", but praised the sets by Ming Cho Lee and wrote that Paul Rogers had a "stong singing voice" and was dignified.
Recordings
"We're A Home" was recorded by The Ray Conniff Singers in 1967 and released as a single (Columbia 4-44422). The recording was reissued in stereo on a Ray Conniff compilation CD "The Singles Collection, Vol. 1" (Collectables 7697) in 2005.