Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson

Overview

The musical relates events in the life of early 20th century evangelist and pop culture icon Aimee Semple McPherson. It follows her life and career from her childhood to her controversial death in 1944, focusing on her mysterious kidnapping and the ensuing trial. Other highlights include her becoming the first woman to obtain a radio broadcast license in the United States, her cross-country drive unaccompanied by a man, her multimedia empire that included several newspapers, and her interactions with such contemporaries as Charles Chaplin and William Randolph Hearst.

Productions

Saving Aimee debuted at the White Plains Performing Arts Center in October 2005. The cast featured Carolee Carmello as Aimee and Florence Lacey. A revised production, directed by Eric Schaeffer and choreographed by Christopher d'Amboise, opened on April 10, 2007 at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia for a limited run, with Carolee Carmello again in the title role.

Four years later, the musical played at the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, Washington, from September 30 to October 29, 2011. It was directed by David Armstrong, artistic director at 5th Avenue, with choreography by Lorin Laterro, sets by Walt Spangler and costumes by Gregory A. Poplyk. Carmello again played Aimee, with Judy Kaye as Minnie Kennedy, Roz Ryan as Emma Jo Schaffer and Ed Dixon.

The musical premiered on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre, with previews starting on October 13, 2012, and opening officially on November 15, 2012. Carmello stars, with George Hearn playing both Aimee's father James Kennedy and a preacher Brother Bob. Ed Watts plays Aimee's husband, and Roz Ryan is again Emma Jo. Direction and choreography are again by Armstrong and Latarro, sets and costumes are again by Spangler and Poplyk, and lighting is by Natasha Katz. The new title of the musical is Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson. The producers include Foursquare Foundation and Dick DeVos, which The New York Times noted are "unusual newcomers", as Foursquare Foundation "provides grants to evangelical churches and ministries."

Scandalous closed on December 9, 2012 after 29 regular performances and 31 previews. Difficulties arising from Hurricane Sandy were cited as a contributing factor to the closing.

Carolee Carmello was nominated for a 2013 Tony Award in the category of Best Performance By An Actress In A Leading Role in A Musical and for a Drama Desk Award as Outstanding Actress in a Musical. The cast recording was released in 2013.

Musical Numbers

The musical numbers from the 2012 Broadway production are as follows:

The musical numbers from the 2011 Seattle production are as follows:

The musical numbers from the 2007 Virginia production are as follows:

Songs cut from earlier versions of the production:

Critical reception

In its review of the Signature Theatre production, Variety wrote: "All is contained in Gifford's exceedingly thorough book, ripping nonstop from one crisis to another under Schaeffer's free-flowing direction. Pomeranz and Friedman break up the action with an enjoyable blend of tunes that opens with the spirited "Stand Up!"; highlights include an Irish jig, a rousing spiritual, some big ensemble numbers, and Aimee's signature tune, "Why Can't I Just Be a Woman?" " The theatremania reviewer of the same production wrote that the musical is a "rousing experience, thanks to a group of tour-de-force performances, especially from ... Carmello in the title role, and songs ... that add layers of emotional shading missing from the dialogue played out between them. Director Eric Schaeffer's deft hand maximizes the show's strengths, fusing performers, songs, and story into an entertaining blend."