We hear you asking, "so what IS a hidden gem of American Musical Theater, anyway?" There are a few varieties of Hidden Gem: One is a show that was not successful when first produced. It may have had a dynamite score, and a great cast but just came out at the wrong time. For instance, "Chicago" was only a modest success during its original Broadway outing in the 1970s. It wasn't until the 1990s revival that it became a huge hit. That revival is still running today! Other hidden gems may have been pitted against the blockbuster musicals of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s and gotten lost in the shuffle. How could intimate shows like "She Loves Me" and "Romance/Romance" compete with "Bye Bye Birdie" and "Dreamgirls"? Another sort of hidden gem is a show that was appreciated in its time, but has since slipped off the radar screens of companies and audiences. Shows like "Pins and Needles", "Ruthless", and "The Fantasticks" have all been successfully produced and recorded, yet they are unfamiliar to many theatergoers. The last hidden gems are the new or unproduced shows that have never had a chance to be seen. As actors, we have all been involved in projects that didn't take off, or never got past the table-read phase. We're looking to give some of those shows a second chance at life. For our first production, we are planning to bring you a hidden gem which you've probably never heard of, but you might just recognise some of the songs, as they have been recorded by a prominent singer. More on that later!
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