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49-456: The music was composed by Burton Lane and the lyrics were written by E.Y. Harburg . The song was published in 1946 and introduced in the 1947 musical Finian's Rainbow . There is no actual Glocca Morra in Ireland. In a television interview late in his life, Harburg revealed that the name "Glocca Morra" was made up by composer Lane, who had devised a dummy lyric beginning with the line, "There's

98-524: A Clear Day You Can See Forever in 1965. He was born Burton Levy, in New York City; his father was Lazarus Levy. At some later time he became known as Burton Lane. One source erroneously gives his birth name as "Morris Hyman Kushner". Burton Lane studied classical piano as a child. At age 14 the theatrical producers the Shuberts commissioned him to write songs for a revue, Greenwich Village Follies . At

147-595: A better representative to the people, and the sharecroppers welcome Og and the now-verbal Susan ("If This Isn't Love [Reprise]"). Finian, however, has lost the crock and his hope of getting rich. Seeing that Sharon and Og have found their dreams, he goes off again in search of his own rainbow, saying 'Maybe there's no pot of gold at the end of it, but there's a beautiful new world under it.' The cast tells him goodbye, promising to see him in Glocca Morra ("Finale"). The original Broadway production opened on January 10, 1947, at

196-500: A concert version of the musical from March 26, 2009, through March 29. Directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle , it starred Jim Norton and Kate Baldwin as Finian and Sharon, with Cheyenne Jackson as Woody, Grammy nominated Blues artist Guy Davis as the blind harmonica-playing share cropper, and Jeremy Bobb as Og, the leprechaun. A fully staged Broadway revival opened at the St. James Theatre on October 29, 2009, with most of

245-464: A free charge account. Insisting that credit is better than wealth, Woody and Finian tell them to use their new free credit rather than dig the gold. The group celebrates "That Great Come-and-get-it Day". The sharecroppers begin unpacking extravagant gifts to themselves from their new accounts. Sharon and Finian celebrate the end of class-distinction that comes with wealth ("When the Idle Poor Become

294-457: A glen in Glocca Morra". Harburg liked the name but insisted on changing the line to "How are things in Glocca Morra?" because this is personal and immediately evocative of nostalgia and homesickness. James Stephens' work The Crock of Gold (first published in 1912) refers to "the leprechauns of Gort na Cloca Mora" (an approximation of gort na clocha móra , "field of the big rocks" in Irish ). It

343-545: A group of black gospel singers looking for a fourth man ("The Begat"); by chance, they are all going to sing at Woody and Sharon's wedding. The wedding is interrupted by Buzz and the Sheriff, who have come to arrest her for witchcraft. The Senator tries to defend Woody and Sharon, but as a black man he lacks any authority over the Sheriff. Finian steps in, promising Sharon can change the Senator back. He dismisses everyone, intending to use

392-490: A mixture of Black and White tobacco sharecroppers . The local sheriff and Buzz Collins, front man for local senator Billboard Rawkins, demand the locals pay their taxes or else have their land auctioned off. The sharecroppers want to wait for Woody Mahoney, their union leader. Woody's mute sister Susan the Silent communicates through dancing that Woody will bring the money, while a boy named Henry translates her dance for Collins and

441-402: A single position. the song reached number 4. The song, performed by Petula Clark , is also part of the soundtrack of the 1968 film version of the stage musical . She has included the number in her concert repertoire. Numerous others have recorded the song, including Bing Crosby in 1975 for his album At My Time of Life , Barbra Streisand , and Julie Andrews . In 1969, it was recorded by

490-472: A six-disc 78 rpm set by Columbia Records was the label's first recording of a Broadway musical. The label used the album to introduce its new LP format in June 1948. In 1988, the album was released on CD, and in 2000, a second CD version appeared that was remastered from the original acetates and restored some material originally recorded but cut from the show, including three bonus tracks in which Harburg discusses

539-822: Is "Pyro-Glocca-Morra". In an episode of All in the Family , Archie Bunker refers to New York City as a "regular Sodom and Glocca Morra." In "A Shift in the Night" (S02E18), an episode of ER , Dr. Mark Greene asks a colleague "How are things in Glocca Morra?" The song was referenced by Daffy Duck in the 1948 cartoon Daffy Dilly . The title was parodied on comedians Abbott and Costello 's radio show, as "How are things in Glocca, moron?" In Mad Men : "For Immediate Release" , Roger Sterling asks his flight attendant girlfriend, Daisy, "How are things in Gloccamora?" The fictional town in

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588-436: Is a musical with a book by E. Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy , lyrics by Harburg, and music by Burton Lane , produced by Lee Sabinson. The original 1947 Broadway production ran for 725 performances, while a film version was released in 1968 and several revivals have followed. An elderly Irishman, Finian McLonergan, moves to the southern United States with his daughter Sharon, to bury a stolen pot of gold near Fort Knox , in

637-458: Is the soil in and around Fort Knox that makes the US rich, and reveals that he has a crock of gold stolen from a leprechaun, which he intends to bury. Woody and the sharecroppers reenter, and when Woody doesn't have enough money to pay the interest on the taxes, Finian pays the rest. Finian and Sharon are welcomed by the sharecroppers. Sharon explains her father's philosophy of following one's dream ("Look to

686-481: Is unknown whether Lane or Harburg were aware of the novel or whether this is a coincidence. Many versions of this song were recorded in 1946 and 1947 , including a version by Dick Haymes , recorded on December 29, 1946, and released by Decca Records as catalog number 23830. The record reached the Billboard chart on March 29, 1947, peaking at number 9, and spent five weeks on the chart. Other early versions included

735-523: The 46th Street Theatre , where it ran for 725 performances. It was directed by Bretaigne Windust , choreographed by Michael Kidd , with orchestrations by Robert Russell Bennett and Don Walker . The cast included Ella Logan as Sharon, Donald Richards as Woody, Albert Sharpe as Finian, with the Lyn Murray Singers. David Wayne won both the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (

784-587: The American South had become dated, having been written before the modern Civil Rights movement and referring to forgotten political figures. However, in 2004 the Irish Repertory Theatre staged a well-received off-Broadway production starring Melissa Errico , Jonathan Freeman , and Malcolm Gets . In 1954, an animated film adaptation began production, directed by John Hubley . The crew included Art Babbit , Bill Tytla and Paul Julian . Among

833-719: The Buddy Clark version, recorded on October 14, 1946, and released by Columbia Records as catalog number 37223. It spent eight weeks on the chart, peaking at number 6; the Ella Logan / Albert Sharpe version, recorded on April 3, 1947, and released by Columbia Records as catalog number MM 686 (the original cast album of the Broadway production); the Stuart Foster/ Tommy Dorsey version, recorded on December 30, 1946, and released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-2122;

882-625: The Charing Cross Theatre between April 2 and May 10 with the majority of the same cast and crew. A fully staged revival, adapted and directed by Charlotte Moore, ran at the Irish Repertory Theatre in New York City from October 26, 2016, until January 29, 2017. The cast included Ken Jennings as Finian, Melissa Errico as Sharon, Ryan Silverman as Woody, Mark Evans as Og, Lyrica Woodruff as Susan and Dewey Caddell as Senator Rawkins. An original cast recording released as

931-565: The Martha Tilton version, recorded on November 25, 1946, and released by Capitol Records as catalog number 345; and the Harry Babbitt version recorded on January 20, 1947, and released by Mercury Records as catalog number 3056. In addition, legendary jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins recorded this tune for his Blue Note Records debut, Sonny Rollins, Volume One. In the publication Cash Box , which combined sales of all artists into

980-538: The storyboard , character designs, the script and some of the soundtrack recording have been recovered. Examples of the art and designs were published in the March/April 1993 issue of Print to illustrate an article by animation historian John Canemaker about the backstory of the project. A 1968 film version with Fred Astaire , Tommy Steele , Petula Clark and Don Francks was directed by Francis Ford Coppola . New York's City Center Encores! series performed

1029-521: The Encores! cast and director-choreographer Carlyle returning. Notable replacements to the cast were Christopher Fitzgerald as Og the leprechaun, David Schramm as Senator Rawkins and Chuck Cooper as Rawkins transformed into a black man. Ernest Harburg, Yip Harburg's son and president of the Harburg Foundation, said "The satire of our economic system is particularly relevant right now [2009], given

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1078-483: The Idle Rich"). Shears and Robust show up wondering when the gold will be discovered that will pay for the credit. Woody and Finian explain that there is no need to dig the gold up, since the news has led to massive investment in their tobacco label. Buzz and the Sheriff, however, accuse Sharon of using witchcraft to turn the Senator black. Woody orders them off. He and Sharon agree to marry ("Old Devil Moon [Reprise]"). Susan

1127-571: The Paramount theater in Hollywood which featured a movie and a live stage show. The sisters, Virginia and Mary Jane, brought on their younger sister, Frances, who sang " Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart ." Lane immediately called Jack Robbins, head of the music department at MGM, and told him he'd just heard a great new talent. Robbins told him to bring her in next day for an audition which Lane did. Robbins

1176-574: The Rainbow"). That night, Finian buries the gold and marks the spot, only to be met by Og, the leprechaun he stole from. Without his gold, Og is slowly becoming mortal, and needs it back. Sharon and Woody come looking for Finian, but are soon distracted by the moonlight and each other (" Old Devil Moon "). Senator Rawkins is buying up land to fight progressive developers. He is not upset with losing Rainbow Valley until two geologists arrive to tell him gold has been detected in it. He vows to drive Finian and

1225-853: The Scottish singer, Moira Anderson . Gracie Fields first recorded this in 1947 and re-recorded it in 1956 and 1970. This song was regularly performed in her cabaret acts and live performances, often with a trademark headscarf. She also performed this during her two-week run at The Batley Variety Club in 1965. Jazz guitarist Gene Bertoncini recorded a solo guitar arrangement of this song on his 1999 release, Body and Soul . The Irish Tenors recorded "How Are Things In Glocca Morra" for their album Ellis Island at Registration Hall on Ellis Island . Between 1948 and 1954, an Irish variety troupe organised by Pete Davis and featuring Cecil Sheridan toured Scottish theatres as "the Gossoons from Glocca-Morra". The song

1274-519: The Silent watches them, and dances by herself, and discovers the hidden gold ("Dance of the Hidden Crock"). She takes the gold for herself and hides it. Meanwhile, the still-black Senator Rawkins is hiding in the woods. He meets Og and explains what happened to him. Og decides what the Senator needs is a new inside rather than a new outside. He uses his own magic to make the Senator a nicer person ("Fiddle Faddle"). In his new persona, Rawkins falls in with

1323-479: The age of 18, he contributed the music for at least two songs for the revue, Three's A Crowd : "Forget All Your Books" and "Out in the Open Air." He was known for his Broadway musicals , Finian's Rainbow (1947) and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1965). He also wrote the music for the less remembered Broadway shows, Hold On to Your Hats (1940), Laffing Room Only (1944), and Carmelina (1979),

1372-527: The board of directors of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers ( ASCAP ). Lane's best-known songs include " Old Devil Moon ," " How Are Things in Glocca Morra? ," "Too Late Now," " How About You? ," and the title song from "On a Clear Day." He shared a Grammy Award in 1965 for Best Broadway Cast Album of the year ( On a Clear Day You Can See Forever ). Finian's Rainbow has had four major revivals (1955, 1960, 1967, and 2009), and

1421-465: The cast were Frank Sinatra , Ella Fitzgerald , Oscar Peterson , Louis Armstrong , Barry Fitzgerald , Jim Backus and David Burns plus David Wayne and Ella Logan from the original Broadway production. The era's McCarthyism caused financing to be withdrawn due to Hubley and Harburg's refusal to testify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities . Pre-production artwork, sketches from

1470-456: The crock to undo her wish, but finds the crock gone. Og, now almost human, looks for Sharon to tell her his feelings. He finds Susan instead, but realizes he is also attracted to her. He wonders if all human love is so fickle ("When I'm Not Near the Girl I Love"). Finian finds them and tells them Sharon is in danger. When Og reveals he doesn't have the gold, Finian runs off in despair. Susan knows where

1519-490: The famous first line of Daphne du Maurier 's Rebecca . ) The song is referenced in the Sports Night episode "Celebrities" (Season 2, Episode 15) and the song title is directly used as the title of an episode from Season 1 (Episode 17). When Goody Rickles ( Don Rickles ' sillier look-alike) comically mangles the name of the deadly compound "Pyrogranulate" in the comic book Jimmy Olsen 139, by Jack Kirby, what comes out

How Are Things in Glocca Morra? - Misplaced Pages Continue

1568-780: The first one ever given ) and the Theatre World Award for his performance as Og. The show also received Tonys for Best Conductor and musical director ( Milton Rosenstock ) and Best Choreography . A London production opened at the Palace Theatre on October 21, 1947, running for only 55 performances. Finian's Rainbow was revived three times on Broadway by the New York City Center Light Opera Company. The brief 1955 production, directed by William Hammerstein and choreographed by Onna White , starred Helen Gallagher , Merv Griffin , and Will Mahoney , who

1617-467: The gold - after three wishes, the gold will vanish forever. Og enlists the local children to help find his gold, promising to get them anything from a magical catalogue ("Something Sort of Grandish [Reprise]"). As the sharecroppers sort the tobacco leaves, Maude, one of their leaders, explains the general unfairness of life to them ("Necessity"). Senator Rawkins arrives informing Finian and the sharecroppers that, by living with black people, they are breaking

1666-405: The gold is, but can't speak. Frustrated, Og wishes she could talk, not knowing the gold is under his feet. Susan speaks, and tells him she loves him. Og realizes there is only one wish left, and if he uses it to save Sharon, he cannot be a leprechaun again. He is unsure what to do until Susan kisses him. Deciding being human isn't so bad, Og wishes the Senator white again. The Senator promises to be

1715-532: The latter with lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner , who had also written lyrics to Lane's music for On a Clear Day and the film Royal Wedding (1951). Lane mainly wrote music for films, such as Dancing Lady (1933), and Babes on Broadway (1941), writing for more than 30 movies. He was president of the American Guild of Authors and Composers from 1957 and for the next 10 terms, during which period he campaigned against music piracy. He also served three terms on

1764-462: The law and must leave. Outraged at the Senator's bigotry, Sharon tells him 'I wish to God you were black!' while unknowingly standing over the gold. The Senator is transformed into a black man and chased off the property by the Sheriff, who is unaware of the transformation. Woody brings news to Rainbow Valley that there is gold on their land, and the Shears-Robust shipping company has offered them all

1813-429: The leprechaun. The most recent Broadway revival opened on October 29, 2009, at the St. James Theatre with most of the Encores! cast. Newly added to the Broadway cast are Christopher Fitzgerald as Og and Chuck Cooper as Billboard; Jim Norton , Kate Baldwin and Cheyenne Jackson all reprise their roles. Lane is credited with discovering the 13-year-old Frances Gumm ( Judy Garland ). He caught her sisters' act at

1862-671: The mistaken belief that it will make him prosperous, as he imagines that the gold which he thinks has been buried at Fort Knox has made America prosperous. Og, a leprechaun , follows them, desperate to recover his treasure before the loss of it turns him permanently human. Complications arise when a bigoted and corrupt U.S. senator gets involved, and when wishes are made inadvertently over the hidden crock. The Irish -tinged music score includes gospel and R&B influences. The play opens in Rainbow Valley, Missitucky (a fictitious blend of Mississippi and Kentucky ), near Fort Knox , home of

1911-431: The nation’s deep financial woes." The producers closed the show on January 17, 2010, stating that the "economic realities of Broadway today" did not allow them to play for as long as they had hoped. The production sold approximately two-thirds of its seats for the 15-week run. Garth Drabinsky offered to try to rescue the revival and secure Canadian tour commitments, but the producers rejected his proposal. The show

1960-476: The sharecroppers off. The next morning, Og meets Sharon and shyly confesses his feelings for her ("Something Sort of Grandish"). Sharon is in love with Woody, however, and Finian slyly prevents Woody from leaving for New York by making him suspect that another man is pursuing Sharon. The sharecroppers celebrate the unofficial betrothal of Sharon and Woody (" If This Isn't Love "). Og arrives and tells Finian he loves Sharon. He also warns Finian not to make wishes near

2009-492: The sheriff. The sheriff begins the auction, but the sharecroppers refuse to listen and drag him and Collins off to meet Woody ("This Time of Year"). As they leave, an elderly Irishman called Finian McLonergan arrives with his daughter Sharon. They have come looking for Rainbow Valley, but Sharon misses their home in Ireland (" How Are Things in Glocca Morra "). Finian explains to Sharon that American millionaires convert their wealth into gold and bury it near Fort Knox. He concludes it

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2058-642: The song's title was taken for the name of the band Glocca Morra . Several pubs around the world have been called Glocca Morra, including one in New York, one in Milwaukee and one in Caherdrina outside Mitchelstown. Burton Lane Burton Lane ( né Levy ; February 2, 1912 – January 5, 1997) was an American composer and lyricist primarily known for his theatre and film scores. His most popular and successful works include Finian's Rainbow in 1947 and On

2107-417: The writing of and sings "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?" and "When I'm Not Near the Girl I Love," as well as singing "Don't Pass Me By," a song cut from the show. A recording of the original cast of the 1960 Broadway production, starring Jeannie Carson, Howard Morris, Biff McGuire, Carol Brice, Sorrell Booke and Bobby Howes was released on RCA Victor LSO-1057. The 1963 Reprise Musical Repertory Theatre ,

2156-574: Was a particular favorite of President John F. Kennedy , as was Finian's Rainbow . The song was transposed by Scotland the What? about their fictional Aberdeenshire village Auchterturra in "How Are Things in Auchterturra?" In the movie Party Monster , Seth Green 's character, James Saint James, makes a reference to the perfect sentence: "Last night, I dreamt of Glocca Morra...again." (The reference parodies: "Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again",

2205-535: Was also made into a film starring Fred Astaire and Petula Clark , directed by Francis Ford Coppola , in 1968. In 2004 and 2016 the Irish Repertory Theatre staged an Off-Broadway production. New York's City Center Encores! series performed a critically acclaimed concert version of the musical in March 2009. Directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle, it starred Jim Norton and Kate Baldwin as Finian and Sharon, with Cheyenne Jackson as Woody and Jeremy Bobb as Og,

2254-415: Was definitely he who discovered her. (lyrics by Harold Adamson) (lyrics by Harold Adamson) (lyrics by Frank Loesser) (lyrics by E. Y. Harburg) (lyrics by Frank Loesser) (lyrics by E. Y. Harburg) (lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner) (lyrics by Harold Adamnson) (lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner) (lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner) [Listing only additional songs] Finian%27s Rainbow Finian's Rainbow

2303-547: Was knocked out by the little girl's voice (Lane played the audition piano for her), rushed upstairs and dragged Louis B. Mayer down to listen to her belt out some songs. Mayer was so impressed he ordered every writer, director and producer on the lot to hear her with the result that the audition, which began at 9 am, finished at 7:30 pm. Frances (Judy) was signed, and that was the start of her career. Because of circumstance, and contractual arrangements, Burton Lane didn't work with her again for seven years ( Babes on Broadway ), but it

2352-658: Was nominated for 2010 Tony Awards for Best Revival of a Musical , Best Actress in a Musical (Baldwin) and Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Fitzgerald) at the 64th Tony Awards . A fully staged London revival opened at the Union Theatre on February 12 – March 15, 2014. This production was directed by Phil Willmott and musically directed by Richard Baker, with choreography by Thomas Michael Voss, and starred James Horne as Finian, Christina Bennington as Sharon, Joseph Peters as Woody, Raymond Walsh as Og and Anne Odeke as Sister Anne and Rawkin's maid. The production later moved to

2401-442: Was nominated for a Tony as Best Featured Actor in a Musical at the 10th Tony Awards . In 1960, Herbert Ross directed and choreographed a cast that included Jeannie Carson , Bobby Howes , Howard Morris , Sorrell Booke , and Robert Guillaume . A third revival was staged by the company in 1967. Major revivals of the musical were rare until the 2009 Broadway revival, as the musical's criticisms of bigotry against Black people in

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