Another Parade has Passed By

December 30, 2019 1:28 PM

Jerry Herman, American composer and lyricist, passed away on December 26, at age 88. He is probably best known for writing the scores for Hello, Dolly! and La Cage aux Folles, both of which won him Tony awards. He was a 2010 Kennedy Center Honoree, and received 2 Grammy Awards.

In addition to Hello, Dolly! and La Cage aux Folles, Herman also wrote the scores to 8 other musicals produced on Broadway, including Mame, Dear World and Mack & Mabel, as well as 5 off-Broadway musicals.

He was diagnosed HIV-positive in 1985, and has helped raise millions of dollars for AIDS research.

Broadway theatres will dim their marquee lights on January 7th, in honor of his life and work.

posted by still_wears_a_hat (12 comments total)

La Cage aux Folles! One of my favourite plays ever! I saw it with Peter Marshall in the lead. Almost every song had me thinking “oh, I know this one!” And “Song on the Sand” made me cry. I remember an interview where someone (Jerry Herman?) said they were worried how Song on the Sand would be received by the audience as it was one man singing a moving love song to another man. They sat in the audience to observe the reaction to it, and part way though the song, there was an older couple in front of them and the man reached for the woman’s hand. So they knew they’d be okay. [Sniff!]
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 2:25 PM on December 30, 2019 [1 favorite]

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posted by oneswellfoop at 2:39 PM on December 30, 2019

La Cage aux Folles! One of my favourite plays ever! I saw it with Peter Marshall in the lead

So did I! I love that play, and Jerry Herman for writing those songs, esp I Am What I Am.
posted by Orlop at 4:19 PM on December 30, 2019 [2 favorites]

There's one life
And there's no return and no deposit
One life, so it's time to open up your closet
Life's not worth a damn till you can say
"Hey world, I am what I am"

Indeed.

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posted by youarenothere at 5:17 PM on December 30, 2019 [4 favorites]

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posted by Katjusa Roquette at 7:24 PM on December 30, 2019

My favorite number.
posted by brookeb at 9:15 PM on December 30, 2019

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posted by mersen at 3:13 AM on December 31, 2019

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posted by camyram at 4:57 AM on December 31, 2019

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Before the parade passes by.
posted by gudrun at 6:59 AM on December 31, 2019

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posted by pjsky at 8:14 AM on December 31, 2019

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posted by BlahLaLa at 6:11 PM on December 31, 2019

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posted by allthinky at 1:42 PM on January 2, 2020