tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post5983114841121394721..comments2024-01-26T13:02:13.166-05:00Comments on Cleveland Centennial: Eden On The River (musical)pengohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06159516848217178336noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post-62114119123438019822023-06-14T11:28:25.953-04:002023-06-14T11:28:25.953-04:00You were Gampy! That's incredible. I don't...You were Gampy! That's incredible. I don't imagine they shared his fate with you when you were a child, it pretty tragic.pengohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06159516848217178336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post-3311126394669710912023-06-14T09:16:17.635-04:002023-06-14T09:16:17.635-04:00I was in the play for 2 years on the island, I thi...I was in the play for 2 years on the island, I think 88 and 89. The first year I played Gampy and the second I was in the chorus. I had such a good time doing this as a kid.Lukashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10995493281866852118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post-36133365609898549152023-04-17T18:32:27.690-04:002023-04-17T18:32:27.690-04:00Yes, The Ohio University production in 1974 was th...Yes, The Ohio University production in 1974 was the world premiere of "Eden on the River". Naturally, I thought it was just terrific! But admittedly, the show was too long, and over the years it was tightened several times by the trio that created Eden. (John Lee, Genevieve Greene, & Joyce Ancrile.) Some of the melodies we heard (and whistled as we drove home) during that production were later set aside to be considered for a prequel in the future. the production was actually taped using Sony early video - a very fragile technology that is no longer in existence, and I know of only two places, in New York and in Los Angeles, that might be able to convert it to today's technology. For a small fortune, I should add. The problem is the tapes didn't last, and playing it could erase the entire production. LGreenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07929542849724435823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post-71013814741553053752022-04-10T17:22:35.302-04:002022-04-10T17:22:35.302-04:00That sounds about right, very cool!That sounds about right, very cool!pengohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06159516848217178336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post-28912559580567304132022-04-10T10:17:34.059-04:002022-04-10T10:17:34.059-04:00I played trumpet for what I believe may have been ...I played trumpet for what I believe may have been the premier of the show, Ohio University Summer Theater 1974.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03878444236710633302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post-25598403356090414012021-10-31T22:30:03.023-04:002021-10-31T22:30:03.023-04:00Got to visit the island again this year! Remarkabl...Got to visit the island again this year! Remarkable memories.pengohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06159516848217178336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post-40309517804377294152021-10-30T13:22:29.326-04:002021-10-30T13:22:29.326-04:00I was in the chorus as a tenor in Athens in 1976. ...I was in the chorus as a tenor in Athens in 1976. What a labor of love as the original production was still being modified, sliced, diced and adjusted as we practiced. Like changing the wheels on the bus while it was moving.<br />We performed to standing room audiences each night in a theatre in the round at Ohio Univ. Theatre Department. <br />Quite an experience. <br />I had one line in the play. Ha!<br />I am glad I found this posting. Cheers.Bill Barrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01600004657521974747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post-3657398593679711022021-08-18T15:31:20.347-04:002021-08-18T15:31:20.347-04:00This was a pleasant surprise. I learned about it ...This was a pleasant surprise. I learned about it at the Foundation meeting today. It's really nice to know that people still fondly remember the show. I hope you are well. I'm still kicking too. Lots of love to you and your family, Joycejoyce ancrilenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post-33856133441598458942020-08-21T17:36:12.526-04:002020-08-21T17:36:12.526-04:00Thank you for posting about Eden!
Laura,
daughter...Thank you for posting about Eden!<br />Laura, <br />daughter of Judy Greene<br />San Diego, CALGreenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07929542849724435823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post-64553185014922296492020-08-21T17:28:46.464-04:002020-08-21T17:28:46.464-04:00She was a marvel at just transposing on the spot! ...She was a marvel at just transposing on the spot! Ok, Comfort - are you ready to belt out "your" song for all of us?<br />LauraLGreenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07929542849724435823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post-37331676259307243892020-08-21T17:24:05.600-04:002020-08-21T17:24:05.600-04:00I do remember the song "Gampy"! I often ... I do remember the song "Gampy"! I often listen to it. I'll see if I can post it here for you. Just keep in mind the quality of the original cassette is limited. <br />Oh yes, it would definitely be FANTASTIC if Lin-Manuel Miranda crossed the path of the Blennerhassetts and Burrs here, and discovered the musical has already been written about Burr, at least covering a few of his post Vice President days. <br />I should say multiple musicals - almost every year "Eden on the River" was edited, with new songs put in, old songs taken out, scripts tightened up and made shorter, etc. As an outdoor musical, certain things had to be taken into consideration, such as building a huge platform for Judy to direct from on high, and the fact that every night 3 peacocks (Margaret, Harmon, and Aaron?) landed on the chimney, often drowning out the overture with their own "songs". The orchestra had to be taped prior to the production- the instruments were too at risk to be outside with the river's high humidity. The excavated foundation and rebuilt mansion offered the exact spots where the Burrs and Blennerhassetts stood almost 200 years prior. The production returned us all to the beginning of our country, our states of West Virginia (Virginia in those years) and Ohio, and a moment in time that had a hand in our future.<br /> When the show had to be moved to the Smoot theater in Parkersburg, it was edited again to adapt it to an indoor theater setting. The final version is from 1994, as I recall, and can be still be produced. The songs that were removed from the original productions were set aside with the hope of one day writing a prequel. Sadly, it wasn't to be. But maybe one day another trio will come along and write the prequel's script and adapt the score and lyrics. Any takers?<br /> Eden, and all it's original scores and scripts, currently reside in my home. I have spent 20 years trying to make sure everything is preserved. As I said that, I just realized my husband and daughters have also lived with "Eden on the River" in their midst many years! Thankfully they love Eden too....<br />Laura Greene<br />Daughter of Genevieve Greene,<br /> Composer, "Eden on the River"<br />San Diego, CALGreenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07929542849724435823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post-80487099203124868922020-08-21T17:10:01.958-04:002020-08-21T17:10:01.958-04:00Oh, yeah! So good.Oh, yeah! So good.pengohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06159516848217178336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post-55636154164570958372020-08-21T17:02:52.839-04:002020-08-21T17:02:52.839-04:00Fun fact. The previous Comfort Tyler was a true ba...Fun fact. The previous Comfort Tyler was a true bass but I’m a tenor. Judy reworked the song I sing for my range. Easy peasy.Michael Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13310966971832551320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post-33245091432893468652020-08-21T16:22:16.909-04:002020-08-21T16:22:16.909-04:00I remember your dad well! How wonderful your whol...I remember your dad well! How wonderful your whole family joined him on stage. I'm so glad you care about the musical, and have fond memories. That would mean so much to John Lee, the playwright, Genevieve Greene, the composer, both of whom have left us, and Joyce Ancrile, the lyricist, with whom I correspond now and then. Thank you so much for your post!LGreenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07929542849724435823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post-47911249350429738102020-08-21T16:17:37.209-04:002020-08-21T16:17:37.209-04:00Hi there - the lyrics, "Red Shoes Are Too Pre...Hi there - the lyrics, "Red Shoes Are Too Pretty To Rot at the Bottom of the Sea" are from the song "Strip Off", a song that foretells the at-sea tragic loss of Burr's daughter Theodosia and her son. It was originally a part of the Revelation Ballet, that foretells the tragedies of the Blennerhassetts and Burrs. <br /> Yes, numerous soundtracks of Eden on the River exist.... of sorts. A cassette was made of some of the early songs of Eden, including most of those used in the Ohio University's 1974 Premiere of the musical. I also have a number of early cassettes of various people rehearsing the songs, or performing them during a show, or for early benefits that raised funds to bring Eden to the stage. Some were taped in our living room, some taped by professionals. And then there is one that is very special to me - though they all are - it is a cassette tape of my mother, sitting at the piano, solo, playing the early songs of Eden. She was asked to make this cassette so that the singers could more easily learn her often vocally difficult songs. It makes me smile, listening to her play, all those years ago, and I find myself laughing as I remember her telling me during such times she couldn't always quite recall exactly which note she composed for this lyric, or that. Listening to her play her own music brings her back to us....<br />I'll see if I can get "Strip Off" posted here. Unfortunately, I don't always know who the singer is, nor the year it was taped. I've had most of the cassette tapes digitized, but unfortunately the sound quality isn't always the best.<br />Laura<br />Daughter of Genevieve Greene (Judy)<br />Composer, "Eden on the River"<br />San Diego, CALGreenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07929542849724435823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post-72989280120403661012020-08-21T12:50:30.597-04:002020-08-21T12:50:30.597-04:00I was Comfort Tyler in ‘89. Fun times.
Michael Tho...I was Comfort Tyler in ‘89. Fun times.<br />Michael ThompsonMichael Thompsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13310966971832551320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post-4356608449644337632020-08-21T02:57:45.704-04:002020-08-21T02:57:45.704-04:00Hello, Laura! Please email me if you would at heat...Hello, Laura! Please email me if you would at heatheruth@gmail.com. I would love to discuss the possibility of getting digitized copies of your vhs tapes for our family’s archive. My dad played Harmann for years, my first theatrical role was Gampy at age 7, and my whole family were all players together one summer! That musical is an absolute treasure, and one of the greatest parts of our family’s young life together!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13861803882662578843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post-46579531959479861252020-07-07T17:59:05.368-04:002020-07-07T17:59:05.368-04:00Do you recall a song that Aaron Burr sings to his ...Do you recall a song that Aaron Burr sings to his grandson Gampy? I want to revisit it because I think it's a similar theme to Dear Theodosia. Wouldn't it be cool if Lin-Manuel Miranda stumbled upon Eden on the River in his research and was inspired by it?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01665041352557798929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post-10147116832616430932020-07-07T17:55:44.497-04:002020-07-07T17:55:44.497-04:00My father, Mark Owen Davis, did a couple of season...My father, Mark Owen Davis, did a couple of seasons on the island and then a couple more years when it moved to the Smoot Theater in Parkersburg. Our entire five-person family joined him on stage during the theater years. Great musical, and I have so many fond memories!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01665041352557798929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post-58420055630367655192020-07-01T15:56:03.666-04:002020-07-01T15:56:03.666-04:00Hi Kelley! I think I have a cassette somewhere fro...Hi Kelley! I think I have a cassette somewhere from the first year the show was performed on the island. Regertfully, the VHS I had froze as I was trying to digitize it -- what is included here is one of the few complete musical numbers I was able to generate.pengohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06159516848217178336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post-47029043636614035502020-07-01T15:54:47.698-04:002020-07-01T15:54:47.698-04:00Hi, Laura! I think notification of comments on my ...Hi, Laura! I think notification of comments on my blog go the spam folder, so I am only seeing this now. Thanks for the details, it was such a big show and I have many fond memories of participating. Thanks for checking in!pengohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06159516848217178336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post-72412119560436962422019-06-07T01:17:47.313-04:002019-06-07T01:17:47.313-04:00Laura,I saw a production of "Eden on the Rive...Laura,I saw a production of "Eden on the River" performed by OVST( I think) in Athens, Ohio when I was a child. Does a soundtrack exist? I especially recall a song about Theodosia Burr Alston, with the lyric , "Red shoes are too pretty to rot at the bottom of the sea."<br /> Ms Kelley Jarvis alanwench@gmail.comKelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02419479566373124600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post-58296805503780353782019-04-05T11:45:33.752-04:002019-04-05T11:45:33.752-04:00If my mother (Judy) could read your your comment, ...If my mother (Judy) could read your your comment, she'd be so happy to know all these years later you and your family love Eden, and still enjoy the memories.LGreenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07929542849724435823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post-51317586350589745912019-02-21T18:05:25.769-05:002019-02-21T18:05:25.769-05:00I'm Laura, the daughter of Genevieve "Jud...I'm Laura, the daughter of Genevieve "Judy" Greene, Eden's composer. I'm delighted to see your blog and additional responses above! The video clip brought back wonderful memories. Actually, Eden did continue for several more years, into the 1990s, but the productions had to take place off of the island, at the Smoot Theater in Parkersburg. And far from being mothballed, the many scores sit in my home in California, along with many of John Lee's scripts. I walk past them routinely, and hear the productions in my head. I can even see in my mind's eye my mother sitting at her piano in the 1970s, her music emerging from her mind to her fingertips as they flew over the keys. I also have many of her cassette tapes of the music, which I've also had professionally digitized to preserve the music. I've also had several of the VHS tapes of the performances professionally digitized, limited somewhat by the graininess of earlier technology. Eden awaits opportunity, even if only via a piano or orchestra playing its music once again, or lovely voices giving life to Joyce's lyrics to Genevieve's music. <br />"Eden on the River" was the culmination of the work of not just the trio who wrote it, but the actors, singers, dancers, crew, costumers, set designers, musicians, townspeople, audiences - literally hundreds and hundreds of people, all dedicated to making the musical about Burr and Blennerhassett come alive. <br />LGreenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07929542849724435823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-422433941454188290.post-28161423714358205822018-10-13T17:29:34.818-04:002018-10-13T17:29:34.818-04:00My husband did several seasons as Harman, firstbou...My husband did several seasons as Harman, firstbour daughter, then our son played Gampy. I truly loved that musical. Memories.vocellohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00961749497567799213noreply@blogger.com