"Through Curly's Eyes"

Opening July 19, we have a new entry into the "stage and screen" category: "Through Curly's Eyes", from Green Bay's Let Me Be Frank Productions. As a writer and theatrical producer myself, I'm very intrigued about the dramatic possibilities of the team's earliest days.

The same company, you might remember, supplies actors for trolley tours of the Packers Heritage Trail around Green Bay.

The photo of three Packers in their sepia-toned blues is a nice image, even if the text could use some work (there's no apostrophe in "Packers", fellows).

Unfortunately, information about "Through Curly's Eyes" is scant and somewhat contradictory online. The show is described on its ticket service page this way:

A little bit of history and a lot of laughs are the best ways to describe this Let Me Be Frank show. Learn about the Pack and take the tour in downtown Green Bay from 1919 to 1950. But this isn't just any tour - it's through Curly's eyes! Join us for this all-original show with original songs written by Cliff Christl!

Songs by Cliff Christl, the former Green Bay Press-Gazette and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writer who covered the Packers from 1974-2007? Creator of the Packers Heritage Trail? Count me in!

I think they might mean the "all-original show" is written by Cliff Christl, with some original songs added in. The production company's site describes it this way:

Nobody really knew Curly Lambeau, but he is probably the best known person from Green Bay. He started the franchise and the stadium is named after him. Known as a ladies man and a braggart, Let me be Franks takes you back to the 1932 season and the great stories of Cliff Christl. You will laugh and remember the glory days before Lombardi. July 19th through August 17th at the Meyer Theatre!

Also on the company's site, but on the "Show Schedule" page, we have this summary:

Nicolet Bank and Let me be Franks present a little bit of history and a lot of laughs with the new musical about Curly Lambeau. Learn about the Pack and take a tour of downtown Green Bay and the Packers from 1932-1934. But this isn't just any tour – it’s through Curly’s eyes! Join us for this all-original show with stories from Cliff Christl!

So now we have three different settings: '1919 to 1950", "the 1932 season" and "1932-1934". It's also a bit hazy as to how Cliff Christl and the Packers Heritage Trail factor into this production. Christl may have written the show or it may just be based on his stories. The show is branded with the trail's name over the title, and the press materials lean heavily on the word "tour", but they don't seem to have anything in common other than the actors they've already been using as guides. "Tour" here seems more likely to have the more poetic "stroll-through-history" meaning than the literal trolley jaunts. We could really use a proper press release to clear this up.

Think of it, though: site-specific/environmental theatre, with historical scenes performed at the actual locations where the events happened! Sounds like fun, but I don't think that's what they have in store.

This report in the Green Bay Press-Gazette might clear it up:

Packers history explored through new musical

For Let Me Be Frank Productions' latest show, "The Packers Heritage Trail: Through Curly’s Eyes," the group travels all the way back to the 1932 season of the Green Bay Packers and Curly Lambeau.

Set to popular tunes from the '40s and '50s, the musical begins in the old Hagemeister Park where Curly is declaring to his future wife that he’ll conquer the world, and continues along the story of the fund-lacking Packers chasing a title, just trying to stay financially afloat.

In addition to the show, Let Me Be Frank and C&M Marketing are putting together trolley tours of the Packers Heritage Trail hosted by one of the cast members.

That seems to indicate that the musical at the Meyer Theatre is a separate project, related only by the actors the two have in common.

The same Press-Gazette offers this publicity photo, giving us a better look at the uniforms.

That's definitely not the 1932 uniform: in 1932, the Packers were wearing plain blue jerseys as seen at right (with large numbers on the back). They do look like pretty decent reproductions of the Packers' 1929-30 uniforms, made famous via the throwback uniforms worn in 2000 and in 2011 and which will be revived this season. Can't really fault the costume designer for going with the more distinctive numbered jerseys, even if they aren't strictly period.

Looking again at Let Me Be Frank Productions's site, we can piece together some information on the cast, at least those three pictured above. Perhaps the numbers can also give us some insight into which characters might make appearances.

That's company founder and namesake Frank Hermans as Curly Lambeau in the center. He looks good in the part, too. Although Lambeau wore many numbers during his playing career (and remains so far the only man to wear #1), 20 was his number in 1929. Lambeau retired after the 1930 season.

On the right is Jack Janowicz. I don't know who he's playing; number 14 was issued to back Paul Fitzgibbon in 1932, although today it's most remembered for legend Don Hutson, who wore it from 1935 through 1945 and for whom it was retired in 1951.

The other player is played by Paul Evansen, although I can't make out his number. Perhaps he's playing Johnny "Blood" McNally (who wore #20 in '32); by all accounts Johnny Blood was a colorful character to justify a musical of his own life, and should at least feature prominently in a show about those Big Bay Blues Glory Days.

"Through Curly's Eyes" runs July 19th through August 17th at the Meyer Theatre in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Tickets are available at the Resch Center box office, at ticketstaronline.com or by calling 1-800-895-0071.

So Close... The NFL's "Evolution" Commercial

The NFL's highly-touted safety commercial made its debut in the during the Super Bowl, backed with a very cool website.

It encapsulates the history of the NFL, and its safety innovations, by following a punt return that runs forward through the decades from the sport's early days to the modern era.

If you haven't seen it, YouTube can oblige:



The Packers make two appearances in the commercial, once on offense and once on defense.

The first appearance spans the 1940s:

That's an actor playing Hall of Famer and Packer legend Tony Canadeo with the ball. Nicknamed the "Gray Ghost" for his prematurely graying hair, Canedeo joined the Packers in 1941, and played through 1952, making him a perfect pick to run with the ball through this decade.

He's wearing Curly Lambeau's classic blue and gold uniform, with the shoulder yoke.

The camera tracks "Canadeo" and booms up, giving us a great look at his uniform.

Anybody notice the problem yet? The shoulder yoke is a bit pointy at the end, but that's forgivable. The inaccuracy I'm looking at is much larger. Think about it. and we'll come back to it in a few minutes.

As he runs towards the end of the decade, the leather helmet falls away to reveal a plastic shell (adopted by the Packers in 1950).

It sprouts a chinstrap, and away we go into the dawn of the 1950s. CUT TO: a ground-level shot of the Gray Ghost as he runs into, and over, a Philadelphia defender.

Note the green stripe on his gold helmet. Our runner puts his hand to the dirt to steady himself, and when he takes his next step, it's a new era and a new player, as Canadeo is replaced with a Los Angeles Ram.

And there we have it, the latest appearance of the Lambeau-era Green Bay Packers on the screen.

It's a clever commercial, but how accurate is it in terms of the Blue and Gold? The answer is: fairly, but not completely. Did you notice the historical error in Canadeo's uniform?

If not, I'll give you a clue: stripes.

Lambeau's 1940s uniform never included stripes on the gold pants.

Note also the rounded end on the shoulder yoke.

Now let's look at the second uniform, the plastic-helmeted 1950s-era blue, gold and green.

I don't know that the Packers ever wore these pants in the post-Lambeau era, but I'm not quite so comfortable saying "never" as the 1950s were such a back and forth, mix-and-match era in Green Bay's history.

I am pretty confident that they wore the green-striped gold lid with their blue uniform tops (but perhaps not those tops; Curly's solid-blue alternate (introduced in 1949) definitely saw occasional use in the following seasons, but I'm not sure about the gold yokes.

So there you have it. Two Packer uniforms, one from the 1940s and one from the 1950s, each with a generally decent sense of authenticity that misses a few details. Really, guys, you could have just called me.

Next up, we'll take a look at the second Packer appearance in this commercial, featuring defense, green jerseys and a very frustrated Coach Lombardi.

"LOMBARDI" at the Rep Opens Tonight!

Tonight, the Milwaukee Rep opens its production of Eric Simonson's LOMBARDI.

This postcard was sent to me by my stepfather, who's been a Rep subscriber for decades. I was thrilled to see that the card was designed by the New York-based designer Todd Edward Ivins, with whom I've had the privilege of working many times. He's been a scenic designer on many of my productions, and they've always been the better for his involvement.

I hope to have a report on the Rep's production soon. It runs through November 13, so those in driving distance of downtown Milwaukee should buy tickets now!

LOMBARDI coming to Milwaukee

Milwaukeeans, you'll get your chance to see LOMBARDI.

Although the Broadway production has closed, Wisconsin theatre fans will be able to see a new production in October at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater.

This is great news; the Rep has consistently produced first-class work. Should be interesting to see what they can so with Simonson's play.

Company member Lee E. Ernst (right) will be taking the title role. Sanford Robbins will direct.

LOMBARDI is scheduled to run October 11 – November 13, 2011, joining Ten Chimneys, Next to Normal, To Kill a Mockingbird and Othello in The Rep's 2011-12 Powerhouse season. The Rep is currently selling season subscriptions, but hasn't yet started single-production ticket sales.

More details should be made available soon. Keep watching this space, or call (414) 224-9490 or visit www.milwaukeerep.com.

Winning Isn't Everything, but Being Nominated Is.

Well, I was right.

After the disapointing Tony Nominations snub, the producers of LOMBARDI producers have announced that the show will be closing on May 22nd. That will leave it with a grand total of 30 preview performances and 244 regular performances. A very respectable total—it's the only new drama from the beginning of the season to still be playing—but the show will still be missed. I know they had a small bump after the Super Bowl, but better representation among the nominees could have kept this show going.

I'm sorry to see this go, but glad that, after a few false starts, I finally had an opportunity to see it. If you're within traveling distance of New York, I'd recommend that you check it out. You'll be kicking yourself if you miss this one.

And the Tony Goes To...

The Tony Award nominations were announced today, and LOMBARDI was largely shut out. Judith Light has been nominated in the category of Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play.

This is very bad news for Lombardi—the box office has been sluggish, and I suspect that they've been holding on in the hopes of scoring some nominations, with the box office bump they provide.

I also think it's unfair. Light is superb as Marie Lombardi, but she's not alone in that. There is some sterling work being done eight shows a week at Circle in the Square.

Dan Lauria and Judith Light

Unfortunately, I suspect we'll see a closing notice soon. If you're interested in seeing LOMBARDI—and you should be—buy your tickets now.

LOMBARDI: The Show Starts in the Lobby

After a few fits and starts, I finally had an opportunity to see LOMBARDI on Broadway.

My parents were in New York for the birth of their granddaughter, and I took my stepfather to see it as a "thank-you" for all the help he's given us. I'll post a full review of the show itself soon, but I wanted to begin with a quick examination of the æsthetics of the theatre itself.

LOMBARDI is playing at the Circle in the Square Theatre on 50th Street between 8th Avenue and Broadway, right in the heart of midtown Manhattan's Theatre District.

The first thing one notices, approaching the building, is the 15-foot poster bearing the granite profile of Saint Vince.

Following the Super Bowl, the show's producers added the gold banner across the poster, proclaiming:

CONGRATS TO THE SUPER BOWL XLV CHAMPIONS: THE GREEN BAY PACKERS!
The Legacy Continues. See Where It All Began.

The shout-outs to the Packers continue at the door:

A flight of stairs takes us down to the lobby, decorated in the floor-to-ceiling photographs of past glory.

On one wall hang three game-worn jerseys. From left: Bart Starr; Ray Nitschke; and Jim Taylor.

The Starr and Nitschke jerseys are from the 1970s, es evidenced by the relatively short sleeves, mesh material and silkscreened sleeve stripes.

Nitschke's jersey also features his name across the back. NoBs were added to all NFL jerseys starting in 1970 as a condition of the NFL–AFL Merger.

The Taylor jersey is dated to 1966 and features the heavier durene material of Lombardi's era, as well as three-quarter sleeves and knit stripes.

Durene jerseys were made out of a heavy cotton or cotton/synthetic blend fabric treated with a chemical called durene, in the process making the fabric more durable and able to stand up better to the rigors of game use. It also gave the material its distincive heft and sheen.

Opposite the jerseys we find a display case containing rare gems from the glory days, including a game-worn Lombardi nylon sideline jacket.

They've also borrowed a relic from the Hall of Fame in Canton, a section of the Packers' bench from the last game Lombardi coached at Lambeau Field. December 31, 1967, otherwise known as the "Ice Bowl."

The bench had been "liberated" by Packers fan Bob Kaminski in the post-game scrum as all Northern Wisconsin celebrated their win over the Cowboys. Kaminski donated it to the Hall of Fame eight years later, where it has been on display in the "Enshrinee Mementos Room".

Lots of history on display downstairs at Circle in the Square.

All of this before we even enter the theatre.

Pushed Back

Reminder - LOMBARDI has its official opening at the Circle in the Square Theatre in midtown Manhattan this Thursday.

I had tickets to see it next week, but I'm hip-deep in rehearsals for my production of Paul Claudel's BREAK OF NOON at the Storm Theatre, and I just can't take a night off. Even for Vince.

My show (tickets on sale now!) runs through the end of November; hopefully I'll be able to see LOMBARDI before the general holiday craziness kicks in.