European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 26, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse Their songs by Jeremy Gerard new York times logic suggests you can t the Send. Hul Uhn did indic Uver Rule Adream Neil Simon who is unquestionably to most prolific playwright Broadway has produced in the second half of Tho 20lh a Colury. Has for some years dreamed of writing a musical with George and Ira Gershwin. But the Gershwin who wore no slouches on Broadway in the first half of lha of injury Aren t available go go died in 1937. Al Iho age of 38. Ira died four years ago this month Al Flag nevertheless Simon is Well into rewrites of a foggy Day. A new play set in the Early 1930s and studded by virtue of an extraordinary arrangement Wilh the Gershwin estate Wilh songs by Iho Gershwin. Simon Best known Lor his comedies and the recent Semi autobiographical trilogy of Brighton Beach memoirs Bitou blues and Tho still running Broadway sound has written the books of four successful musicals Lille me Sweet Charity promises promises and they re playing our song for which he wrote the Lynch. As Well. His collaborators have been by Coltman. Dorothy Fields Burl Bacharach Carolyn Leigh. Hal David and Marvin Hamlisch but in writing about his family Simon said he had found liberation in the past and a yearning to create the kind of tree spirited musicals Willen by the likes of Harry Ruby and Bert Kalmar. Colo Porter and of course the Gors wins a � something i pc wanted to do for a Long Lime Simon said in a Telephone interview from his los Angeles Home recently. I be been nuts As everyone else is Tor that music or As Long As i can remember. I wanted to write an original Story using the Gershwin songs about Lour months ago i won to the Gershwin people with the idea. They said wonderful and gave me the rights to everything except porgy and Bass and of thee i sing i excluded the songs that were used in my one and partly because this year is the 50th anniversary of Goorge Gershwin s death. Partly because of the recent discovery of a trove of unpublished Gershwin Ana in a Secaucus. . Warehouse and mostly because they just Don t write pm like they used to the Gershwin Are enjoying a tremendous resurgence in theater cabaret and opera. But the Gershwin estate has carefully controlled the uses o which that material has been put. Simon was pretty much Given carte Blanche. " i is True that the Gershwin family said Here s the catalogue " Ronald Blanc an attorney for the family. Said in a Telephone interview from los Angeles. We re still holding our breaths Over this thing. It s As much an adventure Lor us As it is for him " Simon s Gershwin musical is Sel in London with a Side trip to Vienna which is As much As he will say about it beyond Tho fact Ihal it lakes its Idle from foggy Day. A Gershwin number from Trie 937 George slovene film. Is Mac in distress discussions 3 c under Way for the show to have its premiere at the old Globe theater in san Diego Early next Spang and Lor a Broadway production to follow quickly Aller that in All likelihood the Broadway 3fev of a playwright Noll Simon is writing a musical with songs by George and Ira Gershwin. Production will be produced by Emanuel Azenberg who has been Simon s producer and close Friend Sinco 1972. Some of the of her songs to be included in the Snow Are they can t take thai away from me. Ems Mccabe you someone to watch Over to and do. A. Do though Azenberg suggested changing the till of Hal last song to Dieu. Dicu diem keeping with Broadway s current Penchan Lor things French Tho intention was to use both songs Hal had been us "1 in shows and Whoso that had to Simon said you could t exclude songs that Iii to really liked Iho Ideal a period piece to added Wilh Grig Iron Beach. Biloxi blues and fro Mcavay sound i found i was comfortable writing about the past. There s a certain Freedom Aboul shows like that the gaiety of Tup a 1 wanted Illo sound As if i wrote in with Ira and George i be tried to work the introduction of the song into the dialogue. Ii will have a cast of around 30 it s a bigger , certainly than i be Ever done Detoro " during the interview. Simon was reminded about a dream to had had of a marquee thai boasted. Book by Neil Simon. Music by George Gershwin lyrics by Ira Gershwin " actually Simon corrected it said music Liy George Gershwin Lynch by Ira Gershwin. Bonk by a Simon i would t have the effrontery to put my name Pirslin Hal company " top of the charts. Top of the charts. Top 10 singles or Jilom ? 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