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Civic Light Opera eyes 'Doctor Doolittle' for '05
Alice T. Carter is the theater critic for the Tribune-Review. She can be reached via e-mail or 412-320-7808.
Plans are under way to launch an extensive national tour of "Doctor Doolittle" in June 2005 as Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera's season opener.
The musical with book, music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse follows the story line of the 1967 Oscar-winning film of the same title, featuring the adventures of a veterinarian who has broken the language barrier between humans and animals, and includes the Academy Award-winning song "Talk to the Animals." Among production plans is one to include animatronic animals created by the Jim Henson Creature Shop.
Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera is producing "Doctor Doolittle" in partnership with Columbia Artists Theatricals and The Nederlander Organization, both in New York City. Van Kaplan, executive producer for Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, has been serving as lead producer.
"It's a great family musical," Kaplan says. "It has an incredible song book with Academy Award-winning songs we know. Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera is always looking for shows parents can enjoy with their children, and this one fills that void."
The production that's expected to open here would be the American premiere of a new, revised version of the "Doctor Doolittle" musical that began a yearlong run in London's West End in 1998.
During a series of workshops and readings over the past two years, the book has been revised and songs from the 1967 film have been added, as well as one completely new song. A workshop reading of the musical was performed with students at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Drama during the past year.
Although the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera Web site says "Doctor Doolittle" will open the 2005 season, Kaplan says that's not yet a certainty. "We are talking with a number of people who would like to do the show next summer," Kaplan says. "We plan to do whatever is best for the show."
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