Beach Blanket Babylon

Template:Short description Template:Infobox musical Steve Silver's Beach Blanket Babylon was the world's longest-running musical revue. The show began its run in 1974, at the Savoy Tivoli and later moved to the larger Club Fugazi in the North Beach district of San Francisco.

The show was created by Steve Silver (1944–1995) along with sisters, native San Franciscans, Roberta and Nancy Bleiweiss. The three started on the streets of San Francisco. Nancy was the star of the show, created her characters and wrote all her own dialogue for all her characters for The Valentine Show (which preceded BBB at the Savoy Tivoli) in Beach Blanket Babylon and Beach Blanket Babylon Goes Bananas, Roberta was the show's manager, Associate Director, Promotion and Publicity Director, Box Office Manager (She made the original tickets for the show (that performed at the Savoy Tivoli) on a copy machine, cut them with scissors and sold the tickets for $2.50 from her home, as a make-shift box office. She then took the tickets to the Tivoli and sold tickets at the door before getting ready to also be a performer in the original show), procured sponsors for the original shows, did the accounting and wrote checks and also performed in the original shows at Savoy Tivoli, Olympus, Dance Your Ass Off and Club Fugazi.

The character of Snow White did not appear in the original shows. It wasn't until the two sisters were no longer in the show that the show title changed to Beach Blanket Babylon Goes to the Stars. <ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and continued since 1995 under the direction of Steve Silver's widow, Jo Schuman Silver,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with frequent changes and spoofs of pop and political culture. Performers wear disproportionately large hats/wigs and gaudy costumes while performing satirical renditions of popular songs.

On April 17, 2019, Jo Schuman Silver announced to the staff that the show would be closing on New Year's Eve.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Plot summary

The original Beach Blanket Babylon (started in 1974) and Beach Blanket Babylon Goes Bananas (that started in 1975) evolved from the street group that Roberta and Nancy Bleiweiss and Steve Silver performed on the streets of San Francisco during the early 70s when street artists made a living performing.'Beach Blanket Babylon Goes to the Stars' did not start until the late 70s. It follows Snow White as she takes a fast-paced journey around the world in search of her "Prince Charming". Along the way she encounters a large group of figures from popular culture, who together perform satirical songs. Figures lampooned include politicians and political figures from the San Francisco, California and U.S. governments, film and television stars, famous singers and athletes, and others who have been in the news. Also present are long-running characters such as Glinda the Good Witch,<ref name="ca-hubler9"/> Mr. Peanut, Louis XIV, Oprah Winfrey, James Brown, Tina Turner, Carmen Miranda, Elvis Presley, a band of dancing French Poodles, and Snow White's tour guide, a female narrator who takes on several incarnations from an Italian pizza lady to a cowgirl.

Reviews

The show was described as "A constant cascade of showstoppers" by the San Francisco Chronicle in 2010.<ref name="SFGate.com">Template:Cite web</ref>

Awards and accolades

In 1996, the 600 block of Green Street, between Columbus Avenue and Powell Street, was renamed "Beach Blanket Babylon Boulevard" in honor of Steve Silver.<ref>"Resolution commending Steve Silver's work and philanthropy and urging the Mayor to urge the Directors of Parking and Traffic and Public Works to designate all of the 600 block of Green Street as 'Beach Blanket Babylon Boulevard'." City of San Francisco Resolution #1089-95, December 18, 1995, File 75–95–1.1. Journal of proceedings, the minutes of the Board of Supervisors, City and County of San Francisco, Sep.–Dec 1995, p. 897.</ref><ref name="Rowe">Template:Cite news</ref>

Christopher Goodwin, in costume as a member of the Beach Blanket Babylon cast, at opening of the *Tales of The City* musical, 2011

Final production team

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Steve Silver (Creator)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Jo Schuman Silver (Producer, Writer)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Kenny Mazlow (Director, Writer, Choreographer)
Michael Anderburg (Stage Manager, Lighting Designer)
Tom Schueneman (Sound Designer, Audio Engineer)
Jayne Serba (Costume Shop Manager, Additional Costume Design/Construction)
Mark Reina (Assistant Director, Choreographer)
Matthew James (Prop/Hat Construction, Technical Assistant)
Bill Keck (Music Director/Conductor, Musical Arrangements)

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Former cast and alumni

Jeffrey Scott Adair 1988–1989 (performer, hat maker)
Michael Benbrook, 1986–1993 (performer) – King Louis XIV<ref name="SFGate.com 1">Template:Cite web</ref>
Nancy Bleiweiss, 1974–1977 (performer) – Carmen Miranda, Opera divas, Glinda the Good Witch<ref name="SFGate.com 2">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="ca-hubler9"/>
Bill Kendall, 1974-1982 (performer) - Superman, John Travolta Sat Night Fever, The Original Mr. Peanut.
Roberta Bleiweiss, 1974–1977 (Associate Director, Manager, accountant, Promotion and Publicity Director, procurer of major sponsors and creator of her character and performer)<ref name="laa_fall08">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Lowell Alumni Association, Fall 2008: "Roberta Bleiweiss, Class of 1965 — Inducted 1992 Always described as a Renaissance woman, Roberta began producing and creating shows while attending San Francisco public schools. One of the original collaborators of Beach Blanket Babylon, she also marketed, managed, directed, and performed in the original hit shows. Other film, theatrical, and event credits include Indiana Jones, Tucker, Penn and Teller, Smuin Ballets/SF, Dame Edna, The Fantasticks, and countless others. Roberta revitalized the LAA, served as president from 1982–1987, and is a current member of the board of directors. Educator and head of student government, activities, GATE, and Visual and Performing Arts at San Francisco’s Wallenberg High School."</ref><ref name="ca-hubler9">Template:Cite web</ref>
John Bush, 1980–1981 (performer)
Hayden Hicks, 1983–1985 (performer) Mahatma Gandhi
Robert Danielson - 1985-2005 -(Drummer)- Beach Blanket Babylon in San Francisco and London Tour
Val Diamond, 1979–2009 (performer) – Alexis Carrington Colby, Gidget, Mahatma Gandhi, Queen Elizabeth II, Jewish mother, Marie Antoinette, French whore, "San Francisco" Finale Chanteuse<ref name="SFGate.com 3">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sandy Flavin 1981-1984 Understudy to Val Diamond and Susan Parks (1981-1983) Performer 1984–1985. Was the youngest performer to be hired up to 1981.
Glenda Glayzer, 1975–1979 (performer) - AM I BLUE
Ed Goldfarb, 1995–2005 (music director)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Christopher Goodwin, 2005-2007 2011-2019 (performer) Donald Trump, Armistead Maupin, Princess Leia, Mr. Peanut
Alan Greenspan, 1978– Hat-Maker (Finale Hats Creator/Executor, Special Effects, Props)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Brent Holland, 1984-1990 1998–2000, (performer) - King Louis XIV
Ben Jones, 2008-2009 (performer) – Elvis, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, Michael Phelps, Arnold Schwarzenegger
Teresa Leonard, 1980–1981 (performer)
Chris March, 1990–2000? (costume/hat/wig designer; performer) – Elizabeth Taylor, Wonder Woman, Monica Lewinsky<ref name="SFGate.com 4">Template:Cite web</ref>
Dani Marcus (performer)- Snow White
Anna Bergman (performer)
Ellyn Marie Marsh, 2002–2003 (performer) – Barbra Streisand, Britney Spears, Hillary Clinton, Pineapple Princess
Stirland Martin, 1993-2004 (performer) - James Brown, Witch Doctor, French Poodle, Willie Brown, Prince, Mike Tyson, DIddy, Nutcracker
Armistead Maupin, 1974 (writer)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Tony Michaels, 1974 (performer) – Beach Blanket Babylon at Club Olympus
Tony Michaels, 1975–1978 (performer) – Beach Blanket Babylon Goes Bananas!
Skye Dee Miles <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Shoni Mero (performer) Hillary Clinton<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Monique Motil (costumer)
Robin Murray stage manager 1980-1988<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Jeff Robertson, 1980–1981 (performer)
Rick Roemer, 1977–1979 (performer) – Beach Blanket Babylon Goes to the Stars!
Jill Shutt, 1989–1992 (Val Diamond's understudy)
Paul Thomas (director), 1974 (performer) - Beach Blanket Babylon in San Francisco
Ledisi Young, 1990–2001 (performer)<ref name="SFGate.com 5">Template:Cite web</ref>
Richard Waits (performer)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Adam Savage (stagehand)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Tours

Two tours were produced, in London<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Las Vegas, in celebration of Beach Blanket's 20th and 25th anniversaries. The show also has a smaller touring cast that caters primarily to corporate events and parties around the world.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

London:

Val Diamond
Doug Magpiong
Tony Stroh
Erica Wyman
Dana Adkins
Tony Tripoli
Renee Lubin
Cristina VanValkenburg
Lisa Burnett Bossi
Stirland Martin
Kenny Mazlow
Robert Danielson (musician)

Las Vegas:

Jeffrey Scott Adair (performer)
Shelley Werk (performer)
David Reynolds (performer)
Kenny Mazlow (performer)
John Paul Almon (performer)
Robin Cohen (performer)
Patrick Reese (performer)
Richard Pardini (performer)
Robert Hempstead (performer)
Janice Sands (performer)
Joan Benson (performer)
Stuart May (performer)
Wanda Houston (performer)
Sylvia MacCalla (performer)
Holly Vonk (performer)
Clay Adkins (performer)
Jacqui Marshall (performer)
Diane Ellis (performer)
Richie Sacks (performer)