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HINDENBURG--THE MUSICAL brings a new meaning to the words "crash and burn." This backstage musical farce shows the audition and rehearsal process a group of theatre folks go through as they get ready to present an (awful) Off-Broadway musicalization of the Hindenburg dirigible disaster. The cast of characters include an actress who is afraid of lesbians - a fear she can only control through regular doses of Prozac; an ingenue whose elevator doesn't go anywhere near the top floor; a leading man who sees himself as God's gift to women; a director who's more interested in developing a play of his own, a talented -and somewhat vengeful - actress who is sick of not getting cast in the best parts; an alimony-poor agent desperate for money; a former drag queen growing increasingly desperate for a starring turn; and a stage manager who seems to be the only person who knows what's going on. And burning Nazis! Songs include "Hydrogen," "My Nazi Schatzie," "A Good Captain Always Goes Down With the Blimp" (done ala Marlene Dietrich) and of course "Oh, the Humanity" (video below.) Original music by Joel Flowers.
"The musical numbers are obscene, purposely awful, and show-stoppingly wonderful. With songs like 'Hydrogen' you may never want to leave the theatre."
Andrés J. Wrath, Off-Off Broadway Review
"Oh, the Humanity" featuring David Mossey (Reporter,) Lawrence Merritt Maranville, Sarah Dawson, Bill Carter, Tanya Long, Rich Hotaling, Collin Warhaftig. Choreographed by Mary Ellen Nelligar, Lawrence Merritt Maranville and Rich Hotaling. Produced by Karen Yzquierdo Mills for Chameleon Productions, Inc. at Little Britain Grange, New Windsor, NY. Directed by Brian Petti with Mary Ellen Nelligar and Donna Polichetti, Musical Direction by Joel Flowers, Set Design by Kathryn Hunter Luciana.
OH, THE HUMANITY
(lyrics by Brian C. Petti, music by Joel Flowers)
(c) 1999 by Brian C. Petti/Joel Flowers
HERB MORRISON REPORTING, YOUR MAN ON THE BEAT
THE EYES AND THE EARS OF EV'RY JOE IN THE STREET
AT THE LANDING OF THE NAZIS LATEST MEMBER OF THE FLEET
I HOPE YOU CAN HEAR ME, IT'S AWFULLY LOUD
YOU CAN FEEL THE PULSE OF THIS NEW JERSEY CROWD
BOY ALL THOSE NAZIS SURE LOOK PROUD
WITH THE BEST THAT GERMAN KNOWHOW COULD PROVIDE
IT CROSSED THE ATLANTIC, ONE HECK OF A RIDE
TWO BIG FAT SWASTIKAS EMBLAZONED ON ITS SIDE
THREE FOOTBALL FIELDS LONG, A BREATHTAKING SPAN
WHOEVER BUILT THIS ONE MUST HAVE BEEN FREUDIAN
'CAUSE IT'S THE BIGGEST PHALLIC SYMBOL IN THE HISTORY OF MAN
BUT WAIT, WHAT'S THAT--A FIRE IN THE STERN
THE HINDENBURG'S FAILING, IT'S STARTING TO BURN
SAILORS HOLDING ONTO ROPES, PEOPLE PLUNGING FROM THE HEIGHTS
THE AIR IS IN FLAMES, I'VE NEVER SEEN SUCH A SIGHT
OH, THIS IS TERRIBLE, IT'S MORE THAN I CAN BEAR
HOW OFTEN DOES A ZEPPELIN EXPLODE IN MID-AIR?
(NOT TOO OFTEN...)
THIS IS MY CHANCE TO BE A GIANT AMONG MEN
MY FAME AND MY FORTUNE COULD MULTIPLY BY TEN
AND I'LL NEVER HAVE TO COVER NEWS IN JERSEY EVER AGAIN
WHICH WAY SHOULD I TURN NOW, WHAT SHOULD I SAY?
USE JOURNALISTIC CAUTION, GIVE CALM PLAY BY PLAY?
NO! IF YOU WANT TO BE REMEMBERED, OVERSTATEMENT'S THE ONLY WAY
OH, THE DRAMA! OH, THE SPECTACLE! OH, THE HUMANITY!
OH, THE HUMANITY, AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED
THE DARKEST DAY IN HISTORY, THIS DAY WILL LIVE IN INFAMY
OH, THE HUMANITY, A VISION OF HELL ON EARTH
WORST MISHAP IN HISTORY, A MODERN ROAD TO CALVARY
AN UNFORSEEN CALAMITY, AN ODE TO FLAMMABILITY,
THE AGONY AND ECSTASY, LIKE ILIAD AND ODYSSEY,
A GRECO-ROMAN TRAGEDY
THE WHOLE WORLD WILL REMEMBER ME
LET'S HEAR IT FOR HYPERBOLE
OH, THE HUMANITY