MY FAVORITE YEAR Book by Joseph Dougherty. Music by Stephen Flaherty. Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. Based on the motion picture My Favorite Year courtesy of Turner Entertainment Company. Screenplay by Norman Steinberg & Dennis Palumbo. Story by Dennis Palumbo Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Broadway - 10 December, 1992 (37 perfs) SYNOPSIS A classic farce with a heart - and fencing - this adaptation of the film introduces Benjy Stone, a naive young television writer during the Golden Age of live 50s US television, to Alan Swann, a hard drinking, swash-buckling movie star from Hollywood. Assignment: keep the star sober for his guest spot on a live show, learn some lessons about life and love and, of course, get the girl. Simple. STORY Act One An eager young man in his mid-twenties appears, standing alone on an empty stage. This is Benjy Stone, who reveals that 1954 was not his best year. But it’s his favourite year - the year he made the jump from lowly assistant to freshman writer on television’s hottest show, ‘The King Kaiser Comedy Cavalcade.’ Suddenly, we hear the screams of a Stage Manager, and the stage transforms into Studio 6B of the RCA Building, five minutes before the live show is about to air in front of millions of viewers (“20 Million People”). We see the screaming producers, flying costumes, last minute rehearsals, and other chaos. We meet other important figures: King Kaiser, Sy Benson, Alice Miller, Herb Lee, and K.C. Downing. In the middle of it all, Benjy’s mother calls to remind him that he’s coming over for dinner tomorrow. The countdown continues until the show begins. It is now Monday morning at the RCA Building. Benjy delivers food and coffee for everyone in the writer’s room. They suddenly get the word that King Kaiser is coming down the hallway. Because of King’s superstitions, the food is hidden, and everyone tries to appear official and professional. King informs the writers that Martha Raye has cancelled her guest star appearance for the next week. Instead, it’s going to be Alan Swann, a swashbuckling actor. King wants a funny sketch written for Mr. Swann. As the other writers fight over what the sketch should be, Benjy steps out and tells us that he is destined to write the sketch for Alan Swann, because this man was his movie hero (“Larger Than Life”). Later, at the writers’ office, everyone is panicked - Alan Swann’s plane has landed but they can’t find him. King isn’t happy with any of the sketches. Benjy suddenly jumps in with a new sketch, pretending that Sy Benson actually came up with it. Sy goes along with it and all get involved (“Musketeer Sketch”). By the end, King is thrilled and Sy takes all the credit. The door flies open, and Alan Swann appears, extremely drunk, and promptly passes out cold. King wants to dump him, but Benjy defends Swann. After a bit of coaxing, King decides to give him one more chance, but he also puts Benjy personally in charge of him. He wants Swann at every rehearsal -- sober or else! Later at the Waldorf, K.C. and Benjy report to the office that everything is under control; Swann is tucked away in bed. Benjy asks her if she’s ever dreamed about being a star - she says no. He sweeps her off her feet, pretending that he’s Alan Swann and she’s Rita Hayworth, complete with an offstage chorus. They’re interrupted by the entrance of Benjy’s mom, Belle, and her Filipino husband, a former bantamweight boxer, Rookie Carroca. K.C. leaves the Waldorf while Belle makes herself at home. Benjy tries to get her to leave, but she makes him promise to invite Alan Swann to dinner. Benjy feels ashamed of his Filipino stepfather, but
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