Local ‘A Night With Janis Joplin’ Creators Talk of Musical Icon’s Impact
left, with writer and director Randy Johnson taken at the opening of “A Night With Janis Joplin” at Broadway’s Lyceum Theatre. Lyn Hughes photo
By Michael Hopkins
On Aug. 8, 1970, Janis Joplin provided Westchester County with two house-rocking performances at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester.
Two months later, on Oct. 4, Joplin passed away, leaving millions of fans wanting more music, performances and magic from the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
More than 30 years later, two Westchester residents have come together to reintroduce Joplin through the new Broadway sensation “A Night With Janis Joplin,” which premiered on Broadway last Thursday, Oct. 10. The production’s reviews call it an amazing journey through Joplin’s life, highlighted and brought together by her legendary music.
“We wanted to create a great show, which not only celebrates her music but also invites people to connect with Janis as a person, songwriter and performer,” said Todd Gershwin, the show’s co-producer and a Purchase resident.
Gershwin and business partner Daniel Chilewich of Armonk are responsible for producing “A Night With Janis Joplin.” Working with The Estate of Janis Joplin, they utilize their background in theater, events, concerts and multimedia to produce a crowd pleasing show about the iconic Joplin and her music influences.
Similar to Joplin’s concert at The Capitol Theatre, the new musical grew into a larger production that not only entertained but also created a unique connection between Joplin and audiences nationwide.
In 1970, in between shows in Port Chester, Joplin wrote one of her most famous songs, “Mercedes Benz” She took the stage less than an hour later and began to sing it a cappella with her band trying to join in. Joplin then recorded “Mercedes Benz” in studio on Oct. 1, three days before her death.
Gershwin and Chilewich set out to create the new Joplin production 40 years later, but appearing on Broadway was not their first objective.
“Our goal during our initial national tour was not to immediately bring this musical to Broadway, but to create a show that the audience would love, a musical story featuring one of the greatest legends in rock ‘n’ roll, and garner positive reviews, all of which we accomplished,” Chilewich said. “Ultimately, Broadway was the next logical step.”
“A Night With Janis Joplin” premiered in Portland, Ore. in 2011 and has since visited six other cities. As each stop generated rave reviews, Broadway theater owners sent representatives to the show’s production at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. and The Pasadena Playhouse in California.
“In each market, we saw that the show was appealing to a broad audience and Broadway was looking for an upbeat musical that appealed to a diverse audience,” Gershwin said.
Gershwin and Chilewich ultimately decided to bring “A Night With Janis Joplin” to the famous Lyceum Theatre.
“Broadway became a natural fit as the production was not only about Janis’s music, but also her influences from other strong independent female African-American blues singers who were so instrumental in Janis’ musical development,” Chilewich said.
Chilewich said many people don’t know that some of Joplin’s strongest influences were blues singers, such as Aretha Franklin and Bessie Smith. “A Night With Janis Joplin” integrates these influences to tell the story of her rise to stardom.
This upbeat and emotional story unfolds through an electrifying musical, which includes an eight-piece band on stage throughout the production.
“We want to bring the audience closer to her by creating an experience with her music and her life like never before,” Gershwin said.
While producers spend entire careers seeking to create a Broadway show, Gershwin and Chilewich are only beginning the Joplin journey that started at The Capitol Theatre four decades ago.
“Our goal is to share this unique musical experience with fans around the globe, and we look forward to taking the production to many cities worldwide,” said Gershwin.
Janis Joplin is played by Mary Bridget Davies, who received the 2013 Cleveland Critics Circle Award for Best Actress in a Musical and was nominated for a 2013 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Resident Musical.
For more information, visit www.anightwithjanisjoplin.com, Facebook at www.facebook.com/anightwithjanis or @ANightwithJanis on Twitter. The Lyceum Theatre is located at 149 W. 45th St. in Manhattan.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
