High Society and Leader of the Pack

Kaiana · High Society and Leader of the Pack

Can you guys tell me anything about these shows? My high school will be doing them this year and I'd never heard of them. After a little research I found High Society is a cole porter show but that's about all I know.

BroadwayBud

Leader of the Pack is a musical based on the songs of Ellie Greenwhich. It is basically a revue of all of the songs she wrote. The songs however are arranged to go along with the story of her life making it possible to see the influence the events in her life had on the songs she wrote. There are really only three characters: Ellie, Jeff, and Gus. Three actresses play Ellie because there is an Ellie in her teens, an Ellie in her 20's/30's and an Ellie in her 50's/60's. The middle Ellie has the largest role. Jeff is the man Ellie works with, and eventually marries and divorces. Gus is their boss. The show begins with a few highlights of songs from the "present" time of the 80's (Be My Baby, Wait 'Till My Bobby Comes Home). Then, the story goes back in time to when Ellie was in a girl group called the Jivettes (The Jivette Boogie Beat). More time passes and Ellie trys to get a job writing at the Brill Building. To sum up the rest of the show, she meets Jeff, they get married, they divorce, the end. All of this is shown through about a dozen or more songs written by Ellie. There is very little dialogue in the show and not much of a plot. The show itself is primarily made up of various songs. That's it. Nothing more, nothing less. It definately can not be considered a great show based on the script or the songs, but it is very entertaining and the audience loves it! I was in this show when my highschool did it two years ago. It was a lot of fun to be in, but it is by no means a great show. A good thing about the show is that it gives many girls the opportunity to perform a song with a few back-up singers and sometimes a whole ensemble. Unfortunatley, there are only three songs for the guys, and all are sung by Jeff with male back-up. I guess I've babbled about it long enough! I know there isn't a lot of information on this show out there because when I found out my school was doing it, I looked and looked and looked and didn't find a thing! So, please, feel free to ask as many questions as you like! I'd be more than willing to answer al of them! Good luck and have fun! Smile

Jenko

High Society was made into a film with frank sinatra in it, maybe you can rent it and watch it? Ever heard of a song, "What a Swell Party This Is?" <= thats in it

Kaiana

Thanks so much BroadwayBud! I don't have any questions yet, maybe I will once I have more information.

I think I will try renting High Society, thanks.

BroadwayBud

I'm just glad I could help! Smile

Salome

High Society was a film first. they turned it into a stage production in the late 1990s using Cole Porter's film score and supplimenting it with other porter songs.

the song the above poster referred to as "Whata Swell Party this Is" is actually called "Well Did You Evah!" and its actually from DuBarry Was A Lady. it was added as a duet for Crosby and Sinatra in the High Society film. its sung by the servants in the stage version.

Anne1doug

I was just in leader of the pack. This is a play ag=bout a girl named ellie grennwich who goes into the record buisness ((this is all in the 80s)) she writes with her husband ,who she met there and fell in love with, Jeff Barry. Things get off to a smooth part, but when Jeff wants a family, all Ellie can think about is work, causing there relationship to come to an end. Ellie is so shocked when Jeff ends it, she even has a break down during the show. But right after that scene they skip a few years and Ellie is bakc and in concert. The End. hah. THis is an OK play if done right it cold be great.

Kaiana	High Society and Leader of the Pack Can you guys tell me anything about these shows? My high school will be doing them this year and I'd never heard of them. After a little research I found High Society is a cole porter show but that's about all I know.
BroadwayBud	Leader of the Pack is a musical based on the songs of Ellie Greenwhich. It is basically a revue of all of the songs she wrote. The songs however are arranged to go along with the story of her life making it possible to see the influence the events in her life had on the songs she wrote. There are really only three characters: Ellie, Jeff, and Gus. Three actresses play Ellie because there is an Ellie in her teens, an Ellie in her 20's/30's and an Ellie in her 50's/60's. The middle Ellie has the largest role. Jeff is the man Ellie works with, and eventually marries and divorces. Gus is their boss. The show begins with a few highlights of songs from the "present" time of the 80's (Be My Baby, Wait 'Till My Bobby Comes Home). Then, the story goes back in time to when Ellie was in a girl group called the Jivettes (The Jivette Boogie Beat). More time passes and Ellie trys to get a job writing at the Brill Building. To sum up the rest of the show, she meets Jeff, they get married, they divorce, the end. All of this is shown through about a dozen or more songs written by Ellie. There is very little dialogue in the show and not much of a plot. The show itself is primarily made up of various songs. That's it. Nothing more, nothing less. It definately can not be considered a great show based on the script or the songs, but it is very entertaining and the audience loves it! I was in this show when my highschool did it two years ago. It was a lot of fun to be in, but it is by no means a great show. A good thing about the show is that it gives many girls the opportunity to perform a song with a few back-up singers and sometimes a whole ensemble. Unfortunatley, there are only three songs for the guys, and all are sung by Jeff with male back-up. I guess I've babbled about it long enough! I know there isn't a lot of information on this show out there because when I found out my school was doing it, I looked and looked and looked and didn't find a thing! So, please, feel free to ask as many questions as you like! I'd be more than willing to answer al of them! Good luck and have fun!
Jenko	High Society was made into a film with frank sinatra in it, maybe you can rent it and watch it? Ever heard of a song, "What a Swell Party This Is?" <= thats in it
Kaiana	Thanks so much BroadwayBud! I don't have any questions yet, maybe I will once I have more information. I think I will try renting High Society, thanks.
BroadwayBud	I'm just glad I could help!
Salome	High Society was a film first. they turned it into a stage production in the late 1990s using Cole Porter's film score and supplimenting it with other porter songs. the song the above poster referred to as "Whata Swell Party this Is" is actually called "Well Did You Evah!" and its actually from DuBarry Was A Lady. it was added as a duet for Crosby and Sinatra in the High Society film. its sung by the servants in the stage version.
Anne1doug	I was just in leader of the pack. This is a play ag=bout a girl named ellie grennwich who goes into the record buisness ((this is all in the 80s)) she writes with her husband ,who she met there and fell in love with, Jeff Barry. Things get off to a smooth part, but when Jeff wants a family, all Ellie can think about is work, causing there relationship to come to an end. Ellie is so shocked when Jeff ends it, she even has a break down during the show. But right after that scene they skip a few years and Ellie is bakc and in concert. The End. hah. THis is an OK play if done right it cold be great.

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High Society and Leader of the Pack