DISASTER! THE MUSICAL
Disaster! is a jukebox musical comedy created by Seth Rudetsky , and written by Seth Rudetsky and Jack Plotnick as a spoof of 1970s disaster films . Earthquakes, tidal waves, piranhas, infernos, and the songs of the ’70s take center stage in this comedic homage to The Poseido n Adventure and The Towering Inferno.
Most of the action takes place aboard a floating casino outside of New York City. My favorite character was Sister Mary, a nun who wants to stop the evils of gambling (and worse!) on this Ship of Sleaze, but we find out Sister Mary also has a serious problem.
The music from the 1970s both brought back memories and injected plenty of humor into the wacky situations as the boat begins to sink. If you’re looking for a silly musical that will make you laugh and tap your toes, don’t miss Disaster! if it comes to your neighborhood! Do you remember these songs? Any favorites? GRADE: A
Act I Song Original artist Songwriter(s) Performer(s) “ Hot Stuff ” Donna Summer Summer, Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte Chad, Scott, Scheider, Tony and Ensemble “ The Lord’s Prayer ” Sister Janet Mead Traditional; arranged by Arnold Strals. Sister Mary “ Do You Know Where You’re Going To ” Diana Ross Michael Masser and Gerry Goffin . Levora “ Saturday Night ” Bay City Rollers Bill Martin and Phil Coulter Jackie and Ensemble “ Do You Wanna Make Love ” Peter McCann McCannTony and Marianne “ Without You ” Badfinger Pete Ham and Tom Evans . Chad “ I Am Woman / That’s the Way I’ve Always Heard It Should Be ” Helen Reddy / Carly Simon Reddy and Ray Burton /Simon and Jacob Brackman Marianne and Lisa “ Mockingbird ” Inez & Charlie Foxx Inez and Charlie Fox Jackie and Scheider “ Still the One ” Orleans John Hall and Johanna Hall. Shirley and Maury “ Never Can Say Goodbye / Torn Between Two Lovers ” The Jackson 5 / Mary MacGregor Clifton Davis / Peter Yarrow and Phillip Jarrell Sister Mary “ Feelings ” Morris Albert Louis Gasté and Albert Scheider, Marianne and Chad “ Feels So Good ” Chuck Mangione Mangione. (Instrumental) “ Knock on Wood ” Eddie Floyd Floyd and Steve Cropper . Levora and Ensemble “ Hawaii Five-O ” The Ventures Morton Stevens (Instrumental) Act II Song Original artist Songwriter(s) Performer(s) “ All Right Now ” Free Andy Fraser and Paul Rodgers . (Instrumental) “ You’re My Best Friend ” Queen John Deacon . Chad and Scott “ Three Times a Lady ” The Commodores Lionel Richie Chad and Wealthy Husband “ Ben ” Michael Jackson Walter Scharf and Don Black Ben, Lisa, Maury, Shirley and Sister Mary “ Baby Hold On ” Eddie Money . Money and Jimmy Lyon Marianne “ 25 or 6 to 4 ” Chicago Robert Lamm . Cast “ Sky High ” Jigsaw Clive Scott and Des Dyer. Cast “ When Will I Be Loved ” Linda Ronstadt Phil Everly Ben, Lisa and Jackie “ Nadia’s Theme ” Barry DeVorzon and Perry Botkin Jr. DeVorzon and Botkin Jr.(Instrumental) “ Don’t Cry Out Loud ” Melissa Manchester Peter Allen and Carole Bayer Sager . Tony “ Come to Me ” France Joli Tony Green. Levora and Sister Mary “ I’d Really Love to See You Tonight “. England Dan and John Ford Coley . Parker McGee Chad and Marianne “ Knock Three Times ” Tony Orlando and Dawn Irwin Levine and L. Russell Brown (Instrumental) “ I Will Survive ” Gloria Gaynor Dino Fekaris and Freddie Perren . Jackie and Tony “ A Fifth of Beethoven ” Walter Murphy Ludwig van Beethoven and MurphyShirley and Cast “ Reunited ” Peaches and Herb Fekaris and Perren. Chad, Marianne and Scheider “ Daybreak ” Barry Manilow Manilow and Adrienne Anderson Cast “ Hooked on a Feeling B.J. Thomas Mark James Cast Bows/ “Never Can Say Goodbye” Gloria Gaynor Clifton Davis. Cast
