View source for It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman

{{Short description|1966 Broadway musical based on Superman}}
{{italic title}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox Musical
|name        = It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman
|image       = It's A Bird.jpg
|caption     = Original Broadway cast recording
|music       = [[Charles Strouse]]
|lyrics      = [[Lee Adams]]
|book        = [[David Newman (filmmaker)|David Newman]] <br /> [[Robert Benton]]
|basis       = {{based on|[[Superman]]|[[Jerry Siegel]]|[[Joe Shuster]]}}
|productions = 1966 [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]]<br />1975 [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] TV special<br/>2007 [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]] Concert<br />2010 [[Dallas]]<br />2013 [[New York City]] [[Encores!]]<br />2014 [[London]]<br />2015 [[West End theatre|West End]]<br />2016 [[Braunschweig|Germany]]

<!-- Please do not include production-specific (acting, directing, etc.) awards -->
|awards      = 
}}
'''''It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman''''' is a 1966 [[Musical theatre|musical]] composed by [[Charles Strouse]], with [[lyrics]] by [[Lee Adams]] and [[Libretto|book]] by [[David Newman (filmmaker)|David Newman]] and [[Robert Benton]]. It is based on the comic book character [[Superman]] created by [[Jerry Siegel]] and [[Joe Shuster]] and published by [[DC Comics]].

While the show's original [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] run was well-reviewed, it did not catch on with audiences. Closing after three and a half months and costing an unprecedented $600,000, the show was [[Broadway theatre|Broadway's]] biggest flop at the time.<ref name=Chron>{{cite book |last1=Wells |first1=John |title=American Comic Book Chronicles: 1965-1969 |date=2014 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=978-1605490557 |page=109}}</ref> These numbers have been disputed, with Hal Prince reporting that the show was capitalized at $400,000; other shows had proven to be bigger flops.<ref>{{cite web |title=Superman: Flop or Not |url=https://supermanbobholiday.com/BroadwayMemories/50BWYFlopOrNot.htm |website=SupermanBobHoliday.com |access-date=June 4, 2025}}</ref>

==Synopsis==
The plot revolves around Superman's efforts to defeat Dr. Abner Sedgwick, a ten-time [[Nobel Prize]]-losing scientist who seeks to avenge the scientific world's dismissal of his brilliance by attempting to destroy the world's symbol of good. Additionally, Superman comes into romantic conflict with Max Mencken, a columnist for the ''[[Daily Planet]]'' newspaper, who resents [[Lois Lane]]'s attraction to Superman, and later teams up with Sedgwick to destroy Superman.

==Production history==
The musical opened on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] at the [[Alvin Theatre]] on March 29, 1966.<ref name="cbr3">{{cite news |work=Comic Book Resources |first=Brian |last=Cronin |title=The Man of Steel returns to the musical stage |url=http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=24851 |date=February 15, 2010 |access-date=February 16, 2010}}</ref> Directed by [[Harold Prince]] with choreography by [[Ernie Flatt]], it starred [[Bob Holiday]] as [[Clark Kent]] and [[Superman]], [[Patricia Marand]] as [[Lois Lane]], [[Jack Cassidy]] as Max Mencken, and [[Linda Lavin]] as Sydney.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Eury |first1=Michael |title=The Krypton Companion |date=2006 |publisher=TwoMorrows Publishing |isbn=9781893905610 |page=75}}</ref> The production received generally positive reviews, but it failed to catch on with the theater-going public and closed on July 17, 1966, after 129 performances.<ref name=Chron/> The musical received three [[Tony Award]] nominations, for Best Actor in a Musical (Cassidy), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Michael O'Sullivan, playing the main villain), and Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Marand). One of the songs from the score, "[[You've Got Possibilities]]" (introduced by Lavin), had some success outside the show as a nightclub and cabaret standard. According to composer Charles Strouse, the official title of the show includes quotation marks: ''"It's a Bird It's a Plane It's Superman"''; the program for the show does not include ellipses.

==Revivals==
Two productions were staged the next year. Both the St. Louis Municipal Opera and the Kansas City Starlight Theatre (in 1966, titled ''Superman'')<ref>[https://www.kcstarlight.com/about-us/history/broadway-shows "History, 1960s"] kcstarlight.com, retrieved December 13, 2017</ref> re-staged the show, and Bob Holiday played Superman in both productions. Each was an open-air venue, requiring the use of a large crane to facilitate Superman's flights. Other cast members in these two productions were [[Karen Morrow]] as Sydney and [[Charles Nelson Reilly]] as Dr. Sedgwick.<ref>Bob Holiday and Chuck Harter, ''Superman on Broadway'', c. 2003</ref>

The show was produced at the [[Goodspeed Opera House]], [[East Haddam, Connecticut|East Haddam]], [[Connecticut]], from June through July 3, 1992, with Gary Jackson (as Superman), Jamie Ross, [[Veanne Cox]] and Gabriel Barre.<ref>Holden, Stephen. [https://www.nytimes.com/1992/06/20/theater/review-theater-superman-as-dimwit-in-1966-parable.html?pagewanted= "Review/Theater; Superman as Dimwit in 1966 Parable"], ''The New York Times'', June 20, 1992, retrieved December 13, 2017</ref>

On May 14, 2007, the ''Reprise! Marvelous Musical Mondays'' program in [[Los Angeles]] presented a concert version of the musical. The cast featured [[Cheyenne Jackson]] as Superman, [[Jean Louisa Kelly]] as Lois Lane, [[Richard Kind]] as Dr. Sedgwick, [[Patrick Cassidy (actor)|Patrick Cassidy]] in his father's old role of Max Mencken, and composer [[Charles Strouse]] in a special appearance as Perry White.<ref>Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/article/superman-concert-with-cassidy-kind-and-jackson-presented-may-14-com-140749# "Superman! Concert — with Cassidy, Kind and Jackson — Presented May 14"] Playbill, May 14, 2007, retrieved December 13, 2017</ref> From June 15–17, the musical was presented in concert by the [[York Theatre]]'s ''Musicals at MUFTI'' series in New York City, with Jackson, Kelly, and Strouse reprising their roles from the Los Angeles concert. Others in the cast included [[Lea DeLaria]] as Dr. Sedgwick, [[Shoshana Bean]] as Sydney, and [[David Rasche]] as Max Mencken.<ref>Gans, Andrew. [https://archive.today/20120909015203/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/108837.html Jackson Is Man of Steel in Mufti It's a Bird. . . It's a Plane. . . It's Superman, June 15-17"], playbill.com, June 15, 2007.</ref> Bob Holiday, the original Broadway Superman, attended the June 16 matinee.

From June 18 to July 25, 2010, the [[Dallas Theater Center]] presented a revised version of ''It's a Bird...'', starring [[Matt Cavenaugh]] in the dual role of Superman/Clark Kent, Zakiya Young as Lois Lane, Patrick Cassidy as Max Mencken, and Cavenaugh's real life wife [[Jenny Powers]] as Sydney Sharp (Cassidy developed laryngitis during the run of the show, and choreographer Joel Ferrell took over the role until Cassidy recovered). The new book for the show was written by playwright and comic book writer [[Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa]].<ref name="do215">{{cite news |first=Robert |last=Wilonsky |work=Unfair Park |publisher=[[Dallas Observer]] |title=A Musical Even the Fanboys Are Geeked Over: A Word With DTC's It's Superman Writer |url=http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2010/02/a_musical_even_the_fanboys_are.php |date=February 15, 2010 |access-date=February 16, 2010}}</ref> Kevin Moriarty, the Dallas Theater's artistic director, believed that the show's campy, [[pop art]]-inflected book had "not dated well" and approached Charles Strouse in 2008 for permission to revise the musical.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wilonsky |first=Robert |url=http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2009/04/the_defining_moment_of_superhe.php |title=The Singing Superman: DTC's Kevin Moriarty Talks About Tackling the Man of Steel |work=Dallas Observer |date=April 17, 2009 |access-date=January 16, 2010}}</ref> Strouse acquiesced, and Moriarty hired Aguirre-Sacasa, a "lifelong fan" of the musical. Aguirre-Sacasa moved the musical's setting to 1939, and made the show's primary focus the "love triangle" between Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and Superman. Songs were cut, new songs were commissioned, and the order of songs was changed.<ref>{{cite web|last=Taitte |first=Lawson |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/ent/stories/062710dngdsuperman.dcee3680.html |title=Theater review: Dallas Theater Center's reshaped 'Superman' is almost super &#124; Lawson Taitte Columns and Reviews - Entertainment News for Dallas, Texas - The Dallas Morning News |publisher=Dallasnews.com |date=2010-06-26 |access-date=2011-01-30}}</ref> In November 2009, Moriarty and Aguirre-Sacasa held a private reading of the revised book with the show's surviving creators, Strouse, Adams, and Benton.<ref name="dallasB">{{cite news |last=Wilonsky |first=Robert |url=http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2009/11/when_i_look_back_to.php |title=Up, Up and Away: DTC's Kevin Moriarty on the Status of the "New" Superman Musical |work=Dallas Observer |date=November 23, 2009 |access-date=January 16, 2010}}</ref>

A staged concert production took place as part of [[New York City Center]]'s [[Encores!]] series from March 20–24, 2013. The cast included Edward Watts as Superman and [[Will Swenson (actor)|Will Swenson]] as Max Mencken, with [[Jenny Powers]] playing Lois Lane. Powers had played Sydney Sharp in the 2010 Dallas revival.<ref>[http://www.nycitycenter.org/tickets/productionNew.aspx?performanceNumber=6631 New York City Center "Encores!"] Nycitycenter.org</ref> On March 23, [[Bob Holiday]], who originated the role of Superman on Broadway, attended the show and met with the cast.<ref>[http://broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Flash-Original-Broadway-Superman-Bob-Holiday-Visits-Encores-ITS-A-BIRDITS-A-PLANEITS-SUPERMAN-20130324#] broadwayworld.com</ref>

The show's UK premiere was played in London in March 2014 at Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre and was produced by All Star Productions.<ref name=musical>[http://musicaltheatrereview.com/its-a-bird-its-a-plane-its-superman-ye-olde-rose-and-crown-theatre/ "'It's a Bird… It's a Plane… It's Superman' – Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre"] musicaltheatrereview.com, March 8, 2014</ref> After positive reviews, "the real star of the show is Charles Strouse and Lee Adams' delightful score..." wrote the musicaltheatrereview.com,<ref name=musical/> the show transferred to the Leicester Square Theatre in the [[West End theatre|West End]] for a limited run in February 2015.<ref>[https://www.londontheatre.co.uk/theatre-news/news/superman-musical-transfers-to-leicester-square-theatre?_ga=2.134229621.522442467.1513169748-1833703405.1513169748 "Superman musical transfers to Leicester Square Theatre"] londontheatre.co.uk, 4 August 2014</ref><ref>[http://www.whatsonstage.com/off-west-end-theatre/shows/its-a-bird-its-a-plane-its-superman_41059/ ''It's a Bird… It's a Plane… It's Superman''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213204701/http://www.whatsonstage.com/off-west-end-theatre/shows/its-a-bird-its-a-plane-its-superman_41059/ |date=December 13, 2017}} whatsonstage.com, retrieved December 13, 2017</ref>

In September 2016, there was the first production in the German language in Braunschweig, Germany. The OnStage - school of musical is producing the German Premiere at the Brunsviga.

==TV special==
[[File:Itsabird-tv.jpg|thumb| David Wilson and [[Lesley Ann Warren]] as [[Superman]] and [[Lois Lane]] in [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s 1975 TV production of the musical.]]

''It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman'' was made into a TV special which first aired during a late night timeslot on ABC on February 21, 1975.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30877495/superman_musical_1975/ |title=Great Caesar's ghost! It's Superman! |author=Doussard, James |date=January 23, 1975 |newspaper=The Courier-Journal |location=Louisville, Kentucky |access-date=12 August 2019}}</ref> Filmed on video over the course of 3 days,<ref name="McFarland">{{cite book|last1=Scivally|first1=Bruce|title=Superman on Film, Television, Radio and Broadway|date=2007|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0786431663|page=70}}</ref> the show was significantly shortened, the script significantly changed, and the ethnicity of a troupe of evildoers was changed from Chinese acrobats to Mafia-style gangsters. The musical numbers "Doing Good", "It's Super Nice", "So Long, Big Guy" and "We Don't Matter at All" were all dropped from this production, while the sound of the remaining musical numbers was updated to a more contemporary 1970s sensibility. In addition to these, a new musical number was made for the TV special: "It's a Great Country".<ref name="McFarland"/> The show was broadcast on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] network under its ''[[Wide World of Entertainment]]'' late-night umbrella title to poor critical reception. It starred David Wilson as Superman/Clark Kent, [[Lesley Ann Warren]] as Lois Lane, [[Loretta Swit]] as Sydney, [[David Wayne]] as Dr. Abner Sedgwick, [[Allen Ludden]] as Perry White, [[Kenneth Mars]] as Max Mencken, and [[Gary Owens]] as the [[old-time radio]]-style [[voiceover]] narrator. Viewers of this remake felt that the TV production lacked the energy of the original Broadway show.<ref>{{IMDb title |id=tt0339210}}</ref>

==Casts==
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:100%;text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan=2 | Role
! colspan=4 | Actor
|-
! Broadway (1966)<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.playbill.com/production/its-a-birdits-a-planeits-superman-alvin-theatre-vault-0000000891 |title=It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman |date=1966 |magazine=Playbill |access-date=2 August 2019}}</ref>
! ABC-TV special (1975)<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30877507/superman_musical_1975/ |title='It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman' |date=February 16, 1975 |newspaper=El Paso Times |access-date=12 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newsfromme.com/2006/11/23/superman-on-stage/ |title=Superman on Stage |author=Evanier, Mark |author-link=Mark Evanier |website=News from me [blog] |access-date=12 August 2019}}</ref>
! ''[[Encores!]]'' (2013)<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/the-man-of-steel-sings-superman-soars-in-encores-concert-revival-com-203653 |title=The Man of Steel Sings! ''Superman'' Soars in Encores! Concert Revival |author=Suskin, Steven |date=March 21, 2013 |work=Playbill |access-date=12 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/youve-got-possibilities-encores-its-a-birdits-a-planeits-superman-begins-limited-run-march-20-com-203567 |title="You've Got Possibilities": Encores! ''It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman'' Begins Limited Run March 20 |author=Gans, Andrew |date=March 20, 2013 |work=Playbill |access-date=12 August 2019}}</ref>
! West End (2015)
|-
! Max Mencken 
| [[Jack Cassidy]] || [[Kenneth Mars]] || [[Will Swenson (actor)|Will Swenson]] || Paul Harwood
|-
! Dr. Abner Sedgwick 
| [[Michael O'Sullivan (actor)|Michael O'Sullivan]] || [[David Wayne]] || [[David Pittu]] || Matthew Ibbotson
|-
! [[Superman]] / [[Clark Kent]] 
| [[Bob Holiday]] || David Wilson || Edward Watts || Craig Berry
|-
! [[Lois Lane]]
| [[Patricia Marand]] || [[Lesley Ann Warren]] || [[Jenny Powers]] || Michelle LaFortune
|-
! Jim Morgan 
| [[Don Chastain]] || || Adam Monley || Charlie Vose
|-
! Sydney 
| [[Linda Lavin]] || [[Loretta Swit]] || [[Alli Mauzey]] || [[Sarah Kennedy]]
|-
! Joe Ling 
| Joseph Gentry || || ||
|-
! Father Ling 
| [[Jerry Fujikawa]] || [[Malachi Throne]]{{efn|The troupe of villains, the acrobatic Flying Lings, were replaced by mafiosi led by a character played by Throne in the ABC-TV special.}} || [[James Saito]] || Jonathan Chan
|-
! Ming Foo Ling 
| Michael Gentry || || || Jade Nelson
|-
! Tai Ling 
| Murphy James || || || Christina Harris
|-
! [[Perry White]]
| Eric Mason || [[Allen Ludden]] || || Andrew Truluck
|-
! Fan Po Ling
| Juleste Salve || || || Thomas Widdop
|-
! Dong Ling 
| Bill Starr || || || Jonathan Chan
|}

;Notes
{{notelist}}

===Additional cast members===
;Broadway (1966)
* William, the Exchange Student – [[Haruki Fujimoto]]
* Suspect #2 – [[Dick Miller]]
* Kirby Wire Operator/made Superman/Bob Holiday fly - Big Jim Saunders 

;West End (2015)
* Ding Ling - William M. Lee
* Ensemble / Dance Captain – Charlotte Debattista
* Ensemble - [[Vicky Longley]]

==Musical numbers==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Act I
* Overture - Orchestra, Superman, Lois
* "Doing Good" - Superman
* "We Need Him" - Company, Lois, Max, Superman
* "It's Superman" - Lois
* "We Don't Matter at All" - Jim, Lois
* "Revenge" - Dr. Sedgwick
* "The Woman for the Man" - Max, Lois
* "[[You've Got Possibilities]]" - Sydney
* "What I've Always Wanted" - Lois
* "Everything's Easy When You Know How" - The Flying Lings
* "Revenge" (reprise) - Dr. Sedgwick
* "It's Super Nice" - Company
{{col-break}}
;Act II
* Entr'acte - Orchestra
* "So Long Big Guy" - Max
* "The Strongest Man in the World" - Superman
* "Ooh, Do You Love You?" - Sydney
* "You've Got What I Need" - Dr. Sedgwick, Max
* "It's Superman" (reprise) - Lois, Superman, Sydney, Max, The Flying Lings, Jim, Company
* "I'm Not Finished Yet" - Lois
* "Pow! Bam! Zonk!" - Superman, The Flying Lings
* Finale - Company
{{col-end}}

"You've Got Possibilities" is generally considered the show's most memorable tune, and is the only one to be often performed outside the show.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/22/theater/reviews/its-a-bird-its-a-plane-its-superman-at-city-center.html|title=He's the Man of Steel, as Well as a Man of Song|author=Ben Brantley|date=March 21, 2013|work=[[New York Times]]|access-date=February 14, 2017|quote="Possibilities", the one number from the score that has had any significant afterlife.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2010/legit/news/it-s-a-bird-it-s-a-plane-it-s-superman-1117943076/|title=Review: 'It's a Bird... It's a Plane... It's Superman!'|author=Joe Leydon|date=June 28, 2010|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=February 14, 2017}}</ref> It was recorded in 1966 by [[Peggy Lee]] (on the album ''[[Big $pender]]'')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Peggy-Lee-Come-Back-To-Me-Youve-Got-Possibilities/release/4895457|title=Peggy Lee – Come Back To Me / You've Got Possibilities|work=Discogs|date=1966 |access-date=February 14, 2017}}</ref> and [[Matt Monro]] (on the album ''Here's to My Lady''),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Matt-Monro-Heres-To-My-Lady/master/393661|title= Matt Monro – Here's To My Lady|work=Discogs|date= 1967|access-date=February 14, 2017}}</ref> and has been performed and recorded by many other singers. It was also featured in a 2005 TV commercial for [[Pillsbury Company|Pillsbury]] Grands! Biscuits.<ref name=Young>{{cite web|url=http://screenrant.com/superman-actors-trivia-list/|title=16 Actors Who Have Portrayed Superman|author=Paul Young|date=June 15, 2014|work=ScreenRants|access-date=February 15, 2017}}</ref>

The final part of the overture that featured the [[title song]] from the original cast album was used as the opening and closing theme music for all the newscasts on WTOP-TV/WDVM-TV (Channel 9, now [[WUSA-TV]]) in Washington, DC, from 1970 until 1982, along with a handful of other stations, most prominently New York City independent station [[WPIX-TV]].<ref name=Young/>

==Awards and nominations==
===Original Broadway production===
{| class="wikitable" width="95%"
|-
! width="5%"| Year
! width="25%"| Award ceremony
! width="40%"| Category
! width="20%"| Nominee
! width="10%"| Result
|-
| rowspan="3" align="center"| 1966
| rowspan="3"| [[Tony Award]]
| [[Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical|Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical]]
| [[Jack Cassidy]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical|Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical]]
| [[Michael O'Sullivan (actor)|Michael O'Sullivan]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical|Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical]]
| [[Patricia Marand]]
| {{nom}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{ibdb title|id=3137}}
* {{IMDb title|id=0339210}} for the 1975 TV production
* [http://users.bestweb.net/~foosie/superman.htm Lyrics] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301045438/http://users.bestweb.net/~foosie/superman.htm |date=March 1, 2010}}
* [http://www.SupermanBobHoliday.com Bob Holiday's web site]

{{Superman in other media}}
{{DC Comics TV|It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman}}
{{Charles Strouse}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:It's A Bird...It's A Plane...It's Superman}}
[[Category:1966 books]]
[[Category:1966 musicals]]
[[Category:Broadway musicals]]
[[Category:Musicals based on comics]]
[[Category:Musicals by Charles Strouse]]
[[Category:Science fiction musicals]]
[[Category:Superman in other media]]
[[Category:Superman music]]
[[Category:Superman television series]]
[[Category:West End musicals]]