J.P. Morgan Saves the Nation

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J.P. Morgan Saves the Nation
MusicJonathan Larson
LyricsJonathan Larson
Book
Jeffrey M. Jones
BasisThe life and times of J.P. Morgan

J.P. Morgan Saves the Nation is a 1995 musical with a book by Jeffrey M. Jones and music by Jonathan Larson.[1]

Jonathan Larson was invited to compose music for En Garde Arts‘s production of Jeffrey M. JonesJ.P. Morgan Saves the Nation, a postmodern work detailing the life of financier J. P. Morgan. Larson was called in as a replacement as Jones' long-time collaborator, Dan Moses Schreier, dropped out, suggested by artistic director Annie Hamburger after hearing a recording of the workshop production of Rent at New York Theatre Workshop.[2]

Development

The score for J.P. Morgan contains "Larson’s musical recipe" including classic composer John Philip Sousa, soul, Seattle-inspired music, and electric-guitar-heavy grunge.[2] Meanwhile, Entertainment Weekly described it as a "ragtime-to-rock satire".[3]

The show was staged at the "pointedly appropriate setting" of the

Morgan Guaranty Trust Company, founded by the titular character.[4]

Critical reception

According to The Atlantic, J.P. Morgan Saves the Nation, along with Larson's other shows Superbia and Tick, Tick... Boom!, "opened and closed quickly, in out-of-the-way venues".[5] The New York Times noted the piece's "intricate, even esoteric book...obviously the product of many hours of library research" and "peppy score in a post-modernist medley of musical voices".[4]

References

  1. ^ D'artes, E. Engar (1996-01-25). "JP MORGAN SAVES THE NATION". Engarde Arts. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  2. ^ a b Istel, John (1996-07-01). "'Rent' Check: Did Jonathan Larson's Vision Get Lost in the Media Uproar?". AMERICAN THEATRE. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  3. ^ May 10, EW Staff Updated; EDT, 1996 at 04:00 AM. "Rent composer had a bright future". EW.com. Retrieved 2022-04-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^
    ISSN 0362-4331
    . Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  5. ^ Davis, Francis (1996-09-01). "Victim Kitsch". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2022-04-03.