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Anthony Newley: An Actor's Analysis Of A Musical Theatre Legacy

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Letters of Life, Lust, and Love: The Music of Anthony Newley will be focused entirely on the writing, performance, and private life of Anthony Newley. The show's book will connect each of the musical numbers through a series of letters written to his mother, Frances "Gracie" Newley. This will serve as the dramatic through-line correlating both his professional and private lives. The actor in this piece will be performing as "Mr. Newley," and will intensely focus on his mannerisms and personality. Costume and make-up will also be used to augment his physicality. The actor will be accompanied by a pianist. Newley's unusual and innovative writing and performance abilities are often ones that are underestimated due to a smaller body of work. Further study would reveal the autobiographical inspiration behind his unique librettos, mastery of performance, and scope of abilities extending into both commercial and artistic areas of theatre. The writing is filled with social and economic issues, religious references, and metaphorical concepts inviting audiences to think. These productions were holding their own during the period of Styne, Bernstein, and the beginnings of Sondheim. Before and after the performance, observers will have a chance to peruse through a display consisting of posters, articles, photos, and other Newley memorabilia to supplement further understanding of the subject. Observers will leave with a fresh (if not entirely new) idea of the experiences that drove this remarkably talented showman to contributing his part in the American musical theatre spotlight.

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Layton, Christopher
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Bell, John

Subjects

dc:subject × 5

Rights

Language dc:language
English

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Identifier
CFE0000950
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:stars.library.ucf.edu:etd-1767

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Central Florida
Base URL
stars.library.ucf.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Layton, Christopher. Anthony Newley: An Actor's Analysis Of A Musical Theatre Legacy. 2006. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd/768