Comden & Green: Lives And Lyrics

Score another first for the East End! There will be a world premiere on Wednesday at the Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor of "Make Someone Happy," a musical comedy celebrating the lives and lyrics of Betty Comden and Adolph Green, one of the longest-running creative partnerships in the theater.

"On the Town," written in collaboration with an unknown youngster named Leonard Bernstein, was the team's first show. That was in 1944. Fifty-three years later, they're still working - though not living - together. The common supposition is that Comden and Green are married; they are not and never have been.

"Make Someone Happy"

In fact, it was Phyllis Newman, Mr. Green's wife of many years - he has been blessed, he is the first to say, in the two most important partnerships of his life - who thought of the idea for "Make Someone Happy." The show will run at Bay Street through June 9.

Ms. Newman wrote the book with David Ives, and will direct. Mr. Ives's "All in the Timing" recently won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Playwriting.

Ms. Newman's credits, of course, include such smash hits as "Broadway Bound," "Bells Are Ringing," and "Wonderful Town."

"There's no linear plot" in "Make Someone Happy," said Mr. Green, a longtime summer resident of East Hampton who, with Ms. Comden, has often performed at Guild Hall and Bay Street benefits, "though it does have a thread of a story and, of course, tons and tons of numbers."

"It's not based on reality in any way," insisted Ms. Comden, whose vacation house is in Bridgehampton. "It's more of an attempt to capture our characters - nothing exact, nothing factual."

There's a cast of six - three Bettys and three Adolphs - who portray Ms. Comden and Mr. Green at three different points in their career. The actors are Jim Bracchitta and Melissa Ericco, Adam Grupper and Dee Hoty, and Paula Newsome and Max Perlman. All have experience on Broadway.

"They all have terrific singing voices," said Ms. Comden.

"And what could be better," said Mr. Green, "all the girls are lovely and all the guys are charming and funny."

Behind The Scenes

The award-winning set designer Tony Walton did the honors for "Make Someone Happy." Sharon Sprague designed the costumes and Kirk Bookman the lighting; the sound effects are by Randy Freed. The production stage manager is Perry Cline.

Musical direction and orchestration are by Andrew Lippas, who comes fresh from "Stanley," and choreography is by Sarah Miles, who worked on "Victor/Victoria." The vocal arrangements are by Jeannine Tesori, who did the same for "The Secret Garden."

Tickets for "Make Someone Happy," which will run through June 15, can be charged by calling the theater box office. Performances are Wednesday through Monday at 8 p.m., with Saturday shows at 5 and 9 p.m. There will be matinee performances on some Thursdays and weekends, including May 24 at 2 p.m.

"We feel just great about it," said Ms. Comden of the production. "It's funny, charming, and interesting."

Flipping His Wig

Also at Bay Street next week will be a one-night-only performance by the transvestite actor and playwright Charles Busch, called "Flipping My Wig."

The show, a series of original musical numbers and sketches in which Mr. Busch transforms himself into a number of female characters, will take place at 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 25. The author was last seen at Bay Street in an autobiographical show called "Moonlight and Mascara."