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ROBIN MILLER (1928 - 2010) |
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Nationality: n/a Email: n/a Website: n/a |
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Literary Agent: n/a |
On December 16 2010, Robin Miller suffered a fall at home and died instantly, aged 82. He had been ill for several years, becoming more and more disabled. Although he was seriously limited in mobility, which increasingly prevented him from going out, he retained all his creativity and indeed, at the time of his death, he was working on a new piece of musical theatre with fashion guru and Dancing on Ice judge, Jason Gardiner. An Old Etonian and former Grenadier Guard who served in Palestine just after World War Two, on leaving the army, Robin moved to New York and began his career as a journalist. He also wrote scripts, including a screenplay for The Canterville Ghost. Subsequently, Robin joined forces with George Haimsohn and Jim Wise to work on a pastiche of the Gold Diggers movies. It was the show that brought him into the public eye. Originally entitled Dames At Sea, or Golddiggers Afloat, it was a launching pad for Bernadette Peters in the role of Ruby (named for Ruby Keeler, of course) and originally opened in May 1966 in a small coffee house space in Greenwich Village, running for 148 performances. With the title reduced simply to Dames at Sea, it re-launched on December 20, 1968 at the Bouwerie Lane Theatre and then transferred to the larger Theater de Lys in 1969, running for 575 performances until May 10, 1970. In 1969, it opened in Londons Duchess Theatre running for 127 performances and since then, has been seen in all sorts of productions all over the world. Robin also wrote the book and lyrics for a successful treatment of Vanity Fair. The music was by Julian Slade of Salad Days fame and the show had a revival at the now-defunct Theatre Museum. But there was another side to Robin Miller. A devout man, he worked tirelessly to help the beleaguered and the unfortunate members of society. He espoused gay and lesbian rights, took special care of homeless people and helped many asylum seekers find their way through the complexity of officialdom. A special man, he will be greatly missed, particularly by the people who packed out his favourite church, St James s in Piccadilly, for his funeral.
http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/obituaries/feature.php/31418/robin-miller
Plays by Robin Miller
Dames at Sea | ||
| 1st Produced: | Bowerie Lane Theatre, New York | 1968 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | Samuel French Inc | ISBN/ASIN: | 978-0573680106 | |||
| Music: | Original cast recording: Sony (48214) 1969 | doollee no | #64540 | |||
To Buy This Play: | If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies | |||||
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Genre: | Musical | |||||
| Parts: | Male | 4 | Female | 3 | ||
Parts other: | extras | |||||
Notes: | book and lyrics by by Robin Miller and George Haimsohn; music by Jim Wise | |||||
| bursts with the nostalgia of the Busby Berkley musicals as a songwriting sailor saves the show and the hometown girl finds both stardom and love. | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
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Peg | ||
| 1st Produced: | Phoenix Theatre, London | 12 Apr 1984 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page. | ISBN/ASIN: | ter-1024 | |||
| Music: | Original cast recording: TER (1024) 1984 | doollee no | #70077 | |||
To Buy This Play: | If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies | |||||
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Genre: | Musical | |||||
| Parts: | Male | - | Female | - | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | Music by David Heneker; Lyrics by David Heneker; lyrics by John Taylor; book by Ronald Millar; book by Robin Miller | |||||
| Cordelia Countess Chiddinbourne has been unable to pay her staff since the death of her husband. Then a rich American relation dies and she has hopes of a huge inheritance. However, the money all goes to Peg a member of the family who works in a Manhattan shoe shop. Peg is brought to England for the Countess to turn into a lady - for which she is paid £1,000 a year which eases her money worries | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
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Radio Times | ||
| 1st Produced: | Queen's Theatre, London | 1992 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | ISBN/ASIN: | pol-517474 | ||||
| Music: | Original cast recording: Polydor (517474) 1993 | doollee no | #119093 | |||
To Buy This Play: | If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies | |||||
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Genre: | Musical | |||||
| Parts: | Male | 5 | Female | 2 | ||
Parts other: | The Grosvenors (variable casting of six or more) | |||||
Notes: | Music by Noel Gay, book by Abi Grant, book devised by Robin Miller, original conception by Alex Armitage, additional material and book revisions by Paul Alexander and Alex Armitage | |||||
| Set in London's Criterion Theatre in the Spring of 1941, Radio Times traces the struggles of the cast of Variety Bandwagon, a BBC light entertainment show, broadcasting for the first time live to America. Incorporating the music of Noel Gay, author of Me and My Girl, this heart-warming and highly-entertaining show includes the classic numbers "There's Something About a Soldier"; "Run, Rabbit, Run"; "Who's Been Polishing the Sun?" and "Hey Little Hen". | |||||
Further Reference: | - | |||||
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Vanity Fair | ||
| 1st Produced: | Queen's Theatre, London | 1962 | ||||
Company: | n/a | |||||
| 1st Published: | I don't think it has been published. Try emailing Playwright or Agent where listed at top of page. | ISBN/ASIN: | rnbw-013 | |||
| Music: | Revival cast recording: Bayview (RNBW 013) 2001 | doollee no | #63519 | |||
To Buy This Play: | If Publisher (above) is underlined then the play may be purchased by direct click from the Publisher, otherwise (below) are AbeBooks for secondhand, signed & 1st eds and other Booksellers for new copies | |||||
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Genre: | Musical | |||||
| Parts: | Male | - | Female | - | ||
Parts other: | - | |||||
Notes: | Music by Julian Slade; lyrics by Robin Miller; book by Robin Miller and Alan Pryce-Jones. Based on the novel by William Thackeray | |||||
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Further Reference: | - | |||||
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