Music and Lyrics by Glyn Bailey
Book by Keith Thomas, Glyn Bailey and Theasa Tuohy
It was whilst performing on a cruise ship that Glyn Bailey first had the idea of writing a musical about one of England’s greatest novelists!
Bailey, like D.H. Lawrence, was born in Nottingham, England and, also like Lawrence, has spent much of his life travelling, working and living in other parts of the world.
It was Lawrence’s mixed feelings towards the town and country of his birth that first inspired Bailey to embark on this project.
Eastwood, England, 2000
The work, originally entitled Country of My Heart, was first staged in 2000 as a dramatised concert version with music and lyrics by Glyn Bailey, narrative by Carol Lehan, direction by Keith Thomas and musical direction by Glyn Bailey. The orchestra was conducted by Ricki Holmes.
It was performed in Lawrence’s hometown of Eastwood - with a professional cast that included West End and Broadway stars Garth Bardsley and Christiane Noll in the lead roles.
Although it received much critical acclaim in this format, it was clear that to make it work as a full musical it needed a book (script) that would encompass the exciting twists and turns of Lawrence’s often wretched life.
Theasa Tuohy joined Bailey in developing the book. With Thomas directing, workshops were run in the USA and UK over a two-year period, each time prompting changes and re-writes.
Thomas then joined as co-bookwriter and after further developments and restructuring, the project eventually emerged as a full-blown musical.
Guildford, England, 2006
In July 2006 Guildford School of Acting in Surrey, England produced a full stage production of the musical,
by now re-named Phoenix.
The audience loved the music and the story and proclaimed Phoenix "worthy of the West End".
Seeing the musical in performance gave Thomas and Bailey the chance to assess the value and impact of each scene on the audience. They also showed the script to various experts for comment. All of this resulted in further changes and improvements.
The mythical Phoenix had been adopted by Lawrence as his personal symbol and it aptly captured his rise from the ashes of rejection to his undisputed status as one of the 20th century’s greatest and most influential writers: all good reasons for calling the musical Phoenix.
However, after much debate it was finally decided in 2007 that Scandalous! is a more provocative title and better represents the musical's story and creative approach.
Nottingham, England, 2008
D.H. Lawrence was born in Nottingham and attended Nottingham High School and Nottingham University College.
So, it was very fitting to preseent a concert version of Scandalous! at the Nottingham Playhouse in June 2008.
With a cast of 18 and an 8-piece orchestra, the show was extremely well received. According to many, it was the best production of its kind to be staged at the Playhouse.
Thomas directed the production and musical direction was by Bailey.
The writers are indebted to Giles Croft, artistic director of Nottingham Playhouse, for opening the door and making this possible.
Eastwood, England, 2000
Guildford, England, 2006
Nottingham, England, 2008
New Orleans, USA, 2009
In March 2009 a fully staged production was produced by Jefferson Performing Arts Society in a 1,200 seater theatre in New Orleans.
D.H. Lawrence was played by Broadway star Bart Shatto (Les Miserables, Civil War, Dracula) and Frieda von Richthofen was played by West End and cabaret star Lindsay Hamilton (Les Miserables, Evita, Showtune).
The writers brought in Stephen Duckham to direct, Thomas designed the production and Bailey was Musical Director.
June 2010. Option Agreement signed - to start the journey to New York and London
New Orleans, USA, 2009
Scandalous! is not an intellectual treatment of Lawrence, but an entertainment about
a remarkable man; his ambitions and inspirations; his loves,
and the changing times of the 20th century.
