Copacabana

“Her name was Lola. She was a showgirl”...

So begins the celebrated 1978 Barry Manilow song “Copacabana”.

The original Copa was a famous New York City nightclub that featured stars such as Sammy Davis Jr., Nat King Cole and Tony Bennett . It was quite glamorous - the place to “see and be seen”.

This was the energy Barry Manilow was trying to evoke with his 1978 hit song. The unforgettable opening of his Grammy award-winning song was the inspiration for this exciting and passionate musical. It is a captivating tale of love and romance set amidst the swinging nightclub scene of the 1940’s..

Synopsis:

While creating the world's next big hit, Stephen, an aspiring songwriter, daydreams himself back to when "music and passion were always the fashion" at the world famous Copacabana.

In his dream, Lola Lamar, a hopeful showgirl fresh off the farm, is launched on the path to stardom as a Copa Girl. Helping her is Tony Starr, a handsome a bartender with dreams
and talent of his own.

Beguiled by Lola's performance at the club, the villainous Rico whisks her away to his Tropicana nightclub in Havana – despite his jealous and scheming girlfriend, Conchita.

In this exotic setting, a tale of old-fashioned love unfolds as Tony rushes to Lola’s
rescue - saving her from Rico’s machinations and declaring his own love for her. All this takes places amidst dazzling costumes, spectacular sets, brilliant lighting and sensational choreography.

Barry Manilow personally selected Franc to create & star as the male lead "Tony" in the
pre-Broadway tour of Copacabana. The show enjoyed a successful year-long tour & a performance that earned Franc a National Theatre Award nomination for “Best Male Performer in a Musical.”

Music: Barry Manilow
Lyrics: Bruce Sussman & Jack Feldman
Book: Barry Manilow, Bruce Sussman & Jack Feldman
Director: David Warren
Choreography: Wayne Cilento

CAST of Original US National Tour:
Tony: Franc D’Ambrosio
Lola: Darcie Roberts
Conchita: Terry Burrell
Rico: Philip Hernandez
Gladys: Beth McVey
Sam: Gavin McLeod

Photography by Joan Marcus courtesy of Pittsburg CLO and BarryManilow.com