"It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman" The musical, Can you believe it?

18 March 2023
After the legacy of George Reeves, the musical stage play "It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman" premiered on Broadway in 1966 and was based on the comic book character created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. The music was composed by Charles Strouse, with lyrics by Lee Adams, and the book was written by David Newman and Robert Benton. 

The play featured Bob Holiday as Superman, Patricia Marand as Lois Lane, and Jack Cassidy as the villainous Dr. Sedgwick. The play had a more light-hearted, campy tone than previous adaptations of Superman, and it became a hit with audiences.

The play's success on Broadway led to a television adaptation in 1975, which aired on ABC. The TV movie starred David Wilson as Superman, Lesley Ann Warren as Lois Lane, and Kenneth Mars as Dr. Abner Sedgwick. The adaptation was faithful to the original stage play and featured the same songs, characters, and storyline. However, it received mixed reviews from critics and was not as successful as the stage version.


Bob Holiday's performance as Superman in the original stage production was highly praised, and he became one of the most iconic actors to portray the character. Holiday's portrayal of Superman was notable for its athleticism and physicality, as he performed several impressive stunts and feats of strength on stage. He also brought a sense of humor and playfulness to the role, which helped to establish the more lighthearted tone of the play.

The musical's songs were also a notable aspect of the production, with several becoming popular hits. The show's most famous song, "You've Got Possibilities," was a hit for Linda Lavin, who performed it on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and later recorded it as a single. Other popular songs from the musical include "The Woman for the Man," "Superman," and "The Strongest Man in the World."

patricia superman

Overall, "It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman" was a groundbreaking adaptation of the Superman character that brought a new sense of humor and playfulness to the character. The play's success on Broadway and subsequent television adaptation helped to establish Superman as a pop culture icon and paved the way for future adaptations of the character in film, television, and other media.

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Powered by Blogger.

About the author Jimmy Jangles


My name is Jimmy Jangles, the founder of The Astromech. I have always been fascinated by the world of science fiction, especially the Star Wars universe, and I created this website to share my love for it with fellow fans.

At The Astromech, you can expect to find a variety of articles, reviews, and analysis related to science fiction, including books, movies, TV, and games.
From exploring the latest news and theories to discussing the classics, I aim to provide entertaining and informative content for all fans of the genre.

Whether you are a die-hard Star Trek fan or simply curious about the world of science fiction, The Astromech has something for everyone. So, sit back, relax, and join me on this journey through the stars!
Back to Top