The musical tells the true story of the Comedian Harmonists, an ensemble of six young men in 1920s Germany who took the world by storm with their blend of sophisticated close harmonies and uproarious stage antics, until their inclusion of Jewish singers put them on a collision course with history.
A planned Broadway production was slated for 2004, but due to lack of funds, it was ultimately canceled.
A Broadway transfer opened in November 2023 starring Chip Zien and Sierra Boggess.
In February 1997, Harmony was announced to start previews on October 7, 1997, in the Mandell Weiss Theatre at La Jolla Playhouse.
Other cast members include Mark Chmiel as Lesh, James Clow as Bobby, Steven Goldstein as Erich, Thom Christopher Warren as Harry, Patrick Wilson as Chopin, Rebecca Luker as Mary and Janet Metz as Ruth.
[5] An out-of-town try-out in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was slated for opening on December 17, 2003, with previews on November 25, 2003.
[8] It then ran at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California, from March 4, 2014, closing on April 13, 2014.
[12] Danny Kornfield portrayed Rabbi, with Steve Telsey playing Lesh, Sean Bell as Bobby, Eric Peters as Erich, Zal Owen as Harry, Blake Roman as Chopin, Sierra Boggess as Mary, Jessie Davidson as Ruth and Chip Zien as Older Rabbi.
Previews began at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on October 18, 2023, with an opening night of November 13, 2023.
We see them holding the auditions and the various members joining the group- Young Rabbi, Bobby, Erich, Lesh, Harry, and Chopin.
(“How Can I Serve You Madam?”) It turns out someone has broken into their dressing room since the tuxes for their performance are made by a Jewish shop owner.
They run into Albert Einstein (which is comically Old Rabbi in a wig, Chip Zien did the most in this show).
In person, this is a huge part of dramatic irony in the show because you are urging them internally not to go, but they give in to Bobby.
Act II In a “what if” scenario, we see the group perform with Josephine Baker in a raucous upbeat number ("We're Goin' Loco!").
Ruth, who is backstage with the group, suddenly loses her temper and is held back by the boys.
Before leaving, the Nazi tells the group not to play that song again since it has Jewish folk music.
They perform the whole number as a fake advertisement for Germany, while dressed as puppets on strings, with a rather ominous ending.
The group discusses how to move forward, they don’t have enough cash for all of them and with Jewish members they are now struggling to work.
It is decided that they will split up - Mary, Young Rabbi, Erich, and Harry will escape leaving the other three behind.
Old Rabbi discusses how he should have done something at that moment- Hitler walks right by them and he feels he should have attempted to attack him, and maybe that would have changed their fate.
The group eventually does escape, and those that stay in Germany survive the war, except for presumably Ruth (we never know what happens except that Chopin kept looking for her and could not find her).