Disaster! is a jukebox musical comedy created by Seth Rudetsky, and written by Seth Rudetsky and Jack Plotnick as a spoof of 1970s disaster films. Earthquakes, tidal waves, piranhas, infernos, and the songs of the ’70s take center stage in this comedic homage to The Poseidon Adventure and The Towering Inferno.
Most of the action takes place aboard a floating casino outside of New York City. My favorite character was Sister Mary, a nun who wants to stop the evils of gambling (and worse!) on this Ship of Sleaze, but we find out Sister Mary also has a serious problem.
The music from the 1970s both brought back memories and injected plenty of humor into the wacky situations as the boat begins to sink. If you’re looking for a silly musical that will make you laugh and tap your toes, don’t miss Disaster! if it comes to your neighborhood! Do you remember these songs? Any favorites? GRADE: A
No surprise that I remember ALL of these songs (not all of them fondly, but still…). Not sure this show would be for me though—it has a bit of a “Rock of Ages” feel to me.
Sounds awful. The only songs I like are Knock On Wood and When Will I Be Loved. A large number I detest like Ben, Feelings, Still the One, I Am Woman, Baby Hold On, 25 to 6 to 4, Hooked On A Feelings. Just a horrible selection of songs.
Patti, DISASTER! had a short run on BROADWAY. Diane and I saw this performance by a local musical theater group with a sold-out audience. We laughed from start to finish!
I disagree with Steve about “Still the One,” but admit there are a lot of songs I would just as soon NEVER hear again – I Am Woman, Feelings, Do You Know Where You’re Going To, Daybreak. I only actually like a few – Knock on Wood (of course), Mockingbird, the Hawaii Five-O theme, When Will I Be Loved come to mind first.
Sounds like silly fun, but I haven’t seen it in New York, not even off- or off-off-Broadway, which is actually somewhat surprising.
Jeff, the songs are used to create comic effects. You may or may not like the songs in DISASTER! but when the cast starts singing them, you’ll at least chuckle!
I’m with Jeff on “Still the One” but it’s hard for me to conceive of that many songs in one show even if they run about three minutes each!
After months of headaches with various electrical devises the latest disaster is my phone! For some reason it won’t allow me access to Facebook! Someone suggested I uninstall it and reinstall it! It was easy to uninstall but reinstalling it is one of the Labors of Hercules! Even the girl at MetroPCS failed! Pfui!!!
Yeah, quite a lot of difficult-to-avoid music, some from the ’60s. Could be fun. Wonder how much the rights would cost for video.
As your useful link informs us: ‘”Nadia’s Theme”, originally titled “Cotton’s Dream”, is a piece of music composed by Barry De Vorzon and Perry Botkin Jr. in 1971. It was originally used as incidental music for the 1971 film Bless the Beasts and Children, and is better known as the theme music to the television soap opera The Young and the Restless since the series premiered in 1973. “Cotton’s Dream” was renamed “Nadia’s Theme” after it became associated with Olympic gymnast Nadia Comăneci during and after the 1976 Summer Olympics.’ Busy composition…still think I should look up Swarthout’s novel the disappointing film was based on.
No surprise that I remember ALL of these songs (not all of them fondly, but still…). Not sure this show would be for me though—it has a bit of a “Rock of Ages” feel to me.
Deb, you and John would enjoy the humor in DISASTER! The musical choices serve to punctuate the wacky plot invoking even more laughter.
Sounds awful. The only songs I like are Knock On Wood and When Will I Be Loved. A large number I detest like Ben, Feelings, Still the One, I Am Woman, Baby Hold On, 25 to 6 to 4, Hooked On A Feelings. Just a horrible selection of songs.
Steve, horrible…but funny! Each of these familiar songs, when triggered by the silliness on the stage, drew roars of laughter from the audience!
I remember most of them, not all fondly as Deb said. This is a new musical for me. Hasn’t come through Detroit.
Patti, DISASTER! had a short run on BROADWAY. Diane and I saw this performance by a local musical theater group with a sold-out audience. We laughed from start to finish!
I disagree with Steve about “Still the One,” but admit there are a lot of songs I would just as soon NEVER hear again – I Am Woman, Feelings, Do You Know Where You’re Going To, Daybreak. I only actually like a few – Knock on Wood (of course), Mockingbird, the Hawaii Five-O theme, When Will I Be Loved come to mind first.
Sounds like silly fun, but I haven’t seen it in New York, not even off- or off-off-Broadway, which is actually somewhat surprising.
Jeff, the songs are used to create comic effects. You may or may not like the songs in DISASTER! but when the cast starts singing them, you’ll at least chuckle!
I’m with Jeff on “Still the One” but it’s hard for me to conceive of that many songs in one show even if they run about three minutes each!
After months of headaches with various electrical devises the latest disaster is my phone! For some reason it won’t allow me access to Facebook! Someone suggested I uninstall it and reinstall it! It was easy to uninstall but reinstalling it is one of the Labors of Hercules! Even the girl at MetroPCS failed! Pfui!!!
Bob, your sad story only adds to my conviction NOT to have a cell phone.
I went back the next day and a different girl fixed it!
Bob, I’ve experienced the same situation myself!
Yeah, quite a lot of difficult-to-avoid music, some from the ’60s. Could be fun. Wonder how much the rights would cost for video.
As your useful link informs us: ‘”Nadia’s Theme”, originally titled “Cotton’s Dream”, is a piece of music composed by Barry De Vorzon and Perry Botkin Jr. in 1971. It was originally used as incidental music for the 1971 film Bless the Beasts and Children, and is better known as the theme music to the television soap opera The Young and the Restless since the series premiered in 1973. “Cotton’s Dream” was renamed “Nadia’s Theme” after it became associated with Olympic gymnast Nadia Comăneci during and after the 1976 Summer Olympics.’ Busy composition…still think I should look up Swarthout’s novel the disappointing film was based on.
Todd, I agree with you on the disappointing film based on Swarthout’s novel.