Alexis Smith and PLATINUM cast on the Merv Griffin Show Broadway Opening Night!

Alexis Smith and Cast members visit the Merv Griffin Show before their Broadway opening night performance at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on November 12, 1978.

Merv's incredible guest panel also included Ethel Merman and Shelley Winters.

Lisa Mordente and Richard Cox perform "Sunset City" with Avery Sommers, Robin Grean and Damita Jo Freeman.

The Broadway production of PLATINUM was directed by Joe Layton, with a book by Bruce Vilanch and Will Holt, lyrics by Will Holt and music by Gary William Friedman.

Bob Mackie did the costumes, and appears in the audience in this video.

PLATINUM was originally titled SUNSET when it made its world premiere in 1977 at the Studio Arena Theater in Buffalo, New York, directed by Tommy Tune.

The Broadway production of PLATINUM, directed and choreographed by Joe Layton, opened on November 12, 1978 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre, where it closed on December 10, 1978 after 33 performances and 12 previews. Despite its short run, it garnered Tony Award nominations for Smith and Richard Cox and Drama Desk Award nominations for Cox and Mordente.

A revised version of the original Sunset was presented off-Broadway at the Village Gate in November 1983 starring Tammy Grimes.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• PLATINUM
• Merv Griffin
• Ethel Merman
• Shelley Winters
• Alexis Smith
• Joe Layton
• Bruce Vilanch
• Will Holt
• Gary William Friedman
• Lisa Mordente
• Richard Cox
• Avery Sommers
• Robin Grean
• Damita Jo Freeman
• Bob Mackie
• Broadway Musicals

[SouthernWasp]

Avery Sommers is the girl to your left of the 3 girls that open Sunset City! (long hair,beads,etc) Her voice is just as powerful today! I just saw her at The Colony Hotel in Palm Beach. Her first show was HAIR in LA and she just finished HAIRSPRAY in Ft Lauderdale. She also did Ain'tMis Beavin on Broadway. That is the short list of her accomplishments! Brava AVERY SOMMERS!

[cray2]

I love anything with academy award nominee Damita Jo Freeman. She is a true shining star. I just love her.

[tjbnyc76]

There's a bit of irony here when Ms. Smith describes her character as a 40's and 50's musical star, touring in stock productions of "Mame" and "Dolly," then deciding to do a contemporary rock album -- with Ethel Merman sitting on the panel, who was the greatest musical (stage) star of the 30's, 40's and 50's; who inspired "Dolly" (and played her on B'way); and then took a sharp left turn around this time and recorded a disco album!

[ShowgirlMickey]

Alexis looks sensational. What a great piece of PLATINUM, and TV history! I hope this show gets done again for real. I can't get over who all's in this video (Ethel, Merv, the cast, Bob Mackie, etc) The pièce de résistance has got to be at the end though, when Shelley Winters starts competeing for attention. Thank you for posting this!

[showtunestarpower]

Once again, Merv gives us a great gift from the past. I saw PLATINUM and loved it. Here you get a glimpse of the hot, hot Richard Cox. I wish Alexis had done a number but she might have been saving herself.

[MrJohnTNYC]

Did I die and go to TV Heaven?? This is priceless!!