Chance and Chemistry: A Centennial Celebration of Frank Loesser

From paulmccartney.com, October 28, 2009:

On Monday 26th October Paul co-chaired Chance and Chemistry: A Centennial Celebration of Frank Loesser, a concert benefiting the Actors Fund in Broadway New York City. Frank Loesser has been called the most versatile of all Broadway composers, having supplied both music and lyrics for such varied works as Guys & Dolls, Where’s Charley?, The Most Happy Fella and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.

Paul hit the stage at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre to perform “On A Slow Boat To China”, he then returned to the stage at the end of the night to take a bow with all the show’s performers, including Brian Stokes Mitchell, Michelle Lee, John Stamos and Art Garfunkel.

From paulmccartney.com, November 6, 2009:

Monday 26th October saw Paul make his Broadway Debut (hard to believe I know). There was a lot of fact checking just to make sure this really was his Broadway first, but the checking proved it definitely was. You will have read about Paul‚s performance in the news section so we won’t go into too much detail, but our spies on the ground tell us it was a great night and Paul had fun chatting to his fellow cast members and Jo Sullivan, Frank’s widow. Paul’s performance was accompanied by a small orchestra and he performed ‘On A Slow Boat To China’, not literally though, as he pointed out to us shortly after!

Stuart Bell – Paul’s press officer – For Whom The Bell Tells column

From Broadway World:

Chance and Chemistry: A Centennial Celebration of Frank Loesser, a concert to benefit The Actors Fund took place last night, Monday, October 26, 2009 at the Minskoff Theatre.

The event was co-chaired by Jo Sullivan Loesser and Sir Paul McCartney, and hosted by Annette Bening, Kevin McCollum and Jonathan Tisch.

The evening was directed and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli (South Pacific, Sunday in the Park with George, Altar Boyz) with musical direction by Brad Haak (Mary Poppins).

Frank Loesser has been called the most versatile of all Broadway composers, having supplied both music and lyrics for such varied works as Guys & Dolls, Where’s Charley?, The Most Happy Fella and How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.

THE ACTORS FUND is a national human services organization that helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment. The Fund, which supports actors and performers and everyone behind the scenes who works in theatre, film, TV, music, dance, radio and opera, is a safety net, providing social services and emergency assistance, health services, employment and training programs and housing support for those who are in need, crisis or transition. Learn more about The Actors Fund at www.actorsfund.org.

Setlist for the concert

1. On A Slow Boat To China

   Written by Frank Loesser

   Album Available on Wonderful Christmas Tracks

   Album Available on Up and Coming Tracks - Live 2009-10

   Album Available on Good Evening Berlin 2009