Love Birds (musical)

Love Birds
Edinburgh poster
Music	Robert J. Sherman
Lyrics	Robert J. Sherman
Book	Robert J. Sherman
Productions	2015 Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Love Birds is an original musical with book, music and lyrics by Robert J. Sherman. The musical officially premiered at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe Festival at The Pleasance on August 7, 2015. The production was directed and choreographed by Stewart Nicholls. Prior to the Edinburgh run, there were two previews held in London at the Lost Theatre (in ) on July 28 and 29. The Original Edinburgh Cast Recording was recorded on July 30 and mixed and mastered on July 31 and August 3 and was first released by SimG Records on August 12 at the Edinburgh Festival. Two Edinburgh previews took place on August 5 and 6 with Press Night taking place on August 8. The final festival performance took place on August 31. The show starred Ruth Betteridge, Greg Castiglioni, John Guerrasio, George Knapper, Jonny Purchase, Joanna Sawyer, Anna Stolli, Rafe Watts and Ryan Willis. In its end of the year round-up of regional British fringe musical theatre, Musical Theatre Review hailed Love Birds: "a triumph of whimsy, a children’s story written with adult sensibilities and featuring a cracking score that celebrated the lost era of vaudeville. Blessed with an equally strong design from Gabriella Slade and some marvellously sensitive performances, Love Birds was probably the most accomplished piece of musical theatre to arise from the many delights at this year’s festival."

After two short but successful runs of A Spoonful of Sherman, during the recording of the original cast album in December 2014, Sherman turned to Nicholls with the Love Birds concept. Only a few of the songs were complete and a script had yet to be written but Nicholls liked the concept and the songs he had heard. Nicholls suggested veteran Edinburgh producer, Kat Portman Smith to produce. The script and balance of songs were then composed over the next few months with a first draft (one act) book and score completed in June 2015. In the meantime, a poster image was commissioned which would set much of the visual tone of the piece moving forward. The poster was created by Rebecca Pitt. A production team was put together consisting of Designer: Gabriella Slade, Lighting Designer: Rob Mills, Sound Designer: Andy Hinton, Casting Director: Stephen Moore, Stage Manager: Roisin Symes, Production Manager: Simon Streeting. Press Representative Susie Safavi and Social Media Manager: Terri Paddock were also brought in at this point. Originally Music Supervision was being handled by Colin Billing who had worked with Nicholls and Sherman on A Spoonful of Sherman the year before. In late June, Billing had to pull out from the production for personal reasons at which point Musical Director: Richard Healey stepped in to do the music arrangements for the show in just under two weeks. Taking Healey's place as Musical Director was Neil MacDonald. Rehearsals commenced in earnest on July 13, 2015 at The Big Wheel rehearsal space in Exmouth Market, London. London Previews were held on the July 28 and 29 at the Lost Theatre in Stockwell. On July 30, the entire Original Cast Album was recorded (in a single day) at Porcupine Studios and mixed over the following two days by Engineer: Nick Taylor. Edinburgh previews began on August 5 with press attending from August 6 onward.