Long-Awaited ‘Harmony’ Brings Forgotten Boy Band Back to Broadway Spotlight

Over three decades have passed since the musical “Harmony” was conceived, and the time has finally arrived for it to grace the iconic Broadway stage. This much-awaited event almost didn’t occur, mirroring the fate of the subject of the show itself, nearly lost to the annals of history.

The historical performance sprung from the creative minds of Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman, painting a vivid image of The Comedian Harmonists. This once-forgotten German troupe, regarded by many as one of the original boy bands, had avid fans packing theaters worldwide to enjoy their soulful melodies.

Their idyllic career trajectory was diverted when the reigns of Germany fell into the hands of the Nazis. The Harmonists found themselves under fire for being decadents, with three Jewish members found within their ranks. Owning their music became a crime, leading to the troupe’s hasty fall into oblivion.

Sussman came upon their tale through a German language documentary. Filled with inspiration, he rushed to inform his writing partner about the potential within this untold story. Despite Manilow’s extensive knowledge of songs and ensembles, The Comedian Harmonists remained an unknown chapter to them.

The triumphant realization of their film sparked a strenuous endeavor, as details about the group proved scarce, “The Nazis attempted to obliterate them, and they were largely successful. Their records and films were virtually wiped out,” shared Manilow.

Despite the systemic erasure of their work, including around a dozen films and a plethora of recordings, the Harmonists survived, discreetly preserved by fans who hid albums under mattresses. Unearthed after the war, their legacy slowly resurfaced.

The towering significance of the Harmonists came to Manilow’s realization during a visit to a Tower Records store in Germany, “They were everywhere – akin to the Beatles or the Backstreet Boys, affirming their status as the original boy band.”

While “Harmony” was scripted in the 90s, its journey to Broadway was far from smooth, involving detours off-Broadway and the La Jolla Playhouse in California. The problem wasn’t in completing the show; it lay in finding the right path to the grand stage, shared Manilow.

The turning point arrived with Tony-Award-winning producer Ken Davenport, who committed to the project wholeheartedly. Previews for the musical are set to begin on October 18 at the Barrymore Theatre.

The star-studded cast boasts Sierra Boggess, Chip Zien, and Julie Benko, while the roles of the Comedian Harmonists are filled by Sean Bell, Danny Kornfeld, Zal Owen, Eric Peters, Blake Roman, and Steven Telsey. The direction is in the skilled hands of Warren Carlyle.

With “Harmony,” Manilow and Sussman hope to usher audiences into the Comedian Harmonists’ forgotten era and illustrate the group’s groundbreaking contribution to entertainment arts.

The duo has previously collaborated with Manilow composing the melodies while Sussman spun lyrics, creating timeless classics like “I Made it Through the Rain,” “Copacabana (At the Copa),” and “Hey Mambo.”