Posted By Dan Greenfield on Jul 8, 2025 | 8 comments

SUPERMAN WEEK!

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It’s SUPERMAN WEEK! Because there’s a fancy new movie coming out! Click here for the COMPLETE INDEX of columns and features! Look, up in the sky! — Dan

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By PETER BOSCH

In the early 1960s, writer David Newman and his collaborator Robert Benton were looking for an idea to adapt into a new musical comedy. Newman’s wife picked up their son’s Superman comic off the floor and said they should make a show of the character. After two years of putting together all the elements – including music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams (the successful team from Bye Bye Birdie) and direction by Harold Prince — the show was ready to open on Broadway on March 29, 1966. (Trivia: The aerial sequences would be handled by “Flying by Foy,” the theatrical company that did the same for the Peter Pan stage show.)

The musical’s star performer was Tony Award-winning actor Jack Cassidy (pictured second from above left), playing the Daily Planet’s egotistical gossip columnist Max Mencken. (Almost every character in the show was a new invention of Newman and Benton as DC limited the licensing to just a few of the Superman regulars.)

Everyone in the cast other than Cassidy received featured status, including Patricia Marand (far left, replacing Joan Hotchkis, the original Lois during on-the-road tryouts pre-Broadway); Michael O’Sullivan (center) as Dr. Abner Sedgwick, the villain of the piece; Linda Lavin (right) as Max’s secretary and sometimes girlfriend, Sydney; and Don Chastain (lower right) as Jim Morgan, Sedgwick’s assistant. The Superman/Clark Kent of the production, Bob Holiday, is at the rear of the photo.

A few weeks prior to the official Broadway opening of It’s A Bird… It’s A Plane… It’s Superman, the competition between Superman and Batman played out on America’s newsstands. In its March 11, 1966, issue, Life magazine published an article titled “The Whole Country Goes Supermad,” covering The Mad Show (an off-Broadway show that opened January 9, 1966), the Batman TV program (which had its series debut January 12 of that year), and the then-upcoming Superman musical. In a last-minute decision, the Life cover (below) did not feature Holiday as Superman as had been planned; instead, it went to Adam West as Batman.

(More trivia: Linda Lavin was not only in the It’s Superman musical, she had been in The Mad Show just prior to that, singing “The Boy From…,” a satirical version of the hit song “The Girl from Ipanema,” with new lyrics credited to Esteban Ria Nido — a pseudonym for Stephen Sondheim!)

While It’s Superman was still doing preview performances prior to its opening night, Holiday made an appearance in costume as Superman on the TV game show I’ve Got A Secret and taught host Steve Allen how to fly.

The cost of tickets to It’s Superman had the best seats at a price that was – at the time – the highest on Broadway: $12 each!

The cover for the musical’s souvenir program must have had some knowledgeable comics fans wondering if Marvel knew about it?!

Cover and initial title page for the opening night Playbill

And now, here is It’s A Bird… It’s A Plane… It’s Superman — by the numbers (musical numbers, that is, including several audio selections from the 1966 cast album.)

(SPECIAL NOTE: The audio clips below were provided to YouTube by the album’s production company, Masterworks Broadway, a division of Sony Music Entertainment © 2025. Images below are from the New York Public Library archives and were originally photographed by Friedman-Abeles.)

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During the darkened stage Overture, we hear a gunshot, and then Lois and Superman speaking about him rescuing her — again.

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Doing Good: At curtain rise, Superman foils a bank robbery, then starts singing about doing good as he puts on his Clark Kent clothes inside a phone booth.

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We Need Him: Lois (center) and the people of Metropolis are clear about their feelings for Superman, as is jealous gossip columnist Max Mencken.

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It’s Superman: Despite her public acclaim of Superman, in private Lois laments that her love for the Metropolis Marvel is still just one-sided.

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Back at the Daily Planet, Lois meets Dr. Abner Sedgwick, scientist, who arrives to tell her that the nuclear reactor at the Metropolis Institute of Technology is showing signs of trouble and wants her to contact Superman to help. Of course, Clark listens in on the conversation and rushes there.

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We Don’t Matter at All: While Superman and Dr. Sedgwick (in a protective suit) are inside fixing the reactor, Sedgwick’s assistant, Jim Morgan, tries to win Lois’s affections but does so by telling her that neither she nor he are important in the grand scheme of things… but she rebuffs him for thinking that.

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Revenge: After they leave, Sedgwick drops his outward appearance of niceness, revealing his true personality. He is out for revenge on the world because he is a 10-time Nobel Prize loser! Instead of him being the subject of Metropolis’ admiration, it’s Superman! Sedgwick had tricked Lois and Superman into coming there, hoping the nuclear reactor would destroy the Man of Steel, but it did not, which sends Sedgwick into a state of near madness! He vows to succeed one way or another!

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The Woman for the Man: Though he has a girlfriend in his secretary, Sydney, egotistical columnist Max wants Lois and tries to seduce her by describing how wonderful he is.

Jack Cassidy sings “The Woman for the Man” to the pre-Broadway Lois Lane, Joan Hotchkis.

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You’ve Got Possibilities: Sydney is jealous of Max’s attention to Lois and she notices Clark at his desk. Sizing him up, she sings to him, “I see possibilities. Underneath, there’s something there.” With ardent aggressiveness, she almost opens his shirt, which would reveal the big red “S.” (Yet another trivia note: Linda Lavin had wanted to play Lois; however, as Sydney, she got to sing the most popular song in the show.)

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What I’ve Always Wanted: Jim continues to pursue Lois, and while she still has feelings for Superman, he kisses her and practically sweeps her off her feet. She is suddenly reflective about what she really wants in life, to be an ordinary wife and mother.

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Everything’s Easy When You Know How: Sedgwick employs Mr. Ling and the Flying Lings — a Chinese acrobatic group also angry with Superman because who wants to see them when he can REALLY fly? — and Sedgwick has them plant bombs at City Hall. (The song by the Lings was not recorded on the cast album and that may have been a good thing. The depiction of the Chinese acrobats in the show was highly racist, portrayed by caucasians in Asian makeup. In subsequent revivals, the characters were changed to non-Asians.)

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It’s Super Nice: Superman arrives for a celebration in his honor, put on by Dr. Sedgwick, and entertains the crowd…

…but while he does that, the bombs at City Hall suddenly explode and the building collapses!

Sedgwick pretends to be upset that Superman is here having a good time, instead of doing his job of protecting the people. The crowd’s admiration of Superman turns to anger.

END OF ACT ONE

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ACT TWO

Entr’acte:

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So Long, Big Guy: Max Mencken is joyous of Superman’s downfall in the public eye, savoring how he believes he will now become Metropolis’ most celebrated citizen.

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The Strongest Man in the World: When Clark doesn’t show up at work, Lois goes to his apartment and finds instead a despondent Superman who tells her Clark went away for a while and is letting him stay here. Lois says she realizes that he always comes to her rescue… but says she will no longer be a burden to him, that she has met someone.

She leaves before Superman blurts out that he loves her. The public’s rejection of him and her abrupt leaving affects him deeply. He admits that even “the strongest man — can cry.”

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Ooh, Do You Love You!: Meanwhile, Max continues to celebrate the downward popularity of Superman and reflects on his own greatness. Sydney lets him know there is someone who is completely devoted to him, who loves him above all others — himself!

However, Sydney misses seeing Max suddenly kidnapped by the Lings. They take him to Sedgwick, who has used his computer to uncover Superman’s true identity, knowing the costumed do-gooder’s constant interactions with the Daily Planet’s staff must mean he works there in disguise. And the computer says Superman is really — Max Mencken! Max tells Sedgwick that he is no more Superman than Clark Kent is — which makes Sedgwick suddenly realize Clark Kent is so forgettable that he forgot to include him among the suspects! He programs that into the computer and it comes back a match: Clark Kent is Superman!!!

You’ve Got What I Need: Max sees the story of the century in this and convinces Sedgwick to let him be his partner in the defeat of Superman. After all, his secretary, Sydney, is dating him, so he will be able to convince Clark to walk into a trap.

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It’s Superman (Reprise): Superman’s absence from the skies of Metropolis are the talk of the city, from Lois Lane to the villains to the citizens.

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Max invites Clark and Sydney to a party, and they accept. However, when they get to the address, they discover it is an abandoned power station. Max forces Sydney to leave and Sedgwick steps out of hiding to reveal an unconscious Lois tied to an electric generator. Clark is stopped from going to her because Sedgwick says any vibration would cause 6,000 watts to go through her body!

Sedgwick tells Max to leave but he refuses to go, and the Lings pull him away. Sedgwick then makes a psychological mess of Clark by convincing him that Superman’s desire to help people is actually a desperate need be loved by millions — who are now against him. He berates him over and over and over, and provides the ultimate undoing of Superman’s deteriorating mental state when he convinces Superman that his Kryptonian parents didn’t save him but actually put him in a rocket to “blast you out of their lives.”

Sedgwick tells him he will be happier if he remains Clark – and only Clark – permanently. Superman is reduced to a pathetic heap. At that moment, Jim arrives because Sydney called him to tell him Lois was in danger. Sedgwick gloats he has destroyed Superman, the symbol of good — forever! When Jim tries to stop him, Sedgwick has the Lings capture him.

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I’m Not Finished Yet: Later, Lois finally awakens to find herself tied to the generator, and Max is also a captive. Not knowing of Superman’s mental state, she believes her hero will come to rescue her. She states that though her hands are tied, her spirit is not. Sedgwick returns with the Lings, bringing in Jim. Lest Lois think Superman will help her, Sedgwick orders the costumed former champion to come in, still feeling emotionally powerless. Suddenly, Mr. Ling turns the tables on everyone, revealing they are all about to be all taken by a waiting submarine to Peking. When Lois screams for Superman to help, Mr. Ling strikes her. Jim attacks him but is shot by Ling!

Pow! Bam! Zonk!: Seeing that, Superman comes quickly out of his stupor and defeats the Lings in an acrobatic fight.

Sydney arrives with the police, and Sedgwick attempts to use Lois as a human shield when Superman flies up to rescue her.

However, the mad doctor falls to his death and all the loose ends of the story are quickly resolved: Jim will recover from his wound and realizes Lois belongs with Superman. Lois tells Superman he has rescued her…again. Max lets Sydney know he has the greatest scoop of all time, that Clark Kent is Superman; however, Sydney points out a nearby police officer and implies she will tell him of Max’s dastardly part in all this. Max bows to the pressure and keeps Superman’s identity secret.

Suddenly, another policeman arrives and says there is a missile headed toward Metropolis. This looks like a job for Superman!

“Up, up, and away!”

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Finale: Happy ending.

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The reviews for It’s A Bird… It’s A Plane… It’s Superman were excellent, with The New York Times declaring, “It is easily the best musical so far this season.” The show also garnered three Tony Award nominations — but it failed to attract audiences and, after just 129 performances, closed July 17, 1966. The predominant theory is that people could see the Batman TV show for free at home, so why go out and pay to see It’s Superman? However, DC did plug it within their comics as a hit:

The original cast album of the show was released in 1966 by Columbia Masterworks, containing all but two songs from the show: “Revenge (Reprise)” and “Everything’s Easy When You Know How.” (Speaking of albums, Bob Holiday also gave voice to Superman on a children’s record.)

A rare, nearly five-minute film sequence about Superman (Holiday) used within the Broadway production has survived. (Note: The early sequences are from the 1948 Superman movie serial.)

Subsequent to the Broadway production’s closing:

— Holiday went on to play Superman in two regional theater versions of the musical.

— In 1975, ABC aired a TV remake of the Broadway show with David Wilson as Kent/Superman. Unfortunately, it was a disaster.

— Writers David Newman and Robert Benton were both involved in scripting the first Christopher Reeve Superman.

— New York’s City Center’s Encores! did a revival of It’s A Bird… It’s A Plane… It’s Superman in 2013 with Edward Watts as Superman.

— Holiday later wrote about his experiences as the Man of Steel in his autobiography, Superman on Broadway (co-written by Chuck Harter).

The show has been revived in local productions since its closing, including one that was planned in Cleveland (birthplace of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster’s creation) in 1988 when the city celebrated the 50th anniversary of Superman’s first appearance in Action Comics #1. (Cleveland was also the location for the new Superman movie, doubling as Metropolis!)

As you come to the end of this article, remember what the people of Metropolis sang about Superman: “We need him!”

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MORE

— The Complete SUPERMAN WEEK INDEX of Columns and Features. Click here.

— PAUL KUPPERBERG: 13 SUPER WAYS to Celebrate SUPERMAN WEEK. Click here.

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13th Dimension contributor-at-large PETER BOSCH’s first book, American TV Comic Books: 1940s-1980s – From the Small Screen to the Printed Page, was published by TwoMorrows. (You can buy it here.) A sequel, American Movie Comic Books: 1930s-1970s — From the Silver Screen to the Printed Page, is due soon. (You can pre-order here.) Peter has written articles and conducted celebrity interviews for various magazines and newspapers. He lives in Hollywood.