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[0:01] Patrick Oliver Jones: More than 40 years ago, in the heart of Times Square, five theaters were torn down to make way for a huge hotel and theater complex.

[0:11] Patrick Oliver Jones: I guess I could only speak to you personally about what the theater means. I can tell you that I know that the heart of New York City is the theater. I can tell you that to tear out these venues is better a part of the heart of this city.

[0:28] Patrick Oliver Jones: Where these historic theater buildings once stood, now stands a Marriott Hotel and the Marquee Theater, one of Broadway's youngest venues. And in season one of Closing Night, we'll be exploring some of the famous and forgotten musicals that have played here.

[0:44] Patrick Oliver Jones: At first, before the show opened, they had trouble getting rights to the Henry Mancini music, so Frank Wildhorn wrote an entirely new score that none of the movie music was in. Some shows only lasted a few days, while others lasted years at the Marquee Theater.

[1:00] Patrick Oliver Jones: And throughout this first season, you'll get behind-the-scenes stories and fascinating histories from actors, directors, and other creatives involved in these productions.

[1:11] Patrick Oliver Jones: Oh, he's a music machine. He can't put his fingers on the keyboard without writing an attractive melody. In a sense, it's almost his weakness as well as his strength, because if you can write too many good melodies, it's hard to have the one exceptional melody.

[1:25] Patrick Oliver Jones: Being on stage with her, she was doing this incredibly dramatic role. But she was able to just goof around on stage like she would turn her back to the audience and pull a face at you and make you laugh, and then turn around and she'd be back in character. She was amazing like that, and we just adored her.

[1:43] Patrick Oliver Jones: You'll also learn about how and why these musicals closed, and at times how the Marquee Theater itself affected the longevity of their run. I don't want to paint such a negative picture. It was fun. I mean, and we were working the Dolly part. Like it was great, you know, but comparing rehearsal processes, that this process was the most difficult.

[2:07] Patrick Oliver Jones: And I'll never forget Nick Standalias from Louislander came down to help. And I said, Nick, I love you. I love the needle handers. I'm a family man, but you know what? Don't take this personally. I am never playing this theater again with this. It was actually a hilarious moment.

[2:25] Patrick Oliver Jones: I'm Patrick Oliver Jones, and I'll be your guide all summer long as we chronicle shows that have come and gone from the Marquee Theater and their journey to closing night.