Who Could Ask for Anything More? A Celebration of Ira Gershwin

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Original releaseNetworkBBCRelease31 December 1996 (1996-12-31)

Who Could Ask for Anything More? A Celebration of Ira Gershwin (24 November 1996) was a concert at the Royal Albert Hall, London, written and directed for the stage by Hugh Wooldridge in aid of Mencap to celebrate the centenary of Ira Gershwin's birth.^[1]^[2] It was initially broadcast on BBC Radio 2 (UK) on 7 December 1996,^[3] on television on BBC Two (UK) on 31 December 1996^[4] and A&E Networks (US) on 9 August 1997.^[5]

Background

The TV show was produced by Ian Martin^[6] and directed by Paul Kafno.^[7] Those performing included: Peter Barkworth; Tracie Bennett; Sarah Brightman; Tim Flavin; Maria Friedman;^[8] Greg Horsman; Derek Jacobi; Nigel Planer;^[9] Michael Praed; Helen Shapiro and Dave Willetts. It was hosted by Charles Dance and David Soul.^[7]^[10]

Present at the event were Ira Gershwin's family and the then Prime Minister John Major.^[11]

Songs

Songs performed for the TV show included (in TV show order):^[12]

Part 1

"I Got Rhythm" – The Gershwin All Stars
"The Saga of Jenny" – Ruthie Henshall
"They Can't Take That Away from Me" – Paul Nicholas^[a]
"I Don't Think I'll Fall In Love Today" – Gerard Casey and Linzi Hateley
"Love Is Here To Stay" – Debbie Gravitte
"The Man I Love" - Megan Kelly and Paul Gyngell (with dancers Lisa Pavane and Greg Horsman)
"Love Walked In" – Shona Lindsay and Gareth Snook

Part 2

"Shoes With Wings On" - The Gershwin All Stars
"Shall We Dance?" – Fiona Benjamin and Tim Flavin
"My Ship" – Linzi Hateley and Grania Renihan
"Delishious" – Stephanie Pope
"Embraceable You" – Marti Webb
"The Man That Got Away" – Lorna Luft
"Strike Up the Band" – John Barrowman and the company

Part 3

"Instrumental medley" – The London Gershwin Orchestra
"But Not For Me" – Fiona Benjamin
"I Can't Be Bothered Now" – Tim Flavin and The Crazy For You Dancers
"I Can't Get Started" – Daniel Benzali and Liz Robertson
"How Long Has This Been Going On?" – B.J. Crosby^[b]
"There Is No Music" - Lorna Dallas and Don Pippa

Part 4

"I've Got a Crush on You" - Michael McCarthy and Grania Renihan
"Little Jazz Bird" – Maureen McGovern
"It Ain't Necessarily So" – Victor Trent Cook
"He Loves and She Loves" – Larry Adler and The Gershwin All-Stars, introduced by Leslie Caron
"Heaven on Earth" – Michael McCarthy and Company

Notes

^ In the UK televised version of the show only.
^ Moved to part 1 of the show for the US televised version just before "I Don't Think I'll Fall In Love Today".

References

^ Staff writer (7 November 1996). "Production news". The Stage. p. 55. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
^ Staff writer (19 December 1996). "Light entertainment review: A Celebration of Ira Gershwin". The Stage. p. 17. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
^ Staff writer (5 December 1996). "Who Could Ask for Anything More? BBC Radio 2, 7 December 1996 19.30". Radio Times. No. 3802. p. 122. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
^ Staff writer (31 December 1996). "Who Could Ask for Anything More? BBC Two England, 31 December 1996 19.15". Radio Times. No. 3804. p. 136. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
^ Shales, Tom (9 August 1997). "A birthday without the bubbly". The Washington Post. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
^ Staff writer (August 2011). "Ian Robert Martin". BAFTA. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
^ ^a ^b Staff writer. "Who Could Ask for Anything More? A Celebration of Ira Gershwin (1996)". British Film Institute (BFI). Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
^ "Concerts". About Maria: The Maria Friedman website. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
^ "Planer, Nigel (1953-)". British Film Institute (BFI). Retrieved 5 March 2018.
^ Staff writer. "Who Could Ask for Anything More? A Celebration of Ira Gershwin (1997)". Turner Classic Movies (TCM). Archived from the original on 6 March 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
^ "Michael McCarthy". Profs on Stage. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2018.
^ "Ken Mandelbaum's MUSICALS ON DISC: Always, etc". Playbill. 17 August 1997. Retrieved 5 March 2018.