Nutty Professor Producers Say Hamlisch Left Completed Score

Marvin Hamlisch; photo by Len Price

The old adage “the show must go on” is particularly true this week for The Nutty Professor. Its composer, Marvin Hamlisch, died suddenly Tuesday. That means one less voice on the creative team that’s putting final touches on the musical in Nashville before trying to take it to Broadway.

Hamlisch was scheduled to come to town this week. It would have been his first chance to see the production fully-staged—and, of course, to offer notes on any changes he thought were needed. But Hamlisch had been involved in rehearsals before the show came to TPAC. And producer Mac Pirkle says the composer left behind all the music they need.

“Cuts, tweaks, edits, whatever’s going to happen, our ability to utilize that score, continue to use that music and look back at songs that are written that aren’t in the show right now-I think we’re in great shape.”

One song takes on a degree of poignancy with the composer’s death: the ballad about taking advantage of life’s every moment is called “While I Still Have The Time.”