Barry Manilow's Copacabana, which opened June 15 at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, is based on Manilow's hit song "Copacabana." The show's plot involves a songwriter working on a composition about the Copacabana. He dreams up Lola, a girl from the Midwest who wants to be a star. In addition to the bright lights, big city of New York, Lola's exploits take her to Havana, where she encounters lusty pirates and "pirattes."
Costume designer David Woolard says he watched many 1940s movie musicals to "get the feel of the Technicolor world and reflect it through our modern times." He adds that the Copa city scene costumes have sophisticated city colorations, while Havana scenes feature "frighteningly garish" costumes.
Copacabana also features several show numbers--"Sweet Heaven," where girls parade in lit-up constellation costumes, and "El Bravo," featuring those lusty pirates.