Jerry Herman is one of Broadway's most prolific musical creators and The Best of Times features music from his record-breaking and award winning shows Hello Dolly!, Mame, La Cage aux Folles and Mack and Mabel as well as the lesser known musicals Milk and Honey, Dear World, The Grand Tour and the most recent, Mrs Santa Claus.

The Best Of Times (originally titled Tune the Grand Up) was conceived by Paul Gilger in 1980 for his hometown community theatre in Mansfield, Ohio. Paul felt certain that the focus of this revue would be Jerry Herman's messages and that the lyrics would lead him to the songs. Paul set out to create a show where the songs, and their messages, carried their own weight. Jerry Herman's The Best Of Times opens with a singer contemplating a phrase from Hello, Dolly! then segues into the festive "It's Today" from Mame where he is joined by more spirited singers who carry out the welcoming message. From there the show slides into a seamless dialogue of lyric and music enabling the performers to "speak" and interact through Jerry Herman's songs. Original and clever twists are introduced to give the songs a welcome surprise.

Paul Gilger found an opportunity to present the revue in a newly formed cabaret club atop San Francisco's Nob Hill called The 1177 Club. In May, 1985, the show opened and was a hit receiving audience and critical response alike. Rave reviews, full houses and a bevy of awards greeted Jerry Herman who arrived after hearing from his longtime friend, Ted Hook, from Shubert Alley's famed Ted Hook's BackStage, that something special was happening in San Francisco. The success continued for two and a half years at which time a second company headed to San Diego for a warm reception at the San Diego Repertory's Lyceum Theater where the Revue, once again, sent the crowds out humming.

The show had a very successful professional run at the Bridewell and Vaudeville theatres in London in 1998.