Louisiana Purchase

A musical comedy in 2 acts, 15 scenes: Music & Lyrics by Irving Berlin. Book by Morrie Ryskind. Based on a story by Buddy G. DeSylva:

Imperial Theatre, Broadway - May 28, 1940 (444 perfs)

Synopsis

This 1940 hit musical could have been ripped from yesterday's American headlines. Set in New Orleans, the musical lampoons Huey Long and his strangle-hold on Louisiana Politics. When Senator Loganberry arrives in the Big Easy to investigate the dubious doings at the Louisiana Purchasing Company, it isn't long before he's set up for plenty of trouble himself. The original orchestrations (by the incomparable Robert Russell Bennet and N. Lang Van Cleve) have been meticulously restored.

Musical Numbers:

(taken from the NY Revival Cast Recording)

* Not in the original production.

Overture
Apolgia *
Sex Marches On
Louisiana Purchase
It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow
I'd Love to Be Shot From a Cannon With You
It'll Come to You
Outside of That, I Love You
Your Lonely and I'm Lonely
Dance With Me (Tonight at the Mardi Gras)
Wild About You *
Latins Know How
What Chance Have I With Love? (also used in the film version of Call Me Madam)
The Lord Done Fixed Up My Soul
Fools Fall In Love
Old Man's Darling - Young Man's Slave (Ballet)
You Can't Brush Me Off

Cast:

10 men, 6 women and chorus

Sam Liebowitz
Colonel Davis D. Davis Snr.
Colonel Davis D. Davis Jnr.
Dean Joseph Manning
Captain Whitfield
Jim Taylor
Beatrice
Lee Davis
Emmy-Lou
Marina van Linden
Madame Yvonne Bordelaise
Senator Oliver P. Loganberry
Alphonse

plus The Martins and the Lousianans

Scenes and settings

Act I

Scene 1: Lawyer's Office
Scene 2: Library of Jefferson Davis Club
Scene 3: Street scene
Scene 4: Madame Bordelaise's café
Scene 5: A Park
Scene 6: Private Room, Madame Bordelaise's Café
Scene 7: Street Scene
Scene 8: Mardi Gras Ball

Act II

Scene 1: Mardi Gras Ball
Scene 2: A Park
Scene 3: A Wood
Scene 4: Street Scene
Scene 5: Senator Loganberry's Hotel Apartment
Scene 6: Near the Capitol
Scene 7: The State Capitol, Baton Rouge

Instrumentation:

Reed I (piccolo, flute, clarinet, alto sax), Reed II (flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto sax), Reed III (clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax) Reed IV (oboe, cor anglais, clarinet, tenor sax), Reed V (Flute, alto flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, baritone sax). 3 Trumpets, 2 trombones, drums/percussion, guitar, piano, 6 violins, 2 violas, 2 celli, 2 bass.

Discography

1996 Original New York Cast Recording - DRG 94766