Wonderful Town
A Musical Comedy in 2 Acts, 13 Scenes. Book by Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodorov. Based on the play My Sister Eileen by Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodorov and the stories of the same name by Ruth McKenney. Music by Leonard Bernstein. Lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green.
- Dances and musical numbers staged by Donald Saddler.
- Sets and costumes by Raoul Pene du Bois.
- Lighting by Peggy Clark.
- Miss Russell's clothes by Main Bocher.
- Musical direction and vocal arrangements by Lehman Engel.
- Orchestrations by Don Walker.
- Production directed by George Abbott.
Winter Gardens Theatre, New York - Opened 25 February, 1978 :
Closed 3 July, 1954 (559 perfs)
Princes Theatre, London - 24 February, 1955; Queen's Theatre, London
- 7 August, 1986
Synopsis
Greenwich Village was an exciting place in 1930s New York. It is as it was then home to the city's artistic community. Ruth, a writer, and her sister Eileen who wants a stage career, take lodgings in the Village. Where they live is not ideal and there is building work going on all around them and there is also a constant stream of, to say the least, bizarre visitors mainly because Eileen is the sort of girl everyone wants to help - and does - with food and gifts. Ruth, on the other hand, is pursuing her journalistic career although Bob Baker, the associate editor of the Manhatter is not overly impressed with Ruth's overwritten efforts. He suggests to her that she should use her own experiences and write from those.
Ruth is deputed to interview some young Brazilians who have arrived in port. Unfortunately, the visitors know only three words of English, American, dance and conga. Ruth is lead a merry dance around and through the streets of Greenwich Village and the company is promptly arrested.
Bob actually likes what Ruth has written and submitted about the Brazilians but when his editor turns it down, Bob resigns. This causes a dilemma for the two sisters. Is it to be back to Columbus, Ohio for the two girls? Eileen likes Bob but she already has plenty of suitors; on the other hand Ruth is really attracted to him. Then fate intervenes. The newspapers are full of the blonde-bombshell who hijacked the Brazilian Navy. Who is this femme fatale - it is none other than our Eileen. However, she is offered a cabaret spot in a nightclub. Her act is a resounding success. Resulting from this, Ruth gets her Bob - and a press accreditation - and Eileen - well, just about everything else.......!
Original Cast
(in order of appearance):
- Guide: Warren Galjour
- Appopolous: HENRY LASCOE
- Lonigan: Walter Kelvin
- Helen: Michele Burke
- Wreck: JORDAN BENTLEY
- Violet: Dody Goodman
- Valenti: Ted Beniades
- Eileen: EDITH ADAMS
- Ruth: ROSALIND RUSSELL
- A Strange Man: Nathaniel Frey
- Drunks: Lee Papell, Delbert Anderson
- Robert Baker: GEORGE GAYNES
- Associate Editors: Warren Galjour, Albert Linville
- Mrs Wade: Isabella Hoopes
- Frank Lippencott: CRIS ALEXANDER
- Chef: Nathaniel Frey
- Waiter: Delbert Anderson
- Delivery Boy: Alvin Bean
- Chick Clark: DORT CLARK
- Shore Patrolman: Lee Papell
- First Cadet: David Lober
- Second Cadet: Ray Dorian
- Policemen: Lee Papell, Albert Linville, Delbert Anderson, Chris Robinson, Nathaniel Frey, Warren Galjour, Robert Kole
- Ruth's Escort: Chris Robinson
Greenwich Villagers: Jean Eliot, Carol Cole, Marta Becket, Maxine Berke, Helena Seroy, Geraldine Delaney, Margaret Cady, Dody Goodman, Ed Balin, Alvin Bean, Ray Dorian, Edward Heim, Joe Layton, David Lober, Victor Moreno, William Weslow, Pat Johnson, Evelyn Page, Libi Staiger, Patty Wilkes, Helen Rice, Delbert Anderson, Warren Galjour, Robert Kole, Lee Papell, Chris Robinson
Musical Numbers
- Christopher Street - Guide, Villagers
- Ohio - Ruth, Eileen
- Conquering New York (Dance) - Ruth, Eileen, First Cadet, Violet, Villagers
- One Hundred Easy Ways - Ruth
- What a Waste - Robert Baker, Associate Editors
- Story Vignettes (by Betty Comden and Adolph Green) - Rexford, Mr. Mallory, Danny, Trent
- Never Felt This Way Before (A Little Bit in Love) - Eileen
- Pass The Football - Wreck, Villagers
- Conversation Piece (Nice People, Nice Talk) - Ruth, Eileen, Frank Lippencott, Robert Baker, Chick Clark
- A Quiet Girl - Robert Baker
- Conga! - Ruth : Danced by the Cadets
- (Finale—Act 1 Conga! reprise) - Ruth, Ensemble
- My Darlin' Eileen - Eileen, Lee Pappell, Police
- Swing! - Ruth, Villagers
- Ohio (reprise) - Ruth, Eileen
- It's Love - Robert Baker, Eileen, Villagers
- (The Village Vortex Blues dance) (Let It Come Down) - Villagers
- Wrong Note Rag - Ruth, Eileen, Villagers
- (Finale—Act 2 It's Love reprise) - Entire Company
Scenes and settings
Act 1
Scene 1: Christopher Street, Greenwich Village, New York City, 1935.
Scene 2: Ruth and Eileen's Studio Apartment.
Scene 3: Christopher Street.
Scene 4: Baker's Office at the Madhatter.
Scene 5: The Street.
Scene 6: The Back Yard.
Scene 7: The Navy Yard.
Scene 8: The Back Yard.
Act 2
Scene 1: The Christopher Street Station House.
Scene 2: The Street.
Scene 3: The Studio Apartment.
Scene 4: The Street in front of the Village Vortex.
Scene 5: The Village Vortex.
Wonderful Town - Souvenir Brochure |
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