Overview
Synopsis
The year is 1962 and the place is New York City. Chuck Baxter is a young, ambitious clerk working for the New York insurance company, Consolidated Life. Chuck is eager to climb the corporate ladder but, unfortunately for him, he’s the type of guy no-one really notices. However, he hits on a plan: in return for allowing the firm's executives to use his midtown apartment for their extramarital love affairs, they agree to sing his praises to the company managers. However, trouble occurs when Chuck discovers that the object of his own love, Fran Kubelik, is caught in a complicated love affair with the powerful personnel manager, J.D Sheldrake...to whom Chuck has just lent his apartment! Throw in a nosy neighbor who is convinced that Chuck is a womanizing cad and a large quantity of sleeping pills and it's a recipe for disaster...or is it? With a score by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, the musical provided two hit singles for Dionne Warwick (“Promises, Promises” and “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again”)
Show Information
- Book
- Neil Simon
- Music
- Burt Bacharach
- Lyrics
- Hal David
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Billy Wilder and I.A.L Diamond's 1960 film, The Apartment
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1968
- Genres
- Comedy, Farce, Romance
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- New York City, 1962
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Large Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Alto, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass-Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass, Bass-Baritone |
Songs
Act One
- "Overture" - Orchestra
- "Half as Big as Life" - Chuck
- "Grapes of Roth" - Orchestra
- "Upstairs" - Chuck
- "You'll Think of Someone" - Chuck & Fran
- "Our Little Secret" - Chuck & Sheldrake
- "I Say a Little Prayer" ^ - Fran
- "She Likes Basketball" - Chuck
- "Knowing When to Leave" - Fran
- "Where Can You Take a Girl?" - Dobitch, Kirkeby, Eichelberger, & Vanderhof
- "Wanting Things" - Sheldrake
- "* Turkey Lurkey Time" - Miss Della Hoya, Miss Polansky, Miss Wong, & Ensemble
- "A House Is Not a Home" ^ - Fran
Act Two
- "* A Fact Can Be a Beautiful Thing" - Marge & Chuck
- "Whoever You Are (I Love You)" - Fran
- "Christmas Day" - Orchestra
- "A House Is Not A Home (reprise)" ^ - Chuck
- "A Young Pretty Girl Like You" - Dr. Dreyfuss & Chuck
- "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" - Chuck & Fran
- "Promises, Promises" - Chuck
- "I'll Never Fall In Love Again (reprise)" ^ - Chuck & Fran
^ Songs added for the 2010 Broadway revival.
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Alexandra Appleton
Writer, editor and theatre researcher