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Overview

Synopsis

Even though Jimmy Smith has become a millionaire, due to his Bible publishing business, his wife, Sue, remains frugal and has little desire for money. Her main concern is raising their adopted daughter, Nanette, into a respectable lady. Since he's filthy rich, however, as has nothing to do with his wealth, Jimmy bankrolls the lives of three beautiful women. Jimmy realizes how bad it could be if Sue found out and got the wrong idea about his relationship with these three women. He enlists the help of his lawyer friend, Billy, to help him get out of the pickle in exchange for a generous sum. They make plans to meet all three girls in Atlantic City to have a little fun -- and also break off all further contact. Meanwhile, young Nanette, who has an untapped wild side, sneaks off to Atlantic City to has some fun before she settles down with her beloved, Tom Trainor. When Nanette runs into Tom on her travels, she is shocked -- and he is even more upset. Meanwhile, Sue and Billy's wife, Lucille, have -- unbeknownst to their husbands -- planned a quiet weekend away, and run into their husbands, along with the three girls. Chaos breaks loose -- the threat of scandal looms large, threatening to end love affairs and even marriages -- but ultimately everything is cleared up, and all is well as the curtain falls. With a delightful score that includes the famous "Tea for Two" and "I Want to Be Happy," the lighthearted ' No, No, Nanette was once called "The Happiest Show In Town."

Show Information

Book
Otto Harbach , Frank Mandel , Burt Shevelove
Music
Vincent Youmans
Lyrics
Otto Harbach , Irving Caesar
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
3
First Produced
1925
Genres
Comedy, Farce, Romance
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
New York City, Atlantic City, 1925
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
Large
Dancing
Some Dance
Licensor
Concord Theatricals
Ideal For
High School, Community Theatre, College/University, Mostly Female Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Early Teen, Late Teen, Young Adult, Elderly Characters, Medium Cast

Context

Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Jimmy Smith

Lead

Male

Tenor

Nanette

Lead

Female

Soprano

Sue Smith

Supporting

Female

Alto

Billy Early

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Lucille Early

Supporting

Female

Alto

Tom Trainor

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Pauline

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Betty

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Winnie

Featured

Female

Soprano

Flora

Featured

Female

Alto

Songs

Act One

  • "Only a Moment Ago" - Sue and Jimmy
  • "Too Many Rings Around Rosie" – Lucille, Boys
  • "I've Confessed to the Breeze" – Tom, Nanette
  • "Call of the Sea" – Billy
  • "I Want to Be Happy (and dance)" – Jimmy, Nanette, Boys
  • "No, No, Nanette/Finaletto Act I" – Nanette, Tom, Chorus

Act Two

  • "Peach on the Beach (and dance)" – Chorus and Nanette
  • "The Three Happies" – Flora, Betty, Winnie
  • "Tea for Two (and dance)" – Tom, Nanette, Chorus
  • "You Can Dance with Any Girl (and dance)" – Lucille, Billy
  • "Finaletto Act II" – Company

Act Three

  • "Telephone Girlie" – Billy, Flora, Betty, Winnie
  • "Where-Has-My-Hubby-Gone Blues" – Lucille, Boys
  • "Waiting for You" – Tom, Nanette
  • "Take a Little One-Step" – Sue, Company
  • "Finale" – Company

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

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Scenes

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