Explore this Show
Overview
Synopsis
Gigi, a colorful and sophisticated tale with a sentimental heart, takes place in the ornate, elegant Paris of the 1900s -- when gentlemen of leisure strolled the verdant boulevards, and working girls in the oldest profession attained social heights as elegant courtesans, cultured ladies of some standing who served as public mistresses to lucky, wealthy men. Bright, appealing young Gigi, still a rambunctious girl-child, is being raised by her loving grandmother, Madame Alvarez, and her stern Aunt Alicia, the former flame of numerous royalty, to follow in their path. Gigi finds her lessons in deportment tedious, and would rather skip class and play at cards with Gaston Lachailles, an indolent and wealthy young visitor to her home. Gaston’s uncle, Honore, himself a former lover of Madame Alvarez, is trying to interest his nephew in the dissipated life: parties, girls, roulette, and more girls are the things that make life worth living! But Gaston is only happy in the humble Alvarez abode, clowning around with the girl he thinks of as his little sister. When Gigi blossoms into a beautiful young woman, both she and Gaston will have to confront the reality of their feelings for each other, and Gigi, fighting for her happiness, will have to convince her loved ones to look beyond the usual business arrangement. Filled with such beloved Lerner and Loewe compositions as the effervescent “The Night They Invented Champagne,” the sweepingly romantic “Gigi,” and the wry, nostalgic “I Remember It Well,” not to mention the classic “Thank Heaven for Little Girls,” Gigi is scandalous and sweet, a romantic story of puppy love, and a look at the business realities of life.
Show Information
- Book
- Alan Jay Lerner
- Music
- Frederick Loewe
- Lyrics
- Alan Jay Lerner
- Based On Book By
- Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Based on the book/film
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1973
- Genres
- Comedy, Romance
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- 1900s, paris, france
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, High School, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Mature Adult, Young Adult, Adult, Late Teen, Child, Early Teen Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone |
Songs
Act One
- Overture
- Thank Heaven for Little Girls - Honore
- It's a Bore - Honore, Gaston
- The Earth and Other Minor Things - Gigi
- Paris Is Paris Again - Honore
- She Is Not Thinking of Me - Gaston
- It's a Bore (Reprise) - Honore, Gaston
- *The Night They Invented Champagne - Gigi, Gaston, Madame Alvarez
- I Remember It Well - Honore, Madame Alvarez
- I Never Want to Go Home Again - Gigi, Company
- *Gigi at the Beach (Ballet)
Act Two
- Gigi - Gaston
- The Contract - Alicia, Madame Alvarez, Du Fresne, Duclos
- I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore - Honore
- In This Wide, Wide World - Gigi
- Thank Heaven for Little Girls (Reprise) - Honore, 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
Scenes
Key Terms
Sorry! We do not currently have terms for this guide.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Quote Analysis
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
