Overview
Synopsis
A new take on the 1920s musical farce, Nice Work If You Can Get It features the iconic music of George and Ira Gershwin. Billie Bendix, a tough-as-nails bootlegger, and wealthy playboy Jimmy Winter, meet on the weekend of his impending wedding. Jimmy has a habit of marrying chorus girls, but needs to settle down with a respectable woman before his mother will hand over the family business. He has gotten engaged to Eileen Evergreen, the self-proclaimed finest interpreter of modern dance, hoping that this will be a better choice than his usual chorus dancer. Needing somewhere to stash 400 bottles of gin, Billie swipes Jimmy’s wallet and hides her stash in his empty Long Island beach house. However, when the wedding party arrives at the beach house, the bootleggers must juggle the guests and their business. With a Drama Desk award for Outstanding Book of a Musical, Nice Work If You Can Get It is a definite crowd-pleaser that will have audiences singing along in the aisles.
Show Information
- Book
- Joe DiPietro
- Music
- George Gershwin , Ira Gershwin
- Lyrics
- George Gershwin , Ira Gershwin
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Inspired by materials from P.G. Wodehouse and Guy Bolton
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2012
- Genres
- Comedy, Farce
- Settings
- Period, Spectacle
- Time & Place
- Long Island, 1927
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Heavy
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone, Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
Songs
ACT ONE
- Sweet and Lowdown - Jeannie, Jimmy, & Chorus
- Nice Work If You Can Get It - Jimmy
- Nice Work If You Can Get It (Reprise) - Billie
- Demon Rum - Duchess, Senator, Chief Berry, & Boys
- Someone to Watch Over Me - Billie
- Delishious - Eileen & Chorus
- I’ve Got to Be There - Jimmy, Jeannie & Girls
- I’ve Got to Be There (Reprise) - Jeannie & Girls
- Treat Me Rough - Billie
- Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off - Jimmy, Billie, & Chief Berry
- Do It Again - Jeannie & Duke
- ‘S Wonderful - Jimmy & Billie
- Fascinating Rhythm - Jimmy, Cookie, Boys, & Girls
ACT TWO
- But Not for Me - Billie
- By Strauss - Duchess
- Sweet and Lowdown (Reprise) - Duchess & Cookie
- Do, Do, Do - Jimmy & Boys
- Hangin’ Around With You (Part 1, 2, 3) - Billie
- Looking for a Boy - Duchess & Cookie
- Blah, Blah, Blah - Duke
- Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off (Reprise) - Billie & Jimmy
- Will You Remember Me? - Billie & Jimmy
- We’ve Got to Be There - Boys & Girls
- I’ve Got a Crush on You - Eileen & Chorus
- Blah, Blah, Blah (Reprise) - Jeannie & Duke
- Looking for a Boy - Cookie & Duchess
- Delishious (Reprise) - Chief Berry & Eileen
- Someone to Watch Over Me (Reprise) - Jimmy & Billie
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:
Emma Houlahan
Canadian vocalist and actor now based in London.