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New Girl in Town

Musical

Overview

Synopsis

New Girl in Town is based on Anna Christie, Eugene O'Neill's Pulitzer Prize-winning play. Chris, an old Swedish sailor, is ecstatic when his daughter, Anna, comes to visit him after fifteen years of estrangement. He envisions her still as his sweet, innocent, little girl, but the truth is very different. Chris’ live-in companion, Marthy, discovers that Anna is a former prostitute who has recently served time in jail. Anna has come to New York for shelter from her father, her only remaining possibility of rebuilding her shattered life.Slowly, Anna finds stability and even begins to fall in love for the first time with love-sick sailor, Mat. However, her happiness is short-lived when a jealous Marthy reveals Anna’s secret at a neighborhood ball. Rejected by Mat, Anna sets to rebuilding her life alone, until she receives a surprise visit the following year.

New Girl in Town was written as a star vehicle for Gwen Verdon and is subsequently the perfect showcase for a talented "triple-threat" performer.

Show Information

Music
Lyrics
Based on
Eugene O'Neill's Anna Christie (1921)
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1957
Genres
Drama, Romance
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
New York City, 1921
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
Medium
Dancing
Some Dance
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast

Characters

Character Portrayals

See StageAgent members who have performed roles in New Girl in Town.

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Songs

Act 1

  • * Roll Yer Socks Up - Ensemble
  • Anna Lilla - Chris
  • Sunshine Girl - Larry, Ensemble
  • On the Farm - Anna
  • Flings - Marthy, Lily, Pearl
  • It's Good To Be Alive - Anna
  • Look at 'Er - Mat
  • It's Good To Be Alive (reprise) - Mat
  • Yer My Friend, Aintcha? - Marthy, Chris
  • Did You Close Your Eyes? - Anna, Mat
  • * At the Check Apron Ball - Ensemble
  • * There Ain't No Flies on Me - Anna, Ensemble

Act 2

  • * Ven I Valse - Anna, Chris, Ensemble
  • Sunshine Girl (reprise) - Ensemble
  • If That Was Love - Anna
  • * Ballet - Anna, Ensemble
  • Chess and Checkers - Marthy, Ensemble
  • Look at 'Er (reprise) - Mat

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.

Videos

Quizzes

Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher