Overview
Synopsis
On the Twentieth Century centers around the egomaniacal theatre producer Oscar Jaffee and his volatile personal and professional relationship with the spoiled actress Lily Garland. After producing four flops in a row, Jaffee's theater is being foreclosed. He then books a suite on the luxury train the Twentieth Century Limited, heading from Chicago to New York City with Garland and her new beau, narcissistic heartthrob Bruce Granit, on board, in the hope he can lure her back to the stage and salvage his sinking career. Garland, who abhors Jaffee, is just as determined to escape his charm, and a battle of wits begins as the locomotive travels across the country. However, despite their animosity, perhaps this arrogant couple deserve each other after all! The Tony-award winning score and book capture the screwball comedy of the situations perfectly, as well as the sound and feel of the moving train.
Show Information
- Book
- Betty Comden , Adolph Green
- Music
- Cy Coleman
- Lyrics
- Betty Comden , Adolph Green
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Twentieth Century, 1932 play by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1978
- Genres
- Comedy
- Settings
- Period, Spectacle
- Time & Place
- 1930s, On a train
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- 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 Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone, Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Non-singer |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
Songs
Act One
- Stranded Again – Bishop, Actors, Singers
- Saddle Up the Horse – Owen O'Malley & Oliver Webb
- On the Twentieth Century – Porters, Letitia, Conductor, Flanagan, Rogers, Passengers
- I Rise Again – Oscar Jaffe, Owen & Oliver
- Indian Maiden's Lament – Imelda & Mildred Plotka
- Veronique – Lily Garland & Male Singers
- I Have Written a Play – Conductor Flanagan
- Together – Poters & Passengers, Oliver
- Never – Lily, Owen, & Oliver
- This Is The Day – Lily & Agnes
- Our Private World – Lily & Oscar
- Repent – Letitia
- Mine – Oscar & Bruce Granit
- I've Got it All – Lily & Oscar
- On the Twentieth Century (reprise) – Company
Act Two
- Entr'acte: Life is Like a Train – Porters
- Five Zeros – Owen, Oliver, Letitia, & Oscar
- Sextet – Owen, Oliver, Oscar, Letitia, Lily, Bruce
- She's a Nut – Company
- Max Jacobs – Max
- Babbette – Lily
- The Legacy ("Because of Her" for 2015 revival) – Oscar
- Lily, Oscar – Lily & Oscar
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
Overly exaggerated, sensationalized, or sentimental.
A type of theatre which draws attention to the nature of theatre and performance, often through a "play within a play"
A short and usually humorous opera, generally incorporating more spoken dialogue than traditional opera.
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