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Overview

Synopsis

Jimmy Reeve takes his role as guardian very seriously—perhaps too seriously—locking up his three dazzling wards’ most treasured possessions in a safe. June’s precious pearl necklace? Locked away. Frankie’s oh-so-private diary? Also confiscated and secured. But there’s one small problem—Frankie’s diary is a ticking time bomb of scandalous secrets, and she needs it back.

Enter Peter Thurston, a dashing aviator with questionable burglary skills. Frankie ropes him into a daring heist, but instead of reclaiming the diary, Peter—who clearly missed the “thief-in-training” handbook—accidentally snags June’s pearls instead. Chaos erupts, sending everyone on a wild, laugh-out-loud chase to the Atlantic City pier.

And just to keep things interesting, two utterly incompetent burglars, Herbert and Dugsie, also have their eyes on the safe. Their partnership takes a hilarious nosedive when Herbert, in a moment of criminal hesitation, realizes he forgot to get a shooting license and therefore cannot legally shoot his partner-in-crime.

With mistaken identities, slapstick blunders, and romance in the air, Funny Face is a rollicking adventure where love, larceny, and laughter collide in the most delightful way!

Show Information

Lyrics
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1927
Genres
Romance, Comedy
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
Lake Wapatog, New Jersey, Atlantic City, New Jersey, 1920s
Cast Size
small
Orchestra Size
Medium
Dancing
Some Dance
Ideal For
Community Theatre, College/University, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult Characters, Small Cast

Context

Characters

Character Portrayals

See StageAgent members who have performed roles in Funny Face.

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Songs

Act One

  • "Birthday Party" – Dora, June and Guests
  • "Once" – Dugsie Gibbs, Dora and Ensemble
  • "Funny Face" – Frankie and Jimmy Reeve
  • "High Hat" – Jimmy Reeve and Boys
  • "'S Wonderful" – Frankie and Peter Thurston
  • "Let's Kiss and Make Up" – Frankie, Jimmy Reeve and Ensemble
  • "Come Along, Let's Gamble" – Entire Company

Act Two

  • "In the Swim" – Girls
  • "He Loves and She Loves" – Frankie and Peter Thurston
  • "Tell the Doc" – Dugsie Gibbs and Girls
  • "My One and Only (What Am I Going To Do?)" – Jimmy Reeve, June, Dora and Girls
  • "Sing a Little Song" – Pianists, Ritz Quartette, and Boys
  • "My One and Only (What Am I Going to Do?)" (Reprise) – Dora, June and Chorus
  • "The Babbitt and the Bromide" – Frankie and Jimmy Reeve

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.

Key Terms

    Farce is a comedic style that emphasizes exaggerated situations, improbable coincidences, mistaken identities, and rapid pacing. It often includes physical humor such as slamming doors, frantic chases, or characters hiding in plain sight. Farce is designed to generate nonstop laughter, often prioritizing chaos and absurdity over realistic storytelling.

    A musical genre characterized by syncopation and improvisation, frequently integrated into musical theatre for style and rhythm.