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Overview

Synopsis

With the pomp and fanfare of New York City, the brassy lyricism of Leonard Bernstein, and the sweet immediacy of a day of freedom during a time of war, On the Town is an American classic, beloved both for its moment in history and for its timeless qualities of youth and exuberance.

The show follows the adventures of three sailors on leave for just 24 hours in the great city of New York before heading off to battle in World War II. Goofy ladies’ man Ozzie is looking for a date--maybe seven or eight--and studious innocent Chip, guidebook in hand, has several days’ worth of tourist attractions to check off his list. But when idealistic Gabey falls for the photograph of lovely Miss Turnstiles, a subway beauty queen, they all join in an ambitious scavenger hunt around the city to locate this dream girl -- and, on the way, find all of the romance, adventure, and New York atmosphere for which they could wish. Joined by Claire, a sophisticated anthropologist with a red-hot heart, and Hildy, a sweetly aggressive cab driver on the lam, the sailors careen through museums and nightclubs, Carnegie Hall and Coney Island, before Gabey and Ivy are finally united -- just in the knick of time. With brash, spectacular, and slightly bittersweet abandon, On the Town is a tale about seizing the day and living life to its fullest.

With a soaring score by Leonard Bernstein and humorous, highly intelligent lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, On the Town features the seductively upbeat “I Can Cook, Too”, the melancholically beautiful ballad “Lonely Town”, and that most iconic of tunes, “New York, New York.”

Show Information

Based on the Play/Book/Film
Jerome Robbins' 1944 ballet Fancy Free
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1944
Genres
Comedy
Settings
Multiple Settings
Time & Place
1944, new york city
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
Large
Dancing
Heavy
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, High School, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Small Cast, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Elderly, Late Teen Characters, Large Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Ozzie

Lead

Male

Baritone

Gabey

Lead

Male

Baritone

Chip

Lead

Male

Baritone

Ivy Smith

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Claire

Lead

Female

Soprano

Hildy

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Madame Dilly

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Pitkin W. Bridgework

Supporting

Male

Bass

Lucy Schmeeler

Supporting

Female

Spoken

First Workman

Featured

Male

Bass

Flossie

Featured

Female

Spoken

Flossie's Friend

Featured

Female

Spoken

Little Old Lady

Featured

Female

Spoken

Subway Bill Poster

Featured

Male

Spoken

Mr. S. Uperman

Featured

Male

Spoken

Waldo Figment

Featured

Male

Spoken

Master of Ceremonies

Featured

Male

Spoken

Rajah Bimmy

Featured

Male

Baritone

Diana Dream

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Dolores Dolores

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Tom

Featured

Male

Andy

Featured

Male

Nightclub Girls

Ensemble

Female

Soprano, Alto

Residents of New York City

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone

Workman's Quartet (4)

Ensemble

Male

Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Songs

Act One

  • Overture
  • I Feel Like I’m Not Out of Bed Yet - Workman 1, Workman’s Quartet
  • New York, New York - Chip, Gabey, Ozzie
  • Gabey’s Comin’ - Chip. Gabey, Ozzie, Female Ensemble
  • Presentation of Miss Turnstiles - Announcer, *Ivy, Ensemble
  • Come Up to My Place - Hildy, Chip
  • Carried Away - Claire, Ozzie, *Ensemble
  • Lonely Town - Gabey
  • *Lonely Town Pas de Deux - A Sailor ,A Girl
  • Lonely Town (Reprise) - Gabey, Ensemble
  • Carnegie Hall Pavane - Madame Dilly, Ivy, Women’s Ensemble
  • I Understand - Pitkin
  • Carried Away(Reprise) - Ozzie, Claire
  • I Can Cook Too - Hildy
  • Lucky To Be Me - Gabey, Ensemble
  • *Times Square Ballet - Gabey, Chip, Ozzie, Claire, Hildy, Ensemble

Act Two

  • So Long, Baby - Diamond Eddie’s Girls
  • I Wish I Was Dead - Diana Dream
  • I Wish I Was Dead (Spanish) - Dolores Dolores
  • Ya Got Me - Hildy, Claire, Chip, Ozzie
  • I Understand - Pitkin
  • *Imaginary Coney Island Ballet - Gabey, Ivy, Ensemble
  • *Dream Ballet - Gabey, Ivy, Ensemble
  • Some Other Time - Hildy, Claire, Ozzie, Chip
  • Real Coney Island - Rajah Bimmy, *Ensemble
  • Finale/New York, New York (Reprise) - Entire 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

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Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

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Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher