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
- Book
- Betty Comden , Adolph Green
- Music
- Leonard Bernstein
- Lyrics
- Betty Comden , Adolph Green
- 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
- Licensor
- Concord Theatricals
- 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
On the Town was inspired by Jerome Robbins and Leonard Bernstein’s 1944 ballet Fancy Free., which was a big success for the American Ballet Theatre. They asked their friends, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, to write the book and lyrics and a Broadway musical was born. George Abbot was brought in to direct the show and it premiered at the Adelphi Theatre in December 1944. The production ran for 462 performances and starred John Battles, Cris Alexander, Nancy Walker, Sono Osato, Betty Comden,
to read the context for On the Town and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
It is 6AM and workers arrive at the Brooklyn Navy Yard (“I Feel Like I’m Not Out of Bed Yet”). Three sailors--Gabey, Ozzie, and Chip--emerge, excited to begin their 24-hour shore leave in Manhattan (“New York, New York”). Each man has a different agenda for their day’s leave. Chip wants to explore the sights his father has told him about and eagerly clutches his battered guide book. Ozzie has his sights set on Manhattan’s women, while Gabey wants to find a special lady who will
to read the plot for On the Town and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
|
|
|
Featured |
Male |
|
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
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
Scenes
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