Explore this Show

Overview

Synopsis

The S. S. American is sailing between New York and England with a comically colorful assemblage of passengers: Reno Sweeney, a popular nightclub singer and former evangelist, her pal Billy Crocker, a lovelorn Wall Street broker who has come aboard to try to win the favor of his beloved Hope Harcourt (who is engaged to another passenger, Sir Evelyn Oakleigh), and a second-rate conman named Moonface Martin, aka “Public Enemy #13”. Song, dance, and farcical antics ensue as Reno and Moonface try to help Billy win the love of his life.

Show Information

Music
Cole Porter
Lyrics
Cole Porter
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1934
Genres
Comedy, Romance
Settings
Unit/Single Set
Time & Place
early 1930s
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
Large
Dancing
Heavy
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Young Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Large Cast

Context

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Lord Evelyn Oakleigh

Lead

Male

Baritone

Billy Crocker

Lead

Male

Tenor

Moonface Martin

Lead

Male

Tenor

Hope Harcourt

Lead

Female

Soprano

Reno Sweeney

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Evangeline Harcourt

Supporting

Female

Elisha Whitney

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Erma Latour

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Ship's Captain

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Luke

Featured

Male

John

Featured

Male

Ship’s Purser

Featured

Male

Purity (Angel #1)

Featured

Female

Chastity (Angel #2)

Featured

Female

Charity (Angel #3)

Featured

Female

Virtue (Angel #4)

Featured

Female

Bishop Henry T. Dobson

Featured

Male

Spoken

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either or Both

Songs

Act One

  • Prelude - Cole Porter / Orchestra
  • "I Get a Kick Out of You" - Reno Sweeney
  • "There's No Cure Like Travel" - Sailor, Girl and Crew
  • "Bon Voyage" - Company
  • *"You're the Top" - Reno and Billy Crocker
  • "Easy to Love" - Billy
  • "I Want to Row on the Crew"- Elisha Whitney
  • "Sailor's Chantey (There'll Always Be a Lady Fair)" - Chantey Quartet
  • *"Friendship" - Reno and Moonface Martin
  • "It's De-Lovely" - Billy and Hope Harcourt
  • *"Anything Goes" - Reno and Company

Act Two

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

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

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.

Key Terms

Videos

Quizzes

Themes, Symbols & Motifs

Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.

Quote Analysis

Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.