Singin’ in the Rain

Musical

Writers: Betty Comden Adolph Green Nacio Herb Brown Arthur Freed

Overview

Show Information

Lyrics
Based on the Play/Book/Film
1952 MGM Film Singin' in the Rain
Category
Musical
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1983
Genres
Comedy, Romance
Settings
Multiple Settings
Time & Place
hollywood, california, 1927
Cast Size
large
Orchestra Size
Medium
Dancing
Heavy
Ideal for
College/University, Community Theatre, High School, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Male
Casting Notes
Mostly male cast
Includes adult, late teen, young adult, mature adult, child, early teen characters

Synopsis

Movie musical Singin’ in the Rain, beloved since the moment it premiered, earned the top spot atop AFI’s 100 Years of Musicals list and, in 2007, was ranked as the fifth greatest motion picture of all time. Now adapted for the stage, Singin' in the Rain “pours” down delight, capturing the waning days of the silent screen era as they give way to new-fangled “talkies.” With The Jazz Singer premiere making Hollywood frantic, the studios are forced to suddenly change all the movie-making rules at once, to accommodate sound. In doing so, they leave silent pictures -- and some of their stars -- behind. When Monumental Studios turns silent The Dueling Cavalier into The Dancing Cavalier, a musical picture, in order to stay relevant, they are faced with a problem: their star, Lina Lamont can’t sing, and can’t even really talk. Lina’s voice sounds something like nails on a chalkboard. Enter Kathy Selden, an aspiring actress whose dulcet tones are able to cover Lina Lamont’s -- calling into question what it means to act, how credit is distributed, and what it means to get a fair shake in the movie business. Singin' in the Rain includes some of the best-loved comedy routines, dance numbers, and love songs ever written, including “Good Mornin’,” “Make ‘em Laugh,” and - of course - the show-stopping dance number, “Singin’ in the Rain.”

Lead Characters


Singin’ in the Rain guide sections