42nd Street
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Music By Harry Warren
Lyrics By Al Dubin
Book/Libretto by: Michael Stewart & Mark Bramble
Produced by: David Merrick
Choreography by: Gower Champion
Directed by: Gower Champion
Type of Musical: Broadway
Opened: August 25, 1980
Theatre: Winter Garden Theatre, New York
# of Performances: 3,486
Licensing Agent: Tams-Witmark
Synopsis
42nd Street is the address of the theatre that is home to the company whose fortunes we follow in the show. Voices are heard around the theatre announcing the new show 'Pretty Lady', as the curtains are opened on the audition scene. We are introduced to the full cast, choreographer, Andy Lee, the writers, Bert and Maggie, and the lead Billy Lawlor. Young Peggy Sawyer rushes in too late, and has missed her chance to join the chorus , because she had been trying to muster the courage to enter the stage door. Billy is instantly attracted to her and tries to help, but the director Julian Marsh has his own problems.
Dorothy Brock, the glamourously old leading lady, has not had a hit in 10 years and this show may be beyond her. What Dorothy does bring, however, is money in the form of Abner Dillon, her 'sugar daddy', (or as the gossip goes). Julian must attempt to cope with a tempremental Dorothy, a fussy Abner, and the annoyance of Dorothys old flame Pat Denning who is always there to stir up trouble.
After being invited to share lunch with one of the co-writers Maggie Jones, and the other dancers, Peggy impresses them with her fast tap feet, and is hired instantly by Julian. Things are going well for the looming opening of Pretty lady. Pretty Lady opens to much speculation, and when Dorothy rushes on stage she slips (or is pushed) and breaks her ankle. Panic spreads through the company, as the show is doomed for closure, until it is suggested that Peggy take the roll. Peggy, 'the novice', has 'exactly thirty-six hours to learn twenty-five pages, six songs, and ten dance numbers'. By the next evening Julian will either have ' a live leading lady or a dead chorus girl'.
Will the fresh chorus girl, now thrust into the spot-light, win the audience in the way she won the cast?
Song List
- Overture
- Audition
- Shadow Waltz
- Young and Healthy
- Go Into Your Dance
- You're Getting To Be a Habit With Me
- Getting Out of Town
- We're In the Money
- Dames
- Sunny Side To Every Situation
- Lullaby of Broadway
- About a Quarter To Nine
- Shuffle Off To Buffalo
- 42nd Street
- Finale: 42nd Street (Reprise)
- Bows
Cast List
Danny Carrol, Robert Colston, Stan Page, Karen Prunczik, Carole Cook, Joseph Bova, Lee Roy Reams, Wanda Richert, Ginny King, Jeri Kansas, Jerry Orbach, Tammy Grimes, Don Crabtree, James Congdon, Ron Schwinn
Awards & Nominations
42nd Street won The Tony Award for Best Musical
Gower Champion was awarded the Tony Award & Drama Desk Award for Best Choreography
Mark Bramble was nominated for a 2001 Tony Award for his work on 42nd Street
Misc. Show Information
In 1980, 42nd Street ushered in the new age of theatrical spectacle with a cast of 54, 750 costumes and dozens of stage effects.
Gower Champion died hours before the show opened on Broadway, the show turned out to be his crowning achievement
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Added: Tue Apr 05 2005
Last Modified: Mon Nov 20 2006