Paint Your Wagon
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Music By Frederick Loewe
Lyrics By Alan Jay Lerner
Book/Libretto by: Alan Jay Lerner
Produced by: Cheryl Crawford
Choreography by: Agnes de Mille
Directed by: Daniel Mann
Type of Musical: Broadway
Movie Musical
West End
Opened: November 12, 1951
Theatre: Schubert Theatre, New York
# of Performances: 289
Licensing Agent: Tams-Witmark
Synopsis
The play opens with a small group of miners standing around an open grave. As Ben Rumson, his daughter Jennifer and the other miners are paying there last respects, gold is found in the grave the body is heaved out, while they scramble for the riches.
The story unfolds that a town (Rumson Town) has been built up over the spot where the gold was found, Ben Rumson and his daughter, have been chasing the yellow metal for many years, and Ben is beginning to realise that a 16-year-old girl in a town of four hundred men is more than a distraction.
Jennifer meets Julio Valveris (pronounced 'hoolio'), a Mexican miner, and listens to his ambitions for the future. She is captivated by the possibilities even though she has seen how men's dreams easily turn to dust. Jennifer falls hopelessly in love with Julio, kindly offering to do his washing, and using this as a means for them to meet.
Meanwhile, Jacob Woodling and his two wives Sarah(and her baby) and Elizabeth, are looking for a means to live, and stumble across Rumson Town. They are hopeful of finally being able to settle down, after being chased out of every other town across America. After being convinced that it is the best option, Jacob sells one of his wives(Elizabeth) to Ben.
Jennifer is forced to leave 'to become a lady' and a tearful moment is felt as Julio and her bid each other good bye.The play progresses with the town booming, a group of fandangos (prostitutes and dancing girls) arrive under the watchful eyes of Jake and Cherry Whippany, to perform in their 'palace', showing the height of the boom.
Disaster strikes, the gold runs out and the men slowly move on leaving the town, Jennifer returns to 'Rumson town' to find Julio gone, and is determined to wait for her love. The town is left desolate with 6 occupants, including Ben, Jennifer, Jacob and Sarah.
In the final scene Julio returns a ruined man and on his way through the Town finds Jennifer still waiting for him in a touching reunion, on the curtain.
Song List
Act I
- Overture
- I'm on my way
- Rumson Town
- Whats going on here
- I Talk To The Trees
- They Call The Wind Maria
- I Still See Elisa
- How can I wait
- Trio (night is stealing over as we kneel down to pray)
- In Between
- Whoop-Ti-Ay
- Carino Mio
- Theres a coach coming in
Act II
- Hand me down that can of beans
- Rope dance
- Can Can
- Another Autumn
- Movin'
- All for Him
- Wand'rin Star
- Wand'rin Star(reprise)
- Finale
Misc
- Sh! (dropped from the NY Opening)
Cast List
Robert Penn, Olga San Juan, Rufus Smith, James Barton, Tony Bavaar, Dave Thomas
Movie Cast Included: Harve Presnell, Anita Gordon, Alan Dexter, Clint Eastwood & Lee Marvin
Awards & Nominations
Nominated for Oscar 1970
- Best Music, Score of a Musical Picture (Original or Adaptation): Nelson Riddle
Nominated for Golden Globe 1970 :
- Best Motion Picture - Musical/Comedy
- Best Motion Picture Actor - Musical/Comedy - Lee Marvin
Misc. Show Information
Opened February 11, 1953 at Her Majestys Theatre, London
Movie 1969
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Added: Sun Aug 16 2009