Browse The Musicals
# - A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Paint Your Wagon

Book & Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner
Music by Frederick Loewe
Produced by Cheryl Crawford
Directed by Daniel Mann
Choreography by Agnes de Mille
Musical November 12, 1951 at the Schubert Theatre, New York and ran for 289 performances.
Opened February 11, 1953 at Her Majestys Theatre, London
Movie 1969

Synopsis

Musical:

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.

Movie:

During the California Gold Rush a tough prospector named Ben Rumson teams up with a fortune seeker named Pardner. As they search for gold Rumson can no longer contain his desires to have a wife and he arranges with a Morman the purchase of one of the two wives for $800. While Rumson is away Pardner and the purchased wife, Elizabeth fall in love. When Rumson returns he is enraged but the trio eventually decide to attempt a "menage a trois". It seems to work until the three take in some stranded travellers during a blizzard and the travellers are shocked by the relationship. Another problem is also appearing in the town. All the gold is petering out and the town is destined to become a ghost town. Parder and Rumson suddenly develop a scheme to collect all the gold dust that has fallen through the cracks in the popular entertainment spots in town.

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)

Info

Original Cast Included: 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

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

Related

Paint Your Wagon MIDI Files

Licensing Agent

Tams-Witmark
560 Lexington Avenue , New York , NY 10022
Tel. (212) 688-2525 , Fax. (212) 688-3232

Browse The Musicals
# - A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

Home | Licensing Agents | Reviews | Theatre Tickets

Return To Top