In the Brooklyn navy yard, three soldiers stumble off a ship at dawn ready to take on “New York, New York.” Ozzie is out to get as many girls as possible, while Gabey wants a real romance, and Chip is more interested in seeing tourist attractions. On their way into Manhattan, they see a poster of Miss Turnstiles who has been chosen to appear in subway stations for the month. Her real name is Ivy Smith, and she studies ballet at Carnegie Hall, painting at the Museum of Modern Art, while also loving the city’s vibrant club scene. They agree they’ll try to track her down over the course of the day and split up to look for her based on the information they find on the poster, which they’ve torn down for reference. An old lady spots them vandalising the station and reports the to a police officer, who begins to pursue them.

A female cab driver named Hildy takes a shining to Chip, who remains naïve of her intentions (“Come Up to My Place”). Ozzie arrives at the Museum of Natural History, even though he should be looking for Ivy at the Museum of Modern Art. A young anthropologist, Claire finds him attractive, particularly given his resemblance to an ancient ancestor of man she is studying. When they accidentally destroy a dinosaur skeleton, they are forced to flee the museum with the police in hot pursuit.

Gabey heads to Carnegie Hall, but on his own he begins to find that New York is a “Lonely Town.” Ivy is mid-lesson with Madam Dilly, but Gabey manages to sneak in and arrange a date with her later on in Times Square. Gabey is thrilled that he managed to snag a date with Ivy first (“Lucky to Be Happy”).

Claire and Ozzie get “Carried Away” in her uptown apartment, while Hildy is still trying to seduce Chip. Gabey is in Times Square waiting for Ivy when the other boys arrive with their respective dates. Unfortunately Madam Dilly has convinced Ivy she should work instead of fraternising with a sailor, so she does not arrive to meet Gabey. Instead she heads to work on Coney Island.

The group heads to a number of clubs in an attempt to cheer up Gabey, but they are unsuccessful. The sailors are sad that their 24 hour leave is drawing to a close, but they decide to visit Coney Island before they leave. Gabey finds Ivy dancing in a club, and is pleased to be reunited with her. The police arrive to arrest them for their various misdeeds, but the whole misunderstanding is explained and the boys are set free. They say goodbye to their girls and head back to their ship, where a new group of sailors get off for their own 24 hour adventure.

Act I

• I Feel Like I’m Not Out of Bed Yet—Workmen
• New York, New York—Ozzie, Chip and Gabey
• Miss Turnstiles Ballet—Announcer, Contestants, Ivy Smith and Manhattanites
• Gabey’s Comin’ (cut in original production, restored in some revivals)—Gabey, Ozzie, Chip and Girls
• Come Up to My Place—Hildy Esterhazy and Chip
• Carried Away—Claire DeLoone and Ozzie
• Lonely Town/Pas de deux—Gabey and Dance Ensemble
• Carnegie Hall Pavane (Do-Do-Re-Do)—Madam Dilly, Ivy and Women of Carnegie Hall
• Lucky to Be Me—Gabey and Full Company
• I Understand—Pitkin W. Bridgework
• Carried Away (Reprise)-Ozzie and Claire
• I Can Cook Too—Hildy Esterhazy
• Times Square Ballet—Company

Act II 

• Entr’acte—Orchestra
• So Long, Baby—Diamond Eddie’s Girls
• I Wish I Was Dead (In English & Spanish)—Diana Dream, Senorita Dolores Dolores
• Ya Got Me—Hildy, Claire, Ozzie, and Chip
• Pitkin’s Song (I Understand Reprise)—Pitkin
• Subway Ride/Imaginary Coney Island—Gabey, Ivy and Dance Ensemble
• Some Other Time—Claire, Hildy, Ozzie and Chip
• The Real Coney Island—Rajah Bimmy
• Finale—Full Company

UK: Music Scope UK

USA: Tams-Witmark