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On the Town premiered on Broadway at the Adelphi Theater on December 28, 1944, directed by George Abbott with choreography by Jerome Robbins and played a total of 462 performances. The original production starred John Battles (Gabey), Cris Alexander (Chip), Nancy Walker (Hildy), Sono Osato (Ivy), and Betty Comden (Claire) and Adolph Green (Ozzie). It has been revived on Broadway twice, in 1971 and 1998.
The musical integrates dance into its storytelling; Robbins choreographed a number of ballets and extended dance sequences for the show, including the now-famous "Imaginary Coney Island" ballet. The story concerns three American sailors on a ...Read More
On the Town premiered on Broadway at the Adelphi Theater on December 28, 1944, directed by George Abbott with choreography by Jerome Robbins and played a total of 462 performances. The original production starred John Battles (Gabey), Cris Alexander (Chip), Nancy Walker (Hildy), Sono Osato (Ivy), and Betty Comden (Claire) and Adolph Green (Ozzie). It has been revived on Broadway twice, in 1971 and 1998.
The musical integrates dance into its storytelling; Robbins choreographed a number of ballets and extended dance sequences for the show, including the now-famous "Imaginary Coney Island" ballet. The story concerns three American sailors on a 24-hour shore leave in New York City. Each of the three sailors becomes enamoured of a particular woman — and the City itself.
As the sailors begin their shore leave, Gabey falls in love with the picture of "Miss Turnstiles". They spend their time attempting to find her in the brief period they have. They are assisted, and become romantically involved with, two women, and pair up: Ozzie with Claire, Chip with Hildy, and finally, Gabey with Ivy ("Miss Turnstiles"). They have a number of adventures before their 24-hours ends and they must return to their ship to head off to war, and a very uncertain future.
The musical produced several popular and classic songs, among them: "New York, New York", "Lonely Town", "I Can Cook Too", and "Some Other Time".
Musical numbers--Stage
Act I
"I Feel Like I'm Not Out of Bed Yet" - Workmen
"New York, New York" --Ozzie, Chip and Gabey
"Miss Turnstiles Ballet" (1971 revival) -- Contestants, Ivy Smith and Manhattanites
"Gabey's Comin" (not in 1971 revival)
"Come Up to My Place" -- Hildy Esterhazy and Chip
"Carried Away" -- Claire DeLoone, Ozzie, Primitive Man and Primitive Woman
"Lonely Town" -- Gabey and Dance Ensemble
"Carnegie Hall Pavane (Do-Do-Re-Do)" -- Ivy Smith, Madame Maude P. Dilly and Women of Carnegie Hall
"Lucky to Be Me" -- Gabey and Full Company
"I Understand" (not in 1971 revival) -- Pitkin W. Bridgework
"Carried Away Tag"
"I Can Cook, Too" -- Hildy Esterhazy
"Times Square Ballet" -- Company
Act II
"So Long, Baby" -- Diamond Eddie's Girls
"I Wish I Was Dead" (In English & Spanish) -- Diana Dream, Senorita Dolores Dolores
"Ya Got Me" -- Hildy Esterhazy, Claire DeLoone, Ozzie and Chip
"I Understand" (Reprise) -- Pitkin W. Bridgework and Lucy Schmeeler
"Playground of the Rich Ballet" (1971 revival) -- Gabey, Ivy Smith and High Society Dancers
"Subway Ride" (not in 1971 revival) -- Gabey and The People of New York
"Imaginary Coney Island" (not in 1971 revival) -- Gabey, Ivy Smith and Dance Ensemble
"Some Other Time" -- Claire DeLoone, Hildy Esterhazy, Ozzie and Chip
"The Real Coney Island" (not in 1971 revival)-- Rajah Bimmy
"Coney Island Hep Cats (1971) -- Flossie, Friend and Zoot Suit Dancers
"I Feel Like I'm Not Out of Bed Yet" (Reprise) (not in 1971 revival)
"Finale" "New York, New York" (Reprise) -- Full Company
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