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42nd Street

The ultimate show-biz musical! 42nd Street celebrates Broadway, Times Square and the people who make the magic of musical theatre.

PLEASE BE ADVISED: There are multiple versions of this title. Before you proceed, please double-check to ensure that you are applying for the version you want. If you’re not sure which version best suits your needs, you may purchase a perusal for each available version.

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Description

  • Full Length Musical
  • Comedy
  • 120 minutes

  • Time Period: 1930s
  • Target Audience: Appropriate for all audiences
  • Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings
  • Orchestra Size: Medium

  • Performance Group:
  • High School/Secondary, College Theatre / Student, Community Theatre, Professional Theatre

  • Accolades:
  • Winner! 2 Tony Awards for Musical and Choreography (1981)
    Winner! 2 Drama Desk Awards for Choreography and Costume Design (1981)
    Winner! The Theatre World Award (Wanda Richert) (1981)
    Winner! 2 Tony Awards for Revival and Supporting or Featured Actress (2001)
    Winner! The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revival (2001)
Come along and listen to the lullaby of Broadway! 42nd Street celebrates Broadway, Times Square and the magic of show biz with wit, humor and pizzazz. At the height of the Great Depression, aspiring chorus girl Peggy Sawyer comes to the big city from Allentown PA, and soon lands her first big job in the ensemble of a glitzy new Broadway show. But just before opening night, the leading lady breaks her ankle. Will Peggy be able to step in and become a star? The score is chock-full of Broadway standards, including "You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me," "Dames," "We're In the Money," "Lullaby of Broadway," "Shuffle Off to Buffalo" and "Forty-Second Street."
REVIEWS:

"An old-fashioned glamour musical that kept on giving when others would have called it quits."

Ann Treneman, The Times

"Gower Champion’s final display of blazing theatrical fireworks."

Frank Rich, The New York Times

"Dazzling and deliriously joyous...From the costumes and choreography to the divine melodies, deliciously smart lyrics and hugely talented cast, this show has glories to spare."

Stefan Kyriazis, The Daily Express

"An American classic... ‘Hear the beat of dancing feet’... It’s an extraordinary, spine-tingling sound... size is absolutely everything in this shiny, streamlined homage to a vanished world of razzmatazz."

Dominic Cavendish, The Telegraph

"Mesmerising! From the opening moments of 42nd Street you know you are in for a good night."

Quentin Letts, The Daily Mail

"As American as a McDonald’s apple pie, a steaming, golden spectacle of showbiz glamour... this show socks you over the head with good old-fashioned spectacle."

Alice Saville, TimeOut London

Premiere Production:

42nd Street opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre on August 25, 1980, starring Wanda Richert, Jerry Orbach, and Tammy Grimes. The production eventually moved to the Majestic and St. James Theatres, ultimately running for 3,486 performances. In 2001, the first Broadway revival of 42nd Street ran for 1,524 performances at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, starring Kate Levering, Michael Cumpsty, and Christine Ebersole.

Characters

  • Casting: 6M, 7F
  • Casting Attributes: Room for Extras, Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle), Expandable casting
  • Casting Notes: The original Broadway production had a cast of 48 performers, including chorus. Some doubling was employed in the minor parts.
  • Chorus Size: Large

  • Principals
    DOROTHY BROCK - an established Broadway star
    PEGGY SAWYER - young, talented and hopeful
    MAGGIE JONES - co-author of "Pretty Lady"
    ANN REILLY (ANYTIME ANNIE) - chorus girl, sub-principal of "Pretty Lady"
    JULIAN MARSH - Broadway show director
    BILLY LAWLOR - juvenile lead of "Pretty Lady"
    BERT BARRY - co-author of "Pretty Lady"


  • Sub-Principals (from Chorus)
    PHYLLIS DALE - chorus girl
    LORRAINE FLEMMING - chorus girl
    GLADYS - chorus girl; singer, non-speaking
    ANDY LEE - dance director
    PAT DENNING - former vaudeville partner of Dorothy's
    ABNER DILLON - "angel" for "Pretty Lady"


  • Supporting
    DIANE LORIMER - chorus girl
    ETHEL - chorus girl
    OSCAR - rehearsal pianist
    MAC - stage manager
    FRANKIE - stagehand
    YOUNG MAN WITH CLIPBOARD - stagehand
    2 THUGS - employees of gangster Nick Murphy; one of them non-speaking
    DOCTOR - Philadelphia theatre physician
    WAITER - Gypsy Tea Kettle employee
    MILLIE - dancer, non-speaking
    WILLARD - theatre electrician; non-speaking
    ROBIN - dancer; non-speaking
    2 POLICEMEN - dancers; non-speaking
    PICKPOCKET / THIEF - dancer; non-speaking
    YOUNG SOLDIER - dancer; non-speaking
    GANGSTER - dancer; non-speaking
    CONDUCTOR - the music director of the theatre pit orchestra; non-speaking


  • Ensemble
    VARIOUS KIDS' VOICES
    THEATRE PERSONNEL
    SINGERS AND DANCERS OF THE CHORUS

    • Available Material

    Name Price
    Perusal Material Shipped immediately. This is optional. Order Now

    1 x Prompt Book / Vocal Parts

    		$24.00
    Rehearsal Material Shipped a minimum of 3 months before the last performance. This must be hired as a condition of the License to produce this show.

    20 x Prompt Book & Chorus-Vocal Parts
    2 x Piano-Conductor's Score

    		$550.00 +$135.00/pm
    Orchestral Material Shipped a minimum of 1 month before the last performance. This is optional.

    1 Reed I: Flute, Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone & Alto Saxophone
    1 Reed II: Piccolo, Flute, Clarinet & Alto Saxophone
    1 Reed III: Clarinet & Tenor Saxophone
    1 Reed IV: Clarinet & Tenor Saxophone
    1 Reed V: Clarinet, Bass Clarinet & Baritone Saxophone

    1 Horn
    1 Trumpets I & II (1st Trumpet optional double on Flugelhorn)
    1 Trumpet III
    1 Trombone I
    1 Trombone II (with Bass attachment)

    1 Bass

    1 Percussion:
    Timpani (2 Drums)
    Bells
    Xylophone
    Vibraphone
    Wood Block
    Triangle
    Bass Drum
    Snare Drum (Brushes & Sticks)
    Tom-Toms (Several Sizes)
    Cymbals: Suspended, Hi-Hat, Splash, Crash, Ride

    1 Piano (pit orchestra Piano, Celeste & Stage Piano)

    (Piano-Conductor's Score sent with rehearsal materials)

    Optional Parts
    1 Guitar / Banjo
    1 Harp

    		$350.00 +$135.00/pm
    Synthesizer Keyboard Book (Substitute Reeds) Shipped upon receipt of a signed License Agreement and full payment of all invoices. This is optional.

    A special Reed Substitute Keyboard Synthesizer part covering the music for the five Reeds is available with the rental of the full orchestration.

    		$50.00 +$50.00/pm
    Optional Song Insert: "I Only Have Eyes for You" Shipped with (or after) Rehearsal Material. This is optional.

    1 x Optional Song Insert: "I Only Have Eyes For You"

    		$0.00

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