Origin
Sign In My Cart
Search
alphabetical author index
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

On the Twentieth Century

Spectacular, funny and elegant...civilized wit and wild humor.

The New York Times

A perfect musical...A gorgeous show!

New York Post

More information

Description

  • Full Length Musical
  • Comedy
  • 120 minutes

  • Time Period: 1930s
  • Target Audience: Pre-Teen (Age 11 - 13), Teen (Age 14 - 18), Senior, Adult
  • Set Requirements: Interior Set, Unit Set/Multiple Settings
  • Cautions: Mild Adult Themes
  • Orchestra Size: Medium

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

  • Accolades:
  • Winner! 1978 Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical
    Winner! 1978 Tony Award for Best Original Score
    Winner! 1978 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music
    Nominee! 2015 5 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical
    Nominee! 2015 Drama Desk Award for Best Revival of a Musical
    Nominee! 2015 9 Outer Critics Circle Awards including Best revival of a Musical
    Nominee! 2015 Drama League Award for Best Revival of a Musical
Whether performed with elaborate scenery or on a simple scale, this brilliantly comic musical appeals to audiences everywhere.

As in the classic original, the story concerns the efforts of a flamboyant theatrical impresario Oscar Jaffe to persuade glamorous film star (and former amour) Lily Garland to appear in his next production while outwitting rival producers, creditors and religious nut Letitcia Primrose. And all this before the 20th Century Ltd. reaches NYC!
REVIEWS:

Spectacular, funny and elegant...civilized wit and wild humor.

The New York Times

A perfect musical...A gorgeous show!

New York Post

A rare delight: a musical that tells a story and does so with delicious wit. A hilarious American sequel to My Fair Lady.

Hartford Courant
Premiere Production: On the Twentieth Century was first presented on Broadway by The Producers Circle 2, Inc., Robert Fryer, Mary Lea Johnson, James Cresson, and Martin Richards at the St. James Theatre in New York City on February 19, 1978. It was directed by Harold Prince.

Characters

  • Casting: 12M, 5F
  • Casting Attributes: Reduced casting (Doubling Possible), Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle), Strong Role for Leading Man (Star Vehicle)
  • Casting Notes: 17 Principal roles, plus chorus.
  • Chorus Size: Small

  • LILY GARLAND / MILDRED - Soprano; actress and star, spoiled, pampered, meglomaniacal: under it all intelligent and self-doubting.

  • OSCAR JAFFEE - Baritone; brilliant theatre impresario and director of indeterminate age: flamboyant, ruthless, megalomaniacal, indomitable in the face of total disaster.

  • MAX JACOBS - Self important young producer: successful, intense, confident.

  • BRUCE GRANIT - Tenor; young leading movie man, Errol Flyn type: stud, vain, silly, egotistical.

  • OWEN O'MALLEY - Baritone; Oscar's press agent: a boozer, sardonic, self-satirical. He and Oliver are Oscar's two loyal henchmen.

  • LETITIA PRIMROSE - Mezzo-soprano; middle-aged to oldish lady, presenting a picture of easy breeding, wealth and religious fervor: Actually she is a genuine nut on the loose.

  • OLIVER WEBB - Baritone; Oscar's company manager: plump, ulcerous, worried, fed-up: trying to bring a note of sanity to the surrounding madness.

  • AGNES - Lily's maid, suffering and bored.

  • BISHOP

  • OTTO VON BISMARK

  • ANITA

  • PREIST

  • JOAN

  • CONDUCTOR FLANAGAN - Typical solid type.

  • DR. JOHNSON

  • IMELDA THORNTON - Glamorous, imperious, fur-bedecked stage actress.

    • Available Material

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

    1 x Libretto / Chorus Book

    		$24.00
    Libretto This is optional. Order Now

    The LIBRETTO is available for SALE ONLY and is not available for hire as part of the Rehearsal Material set. It must be purchased separately and is available through our office.

    		$24.95
    Pre-Production Pack Shipped upon receipt of a signed License Agreement and full payment of all invoices. This is optional.

    1 x Piano/Conductor's Score
    1 x Chorus Book

    		$75.00
    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 Chorus Books

    		$450.00 +$135.00/pm
    Orchestral Material Shipped a minimum of 1 month before the last performance. This is optional.

    1 x Piano/Conductor's Score
    1 x Reed I (Flute, Piccolo, Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone)
    1 x Reed II (Flute, Clarinet)
    1 x Reed III (Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Contrabass Clarinet)
    1 x Reed IV (Bassoon, Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone)
    1 x Trumpets I & II
    1 x Horns I & II
    1 x Bass
    1 x Percussions

    		 $350.00 +$135.00/pm
    Chorus Book 10 Pack Shipped with (or after) Rehearsal Material. This is optional.

    10 x Chorus Books

    		$50.00 +$50.00/pm

    Related Works