Composer

:

Leonard Bernstein

Genre

:

Musical Theatre

Style

:

Musical Theater

Compose Date

:

1953

First Performance

:

1953

Average_duration

:

62:21

Movement_count

:

16

Movement ....

Wonderful Town is a musical comedy with music composed by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and a book by Joseph A. Fields and Jerome Chodorov. The musical is based on the play My Sister Eileen by Fields and Chodorov, which was in turn based on a collection of short stories by Ruth McKenney. The musical premiered on Broadway on February 25, 1953, at the Winter Garden Theatre and ran for 559 performances. It was directed by George Abbott and choreographed by Donald Saddler. The original cast included Rosalind Russell as Ruth Sherwood and Edie Adams as Eileen Sherwood. The plot of Wonderful Town follows two sisters, Ruth and Eileen Sherwood, who move from Ohio to New York City in search of success and romance. Ruth is a writer and Eileen is an aspiring actress. They rent a basement apartment in Greenwich Village and quickly become involved in the bohemian lifestyle of the neighborhood. Ruth falls in love with newspaper editor Bob Baker, while Eileen attracts the attention of a variety of men, including a Wreck, a football player, and a Brazilian sailor. The musical is divided into two acts, each with several musical numbers. The first act includes songs such as "Ohio", "One Hundred Easy Ways", and "What a Waste". The second act includes "A Quiet Girl", "The Wrong Note Rag", and "It's Love". Wonderful Town is known for its lively and upbeat music, which blends elements of jazz, swing, and classical music. The score includes several memorable songs, such as "Ohio", which has become a popular anthem for the state, and "A Little Bit in Love", which has been covered by numerous artists. The musical was well-received by critics and audiences alike, and has been revived several times on Broadway and in regional theaters. It was also adapted into a 1958 film starring Rosalind Russell and directed by Richard Quine. Overall, Wonderful Town is a charming and entertaining musical that captures the spirit of New York City in the 1950s. Its catchy songs and witty lyrics have made it a beloved classic of the American musical theater canon.

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