3:02. Ruth Sherwood and her sister, Eileen arrive in New York from Ohio in the 1930s and find frustration, career hopes and romance in the city of their dreams.Ruth Sherwood and her sister, Eileen arrive in New York from Ohio in the 1930s and find frustration, career hopes and romance in the city of their dreams.Ruth Sherwood and her sister, Eileen arrive in New York from Ohio in the 1930s and find frustration, career hopes and romance in the city of their dreams. Fields and Jerome Chodorov which itself was based on series of autobiographical short stories written by American author and journalist Ruth McKenney. Fresh from rural Ohio, the sisters quickly realize that life in the Big Apple . Its Love Reprise (Finale, Act One) Eileen, Baker, Ruth & Entire Company20. Conga Ruth & Brazilian Cadets12a. Rosalind Russell played Ruth Sherwood -- as she had in the 1942 film version -- Sydney Chaplin was editor Robert Baker, and Jacquelyn McKeever was Eileen Sherwood. Ruth arrives and assures Eileen that shell bail her out with money from her new job; shes now a promoter for the Village Vortex, a local nightclub. ("Well, you have the face and build for it.") Eileen learns that Bob Baker quit his job after disagreeing with his boss about Ruth's story on the Brazilian sailors. Composer, conductor, pianist, teacher, thinker, and adventurous spirit, Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990) transformed the way Americans and people everywhere hear and appreciate music. Professional Artwork Available for Your Production of Wonderful Town!Concord Theatricals has collaborated with Subplot Studio to create high-quality artwork that complies with your license. The show opens in summer 1935 in New York. Join Ruth and Eileen Sherwood as they leave behind their mundane Ohio lives in pursuit of making it big in New York City. In 1942 the play was made into a film starring Rosalind Russell and later became the basis for the 1953 Broadway musical, Wonderful Town. Ruth, who's trying to make it as a writer, meets . A West End revival starring Maureen Lipman opened at the Queen's Theatre in August 1986 and closed March 1987. Gain full access to show guides, character breakdowns, auditions, monologues and more! It all began when Ruth McKenney wrote a series of short stories about her and her sister's adventures in Greenwich Village, when they moved from Ohio to New York. Fields and Jerome Chodorov, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and music by Leonard Bernstein.The musical tells the story of two sisters who aspire to be a writer and actress respectively, seeking success from their basement apartment in New York City's Greenwich Village.It is based on Fields and Chodorov's 1940 play My . Belting. Upgrade to PRO Scripts and rental materials are not included in this estimate. Due to their limited budget, the sisters wind up sharing a less-than ideal basement apartment in Greenwich Village. presented a staged concert starring Donna Murphy and Laura Benanti. Join the StageAgent community Stealing the show is Russell, her singing is not the most beautiful or tuneful(though it is more listenable than it was in Gypsy) but her personal radiance, lively stage presence, spitfire comic timing and her ability to attack everything she's been given with gusto make it a most memorable performance. Eileen is a hit! (Although, I think of it now, over done IS what Broadway IS about!) The cast give it their all and give winning performances. by Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodorov and the stories by Ruth McKenney)Music by Leonard BernsteinLyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Sketches for "What A Waste" by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, Image: 2003 Broadway Production (Paul Kolnik), In the summer of 1935, Ruth, an aspiring writer, and Eileen, an actress and dancer, leave rural Ohio to seek success in the big city. So does everything else, of which the standard is very high to outstanding. Wonderful Town - review | Theatre | The Guardian Leonard Bernstein Overview. Ruth is set to cover a news story at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and teaches them to dance the Conga. Meanwhile, Helen deals with her overbearing and exaggerated mother. Ruth runs into Bob and gives him a piece of her mind, and Eileen is hauled off to jail for causing the riot. Fields and Jerome Chodorov; Based on stories by Ruth McKenney; Musical Director: Lehman Engel; Vocal arrangements by . Wonderful Town; Eileen Sherwood; A Little Bit In Love; A Little Bit In Love Wonderful Town. 0. Eileen, at least, earns the attention of several gentlemen, including Frank Lippencott, a local Walgreens manager who has developed a crush on her. Conquering New York Ruth, Eileen & Chorus of New Yorkers5. Fields and Jerome Chodorov, with lyrics by Comden and Green, and music by Leonard Bernstein.Based on the short stories by Ruth McKenney that inspired the earlier, non-musical play My Sister Eileen, it tells the story of Ruth and Eileen Sherwood, two sisters who move to New York City (specifically Christopher Street), where Ruth intends to make . Indeed, she never . My Darlin' Eileen. Yorba Linda, CA, In the Heights Shakespeare in the Woods 2023 Season Set in 1935, Ruth, a no-nonsense writer, and Eileen, an aspiring actress and dancer, leave rural Ohio to seek success in New York City. He played of everyone very well and was a fine actor. Wonderful Town is a 1953 musical with book written by Joseph A. The upstairs neighbors, an out-of-season American football player named Wreck and his live-in girlfriend Helen, ask the girls to hide Wreck during a visit from Helen's mother, Mrs. Ella Wade. When the tourists have departed, the witty Ruth Sherwood arrives in Greenwich Village with Eileen, her younger sister. At the club, Ruth digs the rhythm of the music (Swing). Eileen happily agrees to stow him in their apartment, much to Ruth's hesitation. Gain full access to show guides, character breakdowns, auditions, monologues and more! Trombone I & II (both Tenor Trombone) The clever and witty lyrics really work in the songs' favour. Concord Theatricals Eileen, who has been eating all of her lunches free at Walgreens, finds herself infatuated with Frank (A Little Bit in Love). Together, these two sisters take on the world, pursuing their dreams and finding love along the way. This musical is a prime example of the fluffy, light, grand and vivacious gold that has flown under the radar for decades. Wreck from Wonderful Town Summary & Breakdown | StageAgent 'Wonderful Town' Casting Call | Goodman Theatre - Backstage Although she has never been thought of for her singing, she was brilliant! New York, NY, SM for Poor Yella Rednecks Swing Ruth & Village Hepcats15a. One incredible city. Overview. Upgrade to PRO Wonderful Town (Theatre) - TV Tropes What's wonderful about 'Wonderful Town' by LA Opera? It raises Ruth is attractive, tall, dark, sharped witted and repelle's almost every man she meets! Comden and Green had a groundbreaking partnership of over 60 years, winning Tony Awards for their lyrics and/or librettos for Appl You'll have to sign in before you share your experience. Bob bails Eileen out and the sisters discover that their landlord is threatening to evict them due to the scandal caused by the Conga and one of his paintings going missing, that has been stolen by Wrecks girlfriend Helen. Based on his/her attributes, we recommend you consider these audition pieces! unknown, rare, hard to find films to watch. 302 W. 45th St., New York, NY. SYNOPSIS: Ruth, an aspiring writer, and Eileen, her prettier, aspiring-actress younger sister . Ruth Sherwood, a witty and forthright journalist, enters with her younger sister, Eileen. Eventually, Ruth talks her way into the offices of a short story magazine, where she meets Bob Baker. Wonderful Town - Wikipedia Columbia Pictures then adapted it into the comedy hit My Sister Eileen (1942), starring Rosalind Russell and Janet Blair. Wonderful Town began as the hugely-popular 1940 Broadway play My Sister Eileen, the story of two sisters from small-town Ohio, hoping to find a place for their talents in New York's Greenwich Village. Show Guides. to read expert guidance for A Little Bit In Love and unlock other amazing theatre resources! Greenwich Villager. Both say several wrong things, and he finally tells her off. Joseph Fields (1895-1966) was the son of actor, producer and theatre owner Lew Fields (who launched Rodgers & Hart's professional career in 1919) and the brother of Herbert and Dorothy Fields (co-librettists of Annie Get Your Gun, among many other credits). Wonderful Town Al Hirschfeld Theater; 1,437 seats; $100 top Production: A Roger Berlind and Barry and Fran Weissler presentation, in association with Edwin W. Schloss, Allen Spivak, Clear Channel . Change of Scene Orchestra17. The show received its Broadway debut in 1953 and went on to win five Tony Awards including thecoveted Best Musical Award. Wonderful Town. It is a lighter piece than Bernstein's later works, West Side Story and Candide, but none of the songs have become as popular. Vocal Technique. Bernstein: Wonderful Town - amazon.com Due to their limited budget, the sisters wind up sharing a less-than ideal basement apartment in Greenwich Village. Christopher Street Guide, Tourists, and Villagers2a. Sir Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra pay homage to former LSO President Leonard Bernstein with a new recording of Wonderful Town that captures the energy and excitement of sold-out performances from December 2017.. Bernstein's five-time Tony award-winning musical follows sisters Ruth and Eileen on their quest to make it big, pursuing careers in writing and acting from their . Completely separately, a 1953 Broadway musical adaptation of the play (not the movie) called Wonderful Town was a hit for Betty Comden and Adolph Green, with music by Leonard Bernstein. Though there have been only two major Broadway productions of Wonderful Town, many recordings of the music have been made over the years. He is also a great and influential conductor(though with some quirky podium mannerisms that you either take or leave), particularly in Mahler. The original Broadway production opened on 26 February 1953 and was directed by George Abbott, with choreogrpahy by Donald Saddler. Leonard Bernstein Wonderful Town: My Darlin' Eileen (Solo Cop [Lonigan]/Men's Chorus/First Cop/Second Cop/Third Cop/Eileen) Sir Simon Rattle feat. 1953 Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Leading Actress, Best Choreographer, Best Musical Director, Best Scenic Design. Chapter-by-Chapter Summary - The Bibliofile The articles became very popular and served as the basis for the 1940 Broadway comedy My Sister Eileen. [5] Brooke Shields took over the role of Ruth beginning September 28, 2004. Synopsis: Wonderful Town tells the story of two sisters from Ohio who come to New York to make their fortunes: Ruth, the older, wisecracking one in writing and journalism, and Eileen, the younger, beautiful one in show business. [6] As had happened when Shields was a replacement for Rizzo in the Broadway revival of Grease, the cast album was re-released with Shields' voice replacing Murphy's.[7]. Eileen, at least, has gotten food from a food samples man, as well as Mr. Valenti, but has also met Frank Lippencott, a local Walgreens manager who has developed a crush on her. Wonderful Town, the musical with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green based on the play My Sister Eileen and the stories of Ruth McKenney about two sisters from Ohio who move to New York City in the 1930s, had a healthy run of 559 performances when it opened on Broadway in 1953. Full cast announced for Wonderful Town at Opera Holland Park Meanwhile, Wreck awkwardly masquerades as a wealthy art collector to meet the approval of Helen's mother, and Chick keeps calling Eileen, trying to make things right. Synopsis. Chick Clark, anxious to be alone with Eileen, creates a bogus assignment for Ruth. B2. ("I did run into one man. 9/10 Bethany Cox. Most of Broadway's current crop of blonde divas would overplay the part and make the character a bit too cheery while the way it should be played is with a knowing coyness. Betty Comden Research Playwrights, Librettists, Composers and Lyricists, See more characters from Casting our August production of the musical, "Wonderful Town." Customers. Comden and Green had a groundbreaking partnership of over 60 years, winning Tony Awards for their lyrics and/or librettos for Appl Adolph Green (1914-2002) was an award-winning screenwriter, librettist and lyricist, co-writing with his longtime creative partner, Betty Comden. The show ran for 16 months. SYNOPSIS: Ruth, an aspiring writer, and Eileen, her prettier, aspiring-actress younger sister, arrive in New York from Ohio in . | Wonderful Town draws its inspiration from the 1940 play My Sister Eileen by Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodorov, itself an adaptation of a series of autobiographical short stories by Ruth McKenney that appeared in The New Yorker. Choreography by Melissa Newsome. | Ohio Ruth & Eileen4. Ruth and Bob talk over the quality of her stories, and he advises her to write about what she knows rather than flights of fancy. to read our character analysis for Eileen Sherwood and unlock other amazing theatre resources! Wonderful Town | Goodman Theatre As she takes her encore, Bob finally lets Ruth know how he feels, and the entire company joins in to celebrate (Finale: Its Love). The rhythmical Speedy Valenti, owner of the Village Vortex, hires Eileen to sing at the club. FAQ Wonderful Town features a bright Leonard Bernstein score, including such classics as A Little Bit in Love and Ohio.. Shakespeare in the Woods 2023 Season a newspaper reporter who feigns interest in Ruth's writing to get closer to Eileen; pathetic and obnoxious; he is a sleaze, a scoundrel and a liar; his conscience does get the better of him in the . Produced by Robert Fryer. THIS FEATURE IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR PRO MEMBERS. Highlights include Ohio, Conga, One Hundred Easy Ways and Wrong Note Rag.. The show's drop into relative obscurity can be traced, in large part, to an uneven made-for-television production. Ruths Stories Baker, Ruth8. Trumpet III & IV Time & Place. Research Playwrights, Librettists, Composers and Lyricists, Based on the earlier play, My Sister Eileen by Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodorov (which is in turn based on stories by Ruth McKenney), Tony-award winning Wonderful Town is a bright and cheery love letter to the colorful experience of living life in New York. Ruth visits her telling her that she will bail her out as soon as she can. Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations. Next you have Ruth, Eileen's big sister. SHARE. Winter Garden Theatre. Promoting your show has never been easier! The story, very simple: two sisters that come from Ohio to hit it big in New York city. User Ratings "Wonderful Town" was based on the 1940 play "My Sister Eileen," which was made into a film in 1942. Bob arrives at the apartment, looking for Ruth, and Eileen invites him over for dinner as well. Search all shows. Wonderful Town: Directed by Mel Ferber, Herbert Ross. Fields and Jerome Chodorov, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and music by Leonard Bernstein. Wreck describes his lucky history as a student at Trenton Tech, where he survived thanks to his athletic ability (Pass the Football). Eileens fame reaches the front page of the news. New York, NY, SM for Poor Yella Rednecks )"Quite Girl" and "The Wrong Note Rag." Ruth rushes inside in tears, and Bob is overcome with remorse (A Quiet Girl). When "Wonderful Town," the musical by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, based on the 1940 play "My Sister Eileen" by Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodorov, opened . Ruth, however, is left to wonder at her sister's magnetic appeal and her own unique romantic abilities a talent for repelling men so successful that she could write a book entitled "One Hundred Easy Ways to Lose a Man.". Mary Zimmerman directed the 2016 Goodman Theatre (Chicago) revival which previewed from September 10 to run September 20 to October 23: the cast included Bri Sudia (Ruth) Lauren Molina (Eileen), and Matt DeCaro (Appopoulos), the sets were designed by Todd Rosenthal. Wonderful Town Book by Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodorov. Now Playing: Wonderful Town | Dean College to read our character analysis for Wreck and unlock other amazing theatre resources! THIS FEATURE IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR PRO MEMBERS. In the local jail, Eileen finds herself practically running the place, with Officer Lonigan and his brigade of doting Irish police officers at her beck and call. A Non-Equity National Tour was presented by Music Theatre Associates in 2006 and 2007. The Tony Award-winning Best Musical features a thrilling score by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Comden & Green. Results may vary. Add your thoughts in the comments box. *Our system only provides suggested monologues or songs for select characters if we have matching monologues and song information in our database. Football Exit Orchestra10. Eileen Sherwood See more songs from Jerome Chodorov Joseph Fields Leonard Bernstein Betty Comden Adolph Green. Jackie McKeever (a practicly unknown stage actress. A Little Bit In Love Eileen8a. Eileen has invited Frank Lippencott, Bob Baker, and Chick Clark over for a potluck supper. Research Playwrights, Librettists, Composers and Lyricists, See more songs from The book by Jerome Chodorov and Joseph Fields is essentially the story of two Ohio siblings who arrive in 1935 New York determined to take the town by storm. Show Guides. 250 W. 57th Street Take a look below at how you can enhance your show! Upgrade to PRO Sign Up for PRO to view suggested audition pieces! Sign up today to unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. Eventually, Ruth talks her way into the offices of a short story magazine, where she meets Bob Baker. Ballet at the Village Vortex19. Culloden-Balloch Baptist Church was live. - Facebook Wonderful Town, musical in 2 acts | Details | AllMusic Appopolous - modern painter; Ruths and Eileens landlordHelen - Wrecks girlfriendMrs. Music by Leonard Bernstein; Book by Joseph A. production, Profile of the show at guidetomusicaltheatre.com, Profile of the show from the Tams Witmark site, Time Magazine article about Russell and the show, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wonderful_Town&oldid=1129831375, Christopher Street Tour Guide and Villagers, Conquering New York Ruth, Eileen, First Cadet, Violet and Villagers*, What a Waste Bob Baker and Associate Editors, Conversation Piece Ruth, Eileen, Frank Lippencott, Bob and Chick Clark*, Ballet at the Village Vortex Orchestra (danced by the ensemble), Wrong Note Rag Ruth, Eileen and Villagers, It's Love (Reprise) / Finale Eileen, Bob, Ruth and Entire Company, 2002: A live performance in Berlin on DVD with, 2003: The cast recording of a new revival with, 2004: A new recording of the 2003 production, with, This page was last edited on 27 December 2022, at 08:52. The sisters are soon stricken with homesickness for "Ohio". The sisters learn that they are both attracted to Bob and they wish again that they had never left Ohio. He was very funny, and very loveble in the role of Frank Lippincott. The Vortex is alive with singing and dancing ("Wrong Note Rag"), and Bob decides it is the perfect moment to let Ruth know how he feels. Listen Now; . Wade - Helens motherFirst Associate Editor - fellow employee at the ManhatterSecond Associate Editor - fellow employee at the ManhatterViolet - villagerOfficer Lonigan (John) - neighborhood copSpeedy Valenti - proprietor of the Village Vortex, Modern Dancers - villagersA Radical VillagerA Yogi VillagerA Strange Man (Fletcher) - VillagerA Kid - villagerTwo Drunks - villagersEskimo Pie Man - villagerMr. The next morning, the sisters set out (Conquering New York), but they meet with little success. The Tony Award-winning Best Musical features a thrilling score by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Comden & Green.