Based on the play "Twentieth Century" by Ben Hecht and Charles McArthur
and "Napoleon of Broadway" by Charles Bruce Milholland
Broadway Production Directed by Harold Prince
"LIFE IS LIKE A TRAIN, A ROARING RUSHING TRAIN..."
Photos by Peter M. Lerman
Synoposis:
On the Twentieth Century focuses on egomaniacal producer Oscar Jaffee and his volatile personal
and professional relationship with the arrogant film actress Lily
Garland. After producing four flops in a row, Jaffe’s theater is being
foreclosed. He then books a suite on the luxury train the Twentieth
Century Limited, heading from Chicago to New York City with Garland and
her new beau, narcissistic heartthrob Bruce Granit, on board, in the
hope he can lure her back to the stage and salvage his sinking career.
Garland, who abhors Jaffee, is just as determined to escape his charm,
and a battle of wits begins.
About:
On the Twentieth Century,
was a Broadway musical with book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph
Green, and music by Cy Coleman, directed by Hal Prince. It opened in
1978 and starred Imogene Coca, John Cullum, Madeline Kahn and Kevin
Kline. (Miss Kahn left the production fairly early in its run; her
understudy, Judy Kaye, who had already gone on for her many times, took
over the role and launched her own starring career.)
It was an adapation of a story first presented in Charles Bruce
Millholland's play Napoleon of Broadway, based on his experiences
working for the theater producer David Belasco. This was adapted by Ben
Hecht and Charles MacArthur as the play Twentieth Century, which was
produced and directed on Broadway in 1932 by George Abbott.
The plot, a screwball comedy, features an egomaniacal Broadway producer
who makes a shopgirl into a star, then tries to win her back after she
abandons him. Most of the action takes place aboard the New York
City-Chicago train known as The Twentieth Century Limited.
The play was adapted by Hecht and MacArthur (credited) and by Gene
Fowler and Preston Sturges (uncredited) for Howard Hawks's 1934 film,
Twentieth Century, which starred John Barrymore and Carole Lombard.
Early in the run, Judy Kaye replaced Madeline Kahn as Lily Garland.
(Miss Kaye's new understudy was future Tony-winning star Christine
Ebersole.) Co-lyricist/librettist Betty Comden also replaced Imogene
Coca as Letitia Primrose for a spell.
The production won the Tony Awards for book and score.
Artistic Team:
Directed and Choreographed by Christopher Gladysz
Musical Direction by Stephanie Gaumer-Klein
Conducted by Emily Jayko
Set Design by Christpher Gladysz
Lighting Design by Jeff Klein
Produced by Marie Ricci Gelston
Production Stage Manager: Charity M. Ferris
CAST OF CHARACTERS (in order of appearance)
Bishop..............................................William Lamoureux
Priest................................................Paul Stein
Joan of Arc........................................Jorie Janeway
Match Girls........................................Melanie Romano, Kelly Reagan
Soldier..............................................Stephen Papallo
Executioner......................................Joseph Bukowski
The Dauphin.....................................Jack Moreno
Angels of the Flame..........................Karissa Raymond, Paige Newman
Stage Manager.................................Matthew Sumski
Stage Hand......................................Daniel Bayer
Wardrobe Mistress...........................Dolly Conner
Owen O'Malley..................................Peter Lerman
Oliver Webb......................................Matt Austin
Letitia Peabody Primrose..................Jody Bayer
Train Secretary.................................Joseph Bukowski
Conductor Flanagan.........................Andrew Bayer
Porter Rogers...................................Daniel Bayer
Porter Jones.....................................Kris McCormick
Porter 3............................................Stephen Papallo
Porter 4............................................Brendan Lynch
Mrs. Viola B. Livengood.................... Lisa Michele Cohen
Miss Ida Dunham..............................Meredith Walker
Congressman Lockwood..................Stephen DiRocco
Anita.................................................Jasmin Barbosa
Oscar Jaffee......................................Christopher Gladysz
Max Jacobs.......................................Brendan Lynch
Imelda Thornton..............................Cristina Balsama
Maxwell Finch...................................Stephen Papallo
Lily Garland/Mildred Plotka...............Priscilla Squiers
Otto von Bismarck............................Paul Stein
Bruce Granit.....................................John Blackwell
Agnes...............................................Jorie Janeway
Dr. Johnson......................................Barbara Kessler
First Institutional Officer...................Matthew Sumski
Second Institutional Officer...............Melanie Romano
Rodney..............................................Joseph Bukowski
Nigel..................................................John Blackwell
Cristina Balsama, Jasmin Barbosa, Daniel Bayer, Joseph Bukowski, Lise Michele Cohen,
Dolly Conner, Stephe DiRocco, Jorie Janeway, Barbara Kessler, Brendan Lynch, Kirs McCormick,
Jack Moreno, Paige Newman, Stephen Papallo, Melanie Romano, Karissa Raymond, Kelly Reagan,
Paul Stein, Matthew Sumski, Meredith Walker
