1,063
13. Damn Yankees (1955)
1,019
14. Bells Are Ringing (1956)
924
15. Can-Can (1953)
892
16. Carousel (1945)
890
17. Fanny (1954)
888
18. Follow the Girls (1944)
882
19. Song of Norway (1944)
860
20. Fiorello! (1959)
796
21. Where’s Charley? (1948)
792
22. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1949)
740
23. West Side Story (1957)
732
24. High Button Shoes (1947)
727
25. Finian’s Rainbow (1947)
725
26. Gypsy (1959)
702
27. Li’l Abner (1956)
693
28. The Most Happy Fella (1956)
676
29. Bloomer Girl (1944)
654
30. Call Me Madam (1950)
644
31. The Student Prince in Heidelberg (1924)
608
32. Wish You Were Here (1952)
598
33. Blossom Time (1921)
592
34. Kismet (1953)
583
35. Brigadoon (1947)
581
36. Show Boat (1927)
575
37. Sally (1920)
570
38. One Touch of Venus (1943)
567
39. Wonderful Town (1953)
559
40. Rose-Marie (1924) and Good News (1927)
557
1920–2008
1. The Phantom of the Opera** (1988)
8,771
2. Cats (1982)
7,485
3. Les Misérables (1987)
6,680
4. A Chorus Line (1975)
6,137
5. Beauty and the Beast (1994)
5,461
6. Rent (1996)
5,124
7. Chicago (Revival)** (1996)
5,088
8. The Lion King** (1997)
4,720
9. Miss Saigon (1991)
4,097
10. 42nd Street (1980)
3,486
11. Grease (1972)
3,388
12. Fiddler on the Roof (1964)
3,242
13. Mamma Mia!** (1999)
3,058
14. Hello, Dolly! (1964)
2,844
15. My Fair Lady (1956)
2,717
16. Hairspray (2002)
2,641
17. The Producers (2001)
2,502
18. Cabaret (Revival) (1998)
2,378
19. Annie (1977)
2,377
20. The Man of La Mancha (1965)
2,328
21. Avenue Q** (2003)
2,306
22. Oklahoma! (1943)
2,212
23. Wicked** (2003)
2,198
24. Smokey Joe’s Café (1995)
2,036
25. Pippin (1971)
1,994
26. South Pacific (1949)
1,925
27. Magic Show (1974)
1,920
28. Aida (2000)
1,852
29. La Cage aux Folles (1983)
1,761
30. Hair (1968)
1,750
31. The Wiz (1975)
1,672
32. The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1978)
1,584
33. Crazy for You (1992)
1,622
34. Ain’t Misbehavin’ (1978)
1,604
35. Monty Python’s Spamalot (2005)
1,574
36. Evita (1979)
1,567
37. Jekyll & Hyde (1997)
1,543
38. 42nd Street (Revival) (2001)
1,524
39. Dreamgirls (1981)
1,522
40. Mame (1966)
1,508
*Musicals in boldface type are discussed in the text.
**Running as of February 22, 2009.
Appendix D: Show Boat: 1927–1994
Broadway 1927
Overture
(Based mainly on “Mis’ry’s Comin’ Around” and “Why Do I Love You?” Other musical material includes “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” and references to Magnolia’s piano theme and “Ol’ Man River”). [Harms vocal score, 5–11]
Act I
Scene 1: The levee at Natchez, on the Mississippi—in the late eighteen eighties.
1. “Opening—Cotton Blossom” (Chorus) [12–44], “Cap’n Andy’s Ballyhoo” (Captain Andy), “Where’s the Mate for Me?” (Ravenal)
2. “Make Believe” (Ravenal and Magnolia) [45–53]
3. “Ol’ Man River” (Joe) [54–65]
Scene 2: Kitchen pantry of the “Cotton Blossom”—a half-hour later.
4. Orchestra: Parthy’s theme, “Ol’ Man River” (verse), Magnolia’s piano theme, second “Mis’ry” theme [66–67]
5. “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” (Julie, Queenie, and Servants) [68–84]
Scene 3: Outside a waterfront gambling saloon. Simultaneous with scene 2.
6. Orchestra: “Life on the Wicked Stage,” “Make Believe” (sections 5 and 2) [85–86]*
7. “Life on the Wicked Stage” (Ellie and Girls) [87–95]
8. “Till Good Luck Comes My Way” (Ravenal and Men) [96–104]
Scene 4: Auditorium and stage of the “Cotton Blossom”—one hour later.
9. “Mis’ry’s Comin’ Aroun’” (Queenie and Colored Chorus) [105–14] Underscoring: “Mis’ry” themes, “Where’s the Mate for Me?,” “If We Were on Our Honeymoon,” “Make Believe” (A section) [115–25]
Scene 5: Box-office, on foredeck of the “Cotton Blossom”—three weeks later.
10. Introduction (“Cotton Blossom”) [126–27]*
11. “I Might Fall Back on You” (Frank, Ellie, and Girls [128–37]
12. “C’mon folks” (“Queenie’s Ballyhoo”) (Queenie) [138–47]
Scene 6: Auditorium and stage of the “Cotton Blossom”—during the third act of The Parson’s Bride—that evening.
13. Incidental Music, played on the stage during the presentation of “The Parson’s Bride” (Lange’s “Blumenlied,” Parson’s Entrance, Villain’s Entrance) [148–49]*
14. “Villain Dance” [150–51]
Scene 7: The top deck of the “Cotton Blossom”—later that night.
15. Introduction and Duet “You Are Love” (“Ol’ Man River,” “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man,” “Make Believe”) [152–54]
16. “You Are Love” (Ravenal and Magnolia) [155–61]
Scene 8: The levee—next morning.
17. Finale [162–76]
Act II
18. Entrac’te (“Make Believe,” “Ol’ Man River”) [177–78]*
Scene 1: The Midway Plaisance, Chicago World’s Fair, 1893
19. “Opening—At the Fair” (Chorus) [179–92], Incidental (Fatima’s 2nd Dance) [193]*
20. “Why Do I Love You?” (Magnolia and Ravenal) [193–205]
21. “In Dahomey” (Dahomey Villagers and White Chorus) [206–19]
Scene 2: A room on Ontario Street, 1904. “Good Morning, Carrie” [Cecil Mack and Tim Brymn]*
22. Underscoring during Ellie’s reading of Ravenal’s letter (“Why Do I Love You?”) [220]*
Scene 3: Rehearsal room of the Trocadero Music Hall, about 5 P.M. “The Washington Post March” (Sousa). [not in Harms]
23. “Bill” (Julie) [221–23]
24. “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” (Reprise) (Magnolia) [224–26]
Scene 4: St. Agatha’s Convent—meanwhile.
25. Service and Scene music (includes “Alma Redemp
toris Mater” [Nuns] and a reprise of “Make Believe” [Ravenal]) [227–34]
Scene 5: Corner of lobby of the Sherman Hotel, Chicago, 8 P.M. New Year’s Eve, 1904.
26. Introduction (“Cotton Blossom,” “Life on the Wicked Stage”) [235]*
Scene 6: Trocadero Music Hall, New Year’s Eve, 11:30 P.M., 1904.
27. “The Washington Post” (Sousa) [direction for performance only in 236]* “Apache Dance” [not included in Harms] “Goodbye, Ma Lady Love” (Howard) (Frank and Ellie) [236–38]
Captain Andy’s Entrance [239]* “After the Ball” (Harris) (Magnolia) [239–42]
Scene 7: In front of the office of “The Natchez Evening Democrat,” 1927.
28. “Ol’ Man River” (Reprise) (Joe) [243–44]
29. “Hey, Feller!” (Queenie and Chorus) [245–57]
Scene 8: Top deck of the new “Cotton Blossom,” 1927. “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man” (Radio broadcast/reprise)*
30. “You Are Love” (Reprise) (Ravenal) [258–60]
Scene 9: Levee at Natchez, the next night.
31. “Cotton Blossom” (Chorus) [261], “Why Do I Love You?” (Reprise) (Kim and Chorus) [262–63; Kim’s imitations of her mother, Eccentric Dance, and Tap Dance not included in Harms or the McGlinn recording]
32. Finale (“Make Believe” and “Ol’ Man River”)
Principal Changes in Selected Stage Productions and Films (1928–1994)
1. May 3, 1928, Drury Lane, London (350 performances)†
ADDED
“How’d You Like to Spoon with Me?” (1905) (replaced “Good-by, Ma Lady Love”)
“Dance Away the Night” (replaced Kim’s reprise of “Why Do I Love You?”) [Chappell, 219–25]
DELETED
Service and Scene Music with “Make Believe” reprise (No. 25) (not included in Chappell Vocal Score)
Apache Dance
“Hey Feller!” (No. 29)
Eccentric Dance and Tap Dance
2. March 16, 1929, Universal Pictures, Paramount Theatre, Palm Beach, Florida†
The first film version was distributed the day after the first Broadway production closed on May 4 (following a world premiere in Florida in March and a New York City premiere in April). Although mostly silent, this first of three filmed Show Boats included five synchronized Kern songs (“C’Mon, Folks,” “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man,” “Hey, Feller!” “Bill,” and “Ol’ Man River”). Its story line followed Edna Ferber’s novel more closely than Hammerstein’s libretto.
3. May 19, 1932, Casino, New York (181 performances)†
REINSTATED
Service and Scene Music with “Make Believe” reprise (No. 25)
“Good-bye, Ma Lady Love” (“How’d You Like to Spoon with Me?” interpolation from 1928 dropped)
“Hey, Feller!” (No. 29)
“Why Do I Love You!” reprise (“Dance Away the Night” from 1928 dropped)
Eccentric Dance and Tap Dance
4. May 14, 1936, Universal Film, Radio City Music Hall, New York†
NEW SONGS
“I Have the Room above Her”
“Gallivantin’ Aroun’”
“Ah Still Suits Me”
DELETED
“Life on the Wicked Stage” (used as underscoring)
“Till Good Luck Comes My Way” (used as underscoring)
“I Might Fall Back on You”
5. January 5, 1946, Ziegfeld, New York (418 performances)†
ADDED
Dance: “No Gems, No Roses, No Gentlemen”
Dance: No Shoes
Cakewalk
“Nobody Else but Me” (replaced reprise of “Why Do I Love You?”) (No. 31)
Dance 1927 (replaced Eccentric Dance)
DELETED
“Life on the Wicked Stage” (moved from No. 7 to No. 11 [“I Might Fall Back on You”] [No. 11])
“Till Good Luck Comes My Way” (No. 8)
“Dandies on Parade” (“When the sports of gay Chicago” from “At the Fair”) (No. 19)
“Hey, Feller!” (No. 29)
Eccentric Dance
Tap Dance
6. July 29, 1971, Adelphi, London (910 performances)†
REINSTATED
“Mis’ry’s Comin’ Aroun’” (No. 9) (reinstated after being dropped during the try-outs in Washington, D.C.)
“I Might Fall Back on You” (No. 11) (reinstated after being dropped from the 1946 revival)
“How’d You Like to Spoon with Me?” (reinstated from London 1928)
“Dance Away the Night” (reinstated from London 1928 production)
DELETED
“Life on the Wicked Stage” (No. 7)
“In Dahomey” (No. 21)
Service and Scene and “Make Believe” reprise
Dance: “No Gems, No Roses, No Gentlemen”
Dance: “No Shoes” (Cakewalk is the only dance retained from 1946 revival)
“Nobody Else but Me” (retained from the 1946 production but placed in a new context and sung by Julie in act I)
7. October 2, 1994, Gershwin, New York (951 performances)†
REINSTATED AND ADDED
“Mis’ry’s Comin’ Aroun’” (dropped from 1927 production)
“I Have the Room above Her” (from 1936 film)
“Alma Redemptoris Mater” (Gregorian chant interpolation from 1927 production)
“Why Do I Love You?” (sung by Parthy instead of Magnolia and Ravenal)
DELETED
“In Dahomey”
DELETED (BUT USED AS UNDERSCORING)
“I Might Fall Back on You” (from 1927 production)
“It’s Getting Hotter in the North” (dropped from Broadway 1927)
“Ah Still Suits Me” (1936 film)
“How’d You Like to Spoon with Me?” (interpolated song from 1905, used in London 1928 and London 1971)
“Dance Away the Night” (London 1928)
“Hey, Feller!” (1927 Broadway)
“The Washington Post” (by John Philip Sousa) (first interpolated in Broadway 1927)
Manuscript Sources for Ravenal’s Entrance and Meeting with Magnolia
1. Before November 1927: Pre-tryout and tryouts Jerome Kern Collection Box 9 (Library of Congress). Manuscript material including an early typed script (26 pages) (Envelope 217) and two piano-vocal drafts (Envelope 245 [Draft 1] and Envelope 238 [Draft 2]).
2. November–December 1927: Tryouts
Tryout Libretto in Billy Rose Theatre Collection, New York Public Library.
3. December 27, 1927: Original New York production
Libretto of New York Production (Hammerstein’s personal copy given to Miles Kreuger on August 3, 1960). Substantial libretto portions published with the McGlinn EMI/Angel recording CDS 7–49108–2, pages 55–130. Vocal Score published by T. B. Harms Co. in April 1928 (268 pp.).
4. May 3, 1928: London production
Libretto published by Chappell in 1934.
Vocal Score published by Chappell & Co. Ltd. in 1928 (229 pp.).
5. April 30, 1936: Universal film
Screenplay by Oscar Hammerstein (unpublished).
6. January 5, 1946: New York revival
Libretto of touring version distributed by Rodgers and Hammerstein. Vocal Score based on touring version published by Welk Music Group (192 pp.).
Enchanted Evenings:The Broadway Musical from 'Show Boat' to Sondheim and Lloyd Webber Page 66
