On the Twentieth Century

After four flops in a row, the theater impresario Oscar Jaffee and his entourage are on the run. Desperately trying to revive his career, he booked a car on the Twentieth Century Limited, the world's most famous express train, to New York.
In the next car resides Lily Garland, her former lover turned Hollywood starlet. Oscar only has 16 hours to persuade Lily to come back on stage for her next show.
Religious fanatic Letitia Peabody Primrose helps fund the show. Jaffee's dreams turn into a glorious, hilarious act that needs to be rocked to keep everyone happy.

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General information
  • Style : Comedy, Romance
  • Theme : 20s, New York, Showbiz, Success, Love
  • year of creation : 1978
Music
  • Composer :Cy Coleman
  • Lyricist : Betty Comden & Adolph Green
  • Librettist : Betty Comden & Adolph Green
  • Author (other) : Ben Hecht & Charles MacArhtur
  • famous songs : "Overture" "Stranded Again / Saddle Up the Horse / On the Twentieth Century" "I Rise Again" "Veronique" "I Have Written a Play" "Together" "Never" "This Is The Day" "Our Private World" "Repent" "Mine" "I've Got it All" Entr'acte: "Life is Like a Train" "Five Zeros" "Sextet" "She's a Nut" "Babbette – Lily "The Legacy" "Lily, Oscar" "Final"
  • Famous performers : Kristin Chenoweth, Andy Karl, Mark Linn-Baker, Michael McGrath, Mary Louise Wilson, Peter Gallagher, Marin Mazzie, John Cullum and Madeline Kahn, Imogene Coca, Kevin Kline, Judy Kaye, Keith Michell, Julia McKenzie, Mark Wynter, Ann Beach, Howard Samuels, Rebecca Vere.
kinships
  • Inspired by another work : The musical is based on the play "Twentieth Century" by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, itself based on the unpublished play "Napoleon of Broadway" by Charles B. Millholland, which is inspired by his experience working with eccentric Broadway agent David Belasco. The 1932 play spawned a film directed by Howard Hawks in 1934.
  • Exists in film : A film called "Twentieth Century" and which serves as the source for the musical was directed by Howard Hawks in 1934. The film features John Barrymore, Carole Lombard, Walter Connolly, Roscoe Karns and Edgar Kennedy.
Awards
  • Appointments and Awards : In 1978, the show won 5 Tony Awards, including Best Original Score, 4 Drama Desk Awards and 1 Theater World Award.
  • Number of performances : 449
Currently on stage