Bells Are Ringing 1957

Opened: November 14, 1957

Bells Are Ringing - 1957 - West End History , Info & More

London Coliseum
St. Martin's Lane WC2N 4ES London

In Bells Are Ringing, a lonely young woman can't help getting involved in the lives of her answering service clients. When she falls for a man she has met only by voice, classic 1950s mayhem ensues. The score, by turns brassy, sweet and romantic, includes "Just in Time," "The Party's Over," "I Met a Girl," "Long Before I Knew You" and a fistful of other great tunes from one of Broadway's greatest tunesmiths. The original production opened at the Shubert Theater on November 29, 1956, and played a total of 924 performances. The entire original production was directed by Jerome Robbins; dance and musical numbers of the original production were staged by Jerome Robbins and Bob Fosse. The show won Tony awards for its stars Judy Holliday and Sydney Chaplin.

Get Bells Are Ringing Email Alerts

Be the first to get ticket offers, news, photos & more.

Hal Linden and Sally Struthers Will Lead World Premiere of THE JOURNALS OF ADAM AND EVE
by Stephi Wild - Jan 5, 2024


Hal Linden and Sally Struthers will star in the world premiere of a new play – “The Journals of Adam and Eve” by Ed. Weinberger, with a little help from the authors of Genesis, John Milton, and Mark Twain, for six performances only January 18 to 21.

Casting Revealed For The World Première of THE THIRD MAN at Menier Chocolate Factory
by Stephi Wild - May 10, 2023


As rehearsals begin, the Menier Chocolate Factory has announced full casting for the world première of the new musical, The Third Man. Learn more about who is starring in the show here!

Casting Revealed for The World Premiere of THE THIRD MAN at Menier Chocolate Factory
by Stephi Wild - May 2, 2023


As public booking opens, the Menier Chocolate Factory has announced initial casting for the world première of the new musical, The Third Man. Learn more about who will be starring in the show here!

TV Legends Hal Linden And Bernie Kopell Team Up For TWO JEWS, TALKING Off Broadway This Summer
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 19, 2022


Tony & Emmy Award Winner Hal Linden (The Rothschilds, Barney Miller) and legendary television star Bernie Kopell (The Love Boat, Get Smart, That Girl) will pair up for the world premiere of the new comedy Two Jews, Talking.

What Was the Golden Age of Broadway?
by Team BWW - Feb 19, 2022


Just last week, The Music Man marched back to Broadway- the latest revival of a show from musical theatre's most glorious time- the Golden Age. What was the Golden Age of Broadway all about and what years did it cover? Study up!

Student Blog: Zodiac Signs of Tony-Nominated Musicals
by Student Blogger: Madison Moore - Mar 22, 2021


The criteria are that these shows have been nominated for Best Musical from the 3rd Tony Awards (the ceremony that started the Best Musical category) in 1949 to the nominations of what will now be the 74th Tony Awards in 2021. I will be determining their signs based upon their Broadway premiere date. With those rules in mind, here we go!

BWW Exclusive: The 101 Greatest Musical Theatre Characters (1940-2020)
by Peter Nason - Apr 30, 2020


BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the best musical theatre characters from 1940-2020; see if your favorites are on our list of the best characters from Broadway musicals.

BWW Review: THE PAJAMA GAME at Opéra De Rennes
by Patrick Honoré - Feb 10, 2020


After the concert version of West Side Story and an extensive tour of the musical Bells Are Ringing, director Jean Lacornerie and musical director Gérard Lecointe have chosen to collaborate again, delivering to the French public a comparatively little known musical of the 50s, The Pajama Game, which, outside being the work of the dream team Jerome Robbins directing, George Abbott writing the book, and Bob Fosse choreographing on Broadway for the very first time, stands as perhaps the only musical dealing with unions and labor conflicts. The least we can say is that this choice couldn't be more on point given the political context of France today, with major strikes going on in sync with the show, which began its run at Théâtre de la Croix-Rousse in Lyon, followed by an extensive tour at the Théâtre de la Renaissance, also in the Lyon area, and now for a three-day run at the gorgeous Opéra de Rennes, where I caught a sold out performance on February 1st.

La Mirada Presents GRUMPY OLD MEN: THE MUSICAL Featuring Cathy Rigby and More
by Julie Musbach - Aug 15, 2019


La Mirada Theatre For The Performing Arts & Mccoy Rigby Entertainment present the West Coast Premiere of GRUMPY OLD MEN: THE MUSICAL, book by Dan Remmes, music by Neil Berg, lyrics by Nick Meglin, (Adapted from the Warner Bros. motion picture written by Mark Steven Johnson), additional orchestrations by Phil Reno, choreography by Michele Lynch, musical direction by Benet Braun and direction by Matt Lenz.

Head to the Highlands with Pittsburgh CLO's BRIGADOON Opening July 17
by Julie Musbach - Jul 2, 2018


Pittsburgh CLO is proud to bring Lerner and Loewe's BRIGADOON from the Scottish Highlands to the Benedum Center stage July 17 - 22. As part of its ongoing mission to celebrate musical theater, Pittsburgh CLO often revives classics, thus introducing new audiences to the masterpieces of Broadway's golden age.

TCM To Pay Tribute To Musicals In June Programming Special 'Mad About Musicals!'
by Tori Hartshorn - May 23, 2018


Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will pay homage to the glittering world of Hollywood musicals with Mad About Musicals!, a special month of programming celebrating timeless movie musicals such as The Wizard of Oz, Singin' in the Rain and Cabaret. TCM is once again partnering with Ball State University and Canvas to offer a free online multimedia course tied to this programming special about the history of the musical genre and its evolution with cultural and technological shifts. Enrollment is open until June 17 and fans can sign up for the course at musicals.tcm.com.

Whoopi Goldberg, Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Earl Jones to Knock the Ball Out of the Park for Roundabout's DAMN YANKEES Benefit
by BWW News Desk - Oct 13, 2017


Roundabout Theatre Company has just announced a special Benefit Concert Reading of Damn Yankees, the Tony award-winning musical comedy by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop with music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross.

Industry Exclusive: The Story of Music Publisher Martin Bandier and His Tempting Broadway Opportunity
by Jay Landers - Oct 16, 2017


What do the Beatles, Dylan, Sting, Stones, Beyonc , Gaga, Madonna, the Taylors (Swift and James), Queen, Elvis, Bowie, Pink, Adele, the Monkees and Snoop Dog all have in common?

Michael Feinstein & Betty Buckley, Norbert Leo Butz, Christine Ebersole and More Set for September at Feinstein's/54 Below
by BWW News Desk - Sep 1, 2017


This September, Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.

Michael Feinstein & Betty Buckley, Norbert Leo Butz, Christine Ebersole and More Set for September at Feinstein's/54 Below
by BWW News Desk - Aug 30, 2017


This September, Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.

Photo Flash: The Theatre Group at SBCC presents HIGH SOCIETY
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 22, 2017


The Theatre Group at SBCC opens the 17/18 season with Cole Porter's sparkling musical, HIGH SOCIETY, July 12-29 in the Garvin Theatre. 

GOOD MORNING, THEATERATI for June 7, 2017
by Jeffrey Ellis - Jun 7, 2017


GOOD MORNING, THEATERATI! It's Wednesday, June 7, 2017! Kathie Lee and Hoda are in town today to show their Today show audience what's happening in Nashville, which prompts the musical question: What's sights are on your list of places to go when newbies turn to you for advice? Let us know and we'll feature you in an upcoming story!

Hal Linden Signs on for TESLA: A RADIO PLAY FOR THE STAGE at Laguna Playhouse
by BWW News Desk - May 18, 2017


Laguna Playhouse has announced that acclaimed actor Hal Linden (replacing the previously announced Bruce Davison) has been added to its very special theatrical event also starring Gregory Harrison, Dan Lauria, Charles Shaughnessy, French Stewart & Vanessa Stewart in TESLA: A RADIO PLAY FOR THE STAGE, written by Dan Duling and directed by Michael Arabian.

Steve Reich To Curate THREE GENERATIONS At Carnegie Hall, 4/6
by Molly Tracy - Mar 10, 2017


This spring, Steve Reich, holder of the 2016-2017 Richard and Barbara Debs Composer Chair, returns to Carnegie Hall to curate Three Generations-a four-concert series in Zankel Hall.

THE FRIDAY FIVE: Three of ACCC's 12 ANGRY MEN
by Jeffrey Ellis - Oct 2, 2015


Jury deliberations get under way tonight in Woodbury as the Arts Center of Cannon County opens its production of the stage classic 12 Angry Men, directed by Terry Deason (who counts among her castmembers her husband, 2015 First Night Honoree Darryl Deason) and running at the theater through October 17. Former TV and radio personality Aaron Solomon stars alongside a cast filled with familiar faces from the Middle Tennessee theater community, including our two other Friday Five personalities Gerold Oliver and Byron Whiting.

Pittsburgh CLO's GYPSY Opens Tonight
by BWW News Desk - Jul 10, 2015


Join one-of-a-kind mother, Rose, and her two talented daughters as they search for fame in Pittsburgh CLO's production of GYPSY, tonight, July 10, through July 19 at the Benedum Center. This entertaining musical is complete with memorable performances, mother-daughter struggles and the hardships of show business life, all while set during the infamous vaudeville era.

Pittsburgh CLO's GYPSY Opens 7/10
by Tyler Peterson - Jul 2, 2015


Join one-of-a-kind mother, Rose, and her two talented daughters as they search for fame in Pittsburgh CLO's production of GYPSY, July 10-19 at the Benedum Center. This entertaining musical is complete with memorable performances, mother-daughter struggles and the hardships of show business life, all while set during the infamous vaudeville era.

Photo Coverage: Remembering Julie Wilson
by Walter McBride - Apr 6, 2015


Stage, screen, and cabaret star Julie Wilson passed away yesterday, April 5, from complications from two recent stokes. She was 90 years old. Below, BroadwayWorld takes you back through the last two decades of her versatile career.

Rick McKay Remembers Recently Departed Julie Wilson
by Nicole Rosky - Apr 6, 2015


As BroadwayWorld reported this morning, stage, screen, and cabaret star Julie Wilson passed away yesterday, April 5, from complications from two recent stokes. She was 90 years old. Rick McKay, the producer/director of Rick McKay's Broadway: The Golden Age Film Trilogy, recently took to Facebook to bid farewell to his friend:

Tony Nominee Julie Wilson Passes Away at 90
by Nicole Rosky - Apr 6, 2015


BroadwayWorld has just learned that stage, screen, and cabaret star Julie Wilson passed away yesterday, April 5, from complications from two recent stokes. She was 90 years old. Wilson's friend Ann Hampton Callaway writes on Facebook:

Bells Are Ringing FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What productions of Bells Are Ringing have there been?
Bells Are Ringing has had 8 productions including Broadway which opened in 1956, Broadway which opened in 1956, West End which opened in 1957, US Tour which opened in 1959, Regional (US) which opened in 1999, Broadway which opened in 2001, Broadway which opened in 2001 and Off-Broadway which opened in 2017.
What awards has Bells Are Ringing been nominated for?
Bells Are Ringing has been nominated for the Performance (Theatre World Awards) for Sydney Chaplin.
What awards has Bells Are Ringing won?
Bells Are Ringing has won the Performance (Theatre World Awards) for Sydney Chaplin.

Videos