My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

Beg, Borrow, or Steal

Beg, Borrow, or Steal - 1960 Broadway History , Info & More

Martin Beck Theatre
302 W. 45th St. New York, NY 10036

from a story by Bud Freeman and Marvin Seiger

Clara's boyfriend, Rafe, is a charlatan who owns a coffee house called the Pit and manages to live on credit because folks tend to regard beatniks as quaint and don't hold them to the standards of the real world. Pretending to be one of the beats, Rafe is actually looking to exploit them.

Into Clara's life comes Junior, an Ivy Leaguer who used to live in the neighborhood. Junior claims to be doing research on beatnik poets, but, by the end of the first act, it's revealed that Junior is actually "Rexall," a celebrated beatnik poet who assembles his verse by mixing lines from Alice in Wonderland, Silas Marner, Finnegan's Wake, and Mickey Spillane.

Looking to use Clara's money to refinance the Pit, Rafe sells Clara a supposedly valuable painting that he himself painted. Rafe gets Clara to transform herself into a beatnik and read poetry at the Pit. When she's made over and becomes an attraction at the Pit, Rafe tries to sell her to Madison Avenue executives and to turn the Pit into a tourist trap. At the end, Junior gets Clara away from Rafe and his fraudulent world. The central joke of Beg, Borrow or Steal was that button-down Junior was actually a beat while Rafe, who seemed to be part of the beat culture, was, at heart, a conformist interested in the commercial exploitation of the beats.


Get Beg, Borrow, or Steal Email Alerts

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

Jordan Fisher Performs 'Feed Me (Git It!)' in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS New York
by Robert Diamond - Jun 7, 2026


Jordan Fisher takes on the iconic Audrey II number 'Feed Me (Git It!)' in a new clip from the New York production of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS.

BREAK OF DAY: Kat Stewart and Sarah Goodes to Reunite at Malthouse Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 4, 2026


Kat Stewart and director Sarah Goodes reunite for the world premiere of Steve Rodgers' Break of Day at Malthouse's Merlyn Theatre, leading an ensemble cast in a new Australian drama about a mother and daughter in regional Australia.

DIRTY BOOKS Enters Final Week of Performances at Bated Breath Theatre Company
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 4, 2026


Only seven performances remain to experience the world premiere of Dirty Books, written and directed by Mara Lieberman and presented by Bated Breath Theatre Company.

Guest Post: 'Plays About Kenya Are Hard To Come By': Actor Grace Saif On Activism, Politics And Representation in A FINE IDEA
by Guest Author - Jun 8, 2026


Here in the UK, the Finance Bill 2024 Gen Z Protests in Kenya were a moment that came and passed by unnoticed. This is not surprising, as most people in the UK, and indeed most people in the world, are living in a day-to-day survival mode, battling the cost of living crisis or simply trying to get by.

Interview: Director of Audience Experience Lindsey On Accessibility at The Muny
by Joshua Wright - Jun 3, 2026


Lindsey, The Muny's director of audience experience, discusses how the Tony-winning outdoor musical theatre makes its 108th season accessible to all, from nearly 1,500 free nightly seats to live closed captioning.

Reimagined THE FANTASTICKS and GLORIA Will Make Broadway Premieres as Part of Second Stage's 2026-27 Season
by Stephi Wild - Jun 3, 2026


Second Stage Theater has announced five productions for its upcoming 48th Season, including the Broadway premieres of The Fantasticks and Gloria. Learn more about the full season here!

Review: FREAK THE MIGHTY at Cleveland Play House
by Julie Zatko - Jun 2, 2026


What did our critic think of FREAK THE MIGHTY at Cleveland Play House?

Recap the 2026 Tony Awards Acceptance Speeches
by Nicole Rosky - Jun 7, 2026


The 79th Annual Tony Awards have come and gone! As winners took the stage at the big event, BroadwayWorld brought you full text of all of the acceptance speeches; from the emotional to the humorous, and everything in between.

Noël Coward's WAITING IN THE WINGS is Coming to Theatricum Botanicum
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 2, 2026


Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum will present Waiting in the Wings, a vibrant, funny, humane comedy by Noël Coward. Waiting in the Wings will run in rotation every weekend with Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Treasure Island.

SLAY to Make Edinburgh Fringe Debut as First GOBBY AND GILDED Production
by Stephi Wild - Jun 2, 2026


Gilded Balloon and Gobby Girl Productions announced GOBBY AND GILDED, a new partnership to develop female talent from stage to screen, launching with SLAY by Lois-Amber Toole at Edinburgh Fringe's Teviot venue.

Boston Dance Alliance Names Laura Young and Peter DiMuro 2026 Dance Champions
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 1, 2026


Boston Dance Alliance named Laura Young and Peter DiMuro recipients of the 2026 Dr. Michael Shannon Dance Champion Award, with Lynda Rieman receiving the Unsung Hero Award at the organization's annual gathering.

Review: THE DIVINE SISTER at Vagabond Players Ignites Heavenly Delight!
by Kirby Povilaitis - Jun 2, 2026


In a world of change and confusion, some essential truths will always remain. Chief among these truths is this: Campy, irreverent, John Waters-style comedy will always have a home in Baltimore. Its current place of residence: Vagabond Players’ 110th season closer, The Divine Sister. 

Interview: Rangel Guzman And Haley Griffin of TOMMY TUNE JIMMY NOMINEES at Theatre Under The Stars
by Brett Cullum - Jun 1, 2026


One of the coolest things that Theatre Under the Stars does every year is host an awards program for high school students called The Tommy Tune Awards. The winners in each category move on to consideration for the Jimmy Awards, a national program that will culminate in their awards this year on Monday, June 22, 2026, at 7:30 PM at the Minskoff Theatre in Manhattan.

Review: COUNTERPOINT OF CHAOS, His Majesty's Theatre
by Donald Hutera - Jun 1, 2026


Multi-tasking seems to come easy to the American dancer, choreographer, pedagogue and artistic director Maria Caruso. Based in Pittsburgh, where she founded the company Bodiography Contemporary Ballet a quarter-century ago, Caruso also creates and teaches dance around the world. (Next stop: Brazil.) Some of this work she has made for herself. 

Review: THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA at Opera Theatre Of St. Louis
by Steve Callahan - Jun 2, 2026


Young lovers from different worlds. What are their odds? A beautiful evening, rich in music, is a delight at Opera Theatre of St. Louis

Review: STEEL MAGNOLIAS at Arkansas Repertory Theatre in Little Rock
by Theresa Bertram - May 31, 2026


What did our critic think of STEEL MAGNOLIAS at Arkansas Repertory Theatre?

Review: I HATE HAMLET at Theatre Tallahassee
by Gloria Lopez - May 29, 2026


Theatre Tallahassee's production of I HATE HAMLET has received a strong review, with particular praise directed at the performances of Andy Digby and Bob Myers as Andrew Rally and John Barrymore.

Photos: CYRANO DE BERGERAC in Rehearsal at the Noël Coward Theatre
by Stephi Wild - May 28, 2026


Rehearsal photos have been released from Cyrano de Bergerac, produced in the West End by the Royal Shakespeare Company, Wessex Grove and Gavin Kalin Productions and running at the Noël Coward Theatre. Check out the photos here!

Q&A: Director DeMone Seraphin On Helming AIN'T TOO PROUD at The Gateway Playhouse
by Joshua Wright - May 27, 2026


The Gateway Playhouse is bringing the electrifying Tony-nominated musical AIN'T TOO PROUD to the Bellport stage, charting The Temptations' extraordinary journey from the streets of Detroit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

MANON, CARMEN, & More Among Royal Ballet and Opera 2026/27 Cinema Season
by Josh Sharpe - May 27, 2026


The Royal Ballet and Opera have unveiled their programme of cinema screenings throughout the 2026/27 Season, including beloved favourites, and new productions.

MORALITY BITES! to Make Montreal Fringe Festival Debut from Theatre Ouest End
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 26, 2026


Theatre Ouest End will present Morality Bites!, a series of short plays exploring moral dilemmas, at the St-Ambroise Montreal Fringe Festival. Written by Alice Abracen and Ann Lambert, the show invites audience discussion after each piece.

Video: Julie Andrews Makes Surprise Virtual Appearance at World Parkinson Congress
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 26, 2026


Icon Julie Andrews made a virtual appearance in a video message that played for attendees at Sunday's World Parkinson Congress in Phoenix, an annual event aimed at combatting the progressive movement disorder. Watch the video here!

Schele Williams, Jesca Prudencio, Billie Aken-Tyers To Direct NEW NEXT NOW Development Series
by Stephi Wild - May 26, 2026


The Stage Door Foundation's NEW NEXT NOW series announced directors for three industry readings of original musicals, with Schele Williams, Billie Aken-Tyers, and Jesca Prudencio each helming a new work.

Una compañía amateur estrenará LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS en Madrid
by Adela González Pérez - May 26, 2026


La asociación ALMA ofrecerá diez únicas funciones en el Teatro San Pol durante el mes de septiembre

Review: THE 39 STEPS IS A DELIGHTFUL ROMP AT ELMWOOD PLAYHOUSE
by Bruce Apar - May 22, 2026


What did our critic think of THE 39 STEPS IS A DELIGHTFUL ROMP AT ELMWOOD PLAYHOUSE at Elmwood?So pronounced is the raucous, madcap flavor of the show – consciously channeling the vaudevillian humor of early 20th Century English music halls, a setting that bookends the play – that the plot itself virtually plays second fiddle to the non-stop shenanigans, which are enough to make you plotz with guffaws throughout.

Beg, Borrow, or Steal History

Other Productions of Beg, Borrow, or Steal

1960   Broadway Original Broadway Production
Broadway

Videos


TICKET CENTRAL
Hot Show
Tickets From $59
Hot Show
Tickets From $77
Hot Show
Tickets From $70
Hot Show
Tickets From $59