What do you get when two musical theatre masters, Frank Loesser and George Abbott, adapt one of the most successful farces of all time? Where's Charley?, a tuneful comedy classic that earned lead actor Ray Bolger (of Wizard of Oz fame) a Tony Award and launched Loesser's career (Guys and Dolls)! George Abbot's book preserves all of the laughs from the record-breaking play, Charlie's Aunt, upon which the show is based.
Oxford University students Charley and Jack invite the young and winsome Kitty and Amy to lunch under the chaperoning eye of Donna Lucia, Charley's wealthy aunt (it is, after all, 1892). But when Donna Lucia doesn't show, a desperate Charley disguises himself as his aunt so that the young ladies can visit. Charley is unaware that they've brought a chaperone of their own: Amy's stuffy uncle, who promptly falls for Charley's aunt-like charms! When the real aunt shows up, it's all downhill from there: quick changes, fast-talking, marriage proposals, compromising situations and rowdy hilarity.
1948 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
1951 | Broadway |
Return Engagement [Broadway] Broadway |
1958 | West End |
London Production West End |
1974 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Broadway |
2004 | Regional (US) |
Goodspeed Revival Regional (US) |
2011 | Off-Broadway |
Encores! Revival Off-Broadway |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
1975 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actress - Musical | Marsha McClain |
1975 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Choreography | Margo Sappington |
1975 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor - Musical | Jerry Lanning |
1975 | Tony Awards | Best Costume Design | Arthur Boccia |
1975 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical | Tom Aldredge |
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