Georgy
Encyclopedia
Georgy is a musical
with a book by Tom Mankiewicz
, lyrics by Carole Bayer
, and music by George Fischoff.
Based on the Margaret Forster
novel Georgy Girl
and the subsequent 1966 film adaptation, it tells the story of awkward, overweight, dowdy music teacher Georgy; her beautiful, self-centered roommate Meredith; Meredith's ne'er-do-well boyfriend Jos; and widower James Leamington, Georgy's father's wealthy employer, who has a lustful eye on the full-figured girl. When Meredith becomes pregnant, an overjoyed Georgy prepares for the blessed event, and soon after finds herself the baby's caregiver when the irresponsible Meredith disappears with a new beau. Georgy and Jos settle into an unlikely relationship threatened by his need to be independent, ultimately forcing Georgy to make a decision based on what's best for the child rather than her own needs and desires.
After seven previews, the Broadway
production, directed by Peter H. Hunt
and choreographed by Howard Jeffrey, opened on February 26, 1970 at the Winter Garden Theatre
, where it ran for four performances. The cast included newcomers Dilys Watling
as Georgy and John Castle
as Jos
, with Melissa Hart
as Meredith and Stephen Elliott
as James.
The critical consensus was that the intimate story didn't lend itself to a large production complete with singing ensemble and dance routines, the score included nothing close to matching the movie's bouncy title tune, and Watling was neither plain enough nor as vivacious as Lynn Redgrave
, who had portrayed Georgy in the film, to do the character justice. She was nominated for the Tony Award
for Best Actress in a Musical (competing with veterans Lauren Bacall
for Applause
and Katharine Hepburn
for Coco
), and Hart was nominated for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
Act II
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
with a book by Tom Mankiewicz
Tom Mankiewicz
Thomas Frank Mankiewicz was a screenwriter/director/producer of motion pictures and television, perhaps best known for his work on the James Bond films and his contributions to Superman: The Movie and the television series, Hart to Hart.-Early life and career:Mankiewicz was born in Los Angeles on...
, lyrics by Carole Bayer
Carole Bayer Sager
Carole Bayer Sager is an American lyricist, songwriter, singer, and painter.-Introduction:Born in New York City, Sager graduated from New York University, where she majored in English, dramatic arts and speech...
, and music by George Fischoff.
Based on the Margaret Forster
Margaret Forster
Margaret Forster is a British author. She was born in Carlisle, England, where she attended Carlisle and County High School for Girls , and then won an Open Scholarship to read modern history at Somerville College, Oxford, from where she graduated in 1960.After a short period as a teacher at...
novel Georgy Girl
Georgy Girl
Georgy Girl is a 1966 British film based on a novel by Margaret Forster. The film was directed by Silvio Narizzano and starred Lynn Redgrave as Georgy, Alan Bates, James Mason, Charlotte Rampling and Bill Owen....
and the subsequent 1966 film adaptation, it tells the story of awkward, overweight, dowdy music teacher Georgy; her beautiful, self-centered roommate Meredith; Meredith's ne'er-do-well boyfriend Jos; and widower James Leamington, Georgy's father's wealthy employer, who has a lustful eye on the full-figured girl. When Meredith becomes pregnant, an overjoyed Georgy prepares for the blessed event, and soon after finds herself the baby's caregiver when the irresponsible Meredith disappears with a new beau. Georgy and Jos settle into an unlikely relationship threatened by his need to be independent, ultimately forcing Georgy to make a decision based on what's best for the child rather than her own needs and desires.
After seven previews, the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production, directed by Peter H. Hunt
Peter H. Hunt
Peter Huls Hunt is an American theatre, film, and television director and a theatrical lighting designer.Hunt was born in Pasadena, California, the son of Gertrude and George Smith Hunt II, a Minnesota-born industrial designer. Hunt began his career as a lighting designer at the Williamstown...
and choreographed by Howard Jeffrey, opened on February 26, 1970 at the Winter Garden Theatre
Winter Garden Theatre
The Winter Garden Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 1634 Broadway in midtown Manhattan.-History:The structure was built by William Kissam Vanderbilt in 1896 to be the American Horse Exchange....
, where it ran for four performances. The cast included newcomers Dilys Watling
Dilys Watling
Dilys Watling is an English actress, possibly best known for appearing on British television ....
as Georgy and John Castle
John Castle
John Castle is an English actor. Castle has acted in theatre, film and television. He is well known for his role as Postumus in the 1976 BBC television adaptation of I, Claudius and for playing Geoffrey in the 1968 film, The Lion in Winter. He also played Dr...
as Jos
Jos
Jos is a city in the Middle Belt of Nigeria.The city has a population of about 1.5 million residents. Popularly called "J-town" or "Jesus Our Saviour" by the residents, it is the administrative capital of Plateau State....
, with Melissa Hart
Melissa Hart (actress)
Melissa Hart is an American actress, singer, and teacher. She made her Broadway debut in 1966 as an ensemble member in Jerry Bock's The Apple Tree. As Barbara Harris's understudy, she replaced the actress as the various heroines in that musical for several performances...
as Meredith and Stephen Elliott
Stephen Elliott (actor)
Stephen Elliott was an American actor. His best known role was that of crime boss, Burt Johnson, in the hit 1981 film Arthur.-Theatre:Elliott's first acting engagement was at the New York Neighborhood Playhouse in 1946...
as James.
The critical consensus was that the intimate story didn't lend itself to a large production complete with singing ensemble and dance routines, the score included nothing close to matching the movie's bouncy title tune, and Watling was neither plain enough nor as vivacious as Lynn Redgrave
Lynn Redgrave
Lynn Rachel Redgrave, OBE was an English actress.A member of the well-known British family of actors, Redgrave trained in London before making her theatrical debut in 1962...
, who had portrayed Georgy in the film, to do the character justice. She was nominated for the Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
for Best Actress in a Musical (competing with veterans Lauren Bacall
Lauren Bacall
Lauren Bacall is an American film and stage actress and model, known for her distinctive husky voice and sultry looks.She first emerged as leading lady in the Humphrey Bogart film To Have And Have Not and continued on in the film noir genre, with appearances in The Big Sleep and Dark Passage ,...
for Applause
Applause (musical)
Applause is a musical with a book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, lyrics by Lee Adams, and music by Charles Strouse. It won the Tony Award for Best Musical and Lauren Bacall won the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical....
and Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Houghton Hepburn was an American actress of film, stage, and television. In a career that spanned 62 years as a leading lady, she was best known for playing strong-willed, sophisticated women in both dramas and comedies...
for Coco
Coco (musical)
Coco is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by André Previn. It starred Katharine Hepburn in her only stage musical.-Background:...
), and Hart was nominated for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
Song list
Act I- Howdjadoo
- Make It Happen Now
- Ol' Pease Puddin'
- Just for the Ride
- So What?
- Georgy
- A Baby
- Howdjadoo (Reprise)
- That's How It Is
- There's a Comin' Together
Act II
- Something Special
- Half of Me
- Gettin' Back to Me
- Sweet Memory
- Georgy (Reprise)
- Life's a Holiday
- Make It Happen Now (Reprise)
- There's a Comin' Together (Reprise)