My One and Only
Encyclopedia
My One and Only is a musical
with a book by Peter Stone
and Timothy S. Mayer and music and lyrics by George
and Ira Gershwin
.
Written to incorporate classic Gershwin tunes from Funny Face
and other popular shows into one evening of entertainment, the plot, set in 1927 America
, revolves around Capt. Billy Buck Chandler, a barnstorming
aviator
, and Edith Herbert, an ex-English Channel
swimmer and the star of Prince Nicolai Erraclyovitch Tchatchavadze's International Aquacade. Billy's plan to be the first man to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean
is sidetracked by his determination to win Edith's hand, and he takes a crash course in sophistication at Mr. Magix' Tonsorial and Sartorial Emporial to help him achieve his goal. What follows is a series of escapades and misadventures that seems destined to keep the potential lovers apart forever.
After 37 previews, the Broadway
production, directed and choreographed by Tommy Tune
and Thommie Walsh
, opened on May 1, 1983 at the St. James Theatre
, where it ran for 767 performances. The opening night cast included Tune, Twiggy
, Roscoe Lee Browne
, Denny Dillon
, Charles "Honi" Coles
, and Nana Visitor
. Notable replacements during the run included Sandy Duncan
, Don Correia, Jeff Calhoun
, and Georgia Engel.
The show opened in the UK at the Chichester Festival Theatre and then opened in the West End
at the Piccadilly Theatre
in February 2002, starring Janie Dee
and Tim Flavin
with direction by Loveday Ingram and choreography by Craig Revel Horwood
.
Cabaret
singer and Gershwin historian Michael Feinstein
served as the musical consultant for the project.
Lucie Arnaz
starred in the international tour, and Stephanie Zimbalist
starred in the national tour, both opposite Tommy Tune.
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 Peter Stone
Peter Stone
Peter Hess Stone was an American writer for theater, television and movies.-Life and career:Stone was born in Los Angeles. His mother, Hilda , was a film writer, and his father, John Stone was the writer and producer of many silent films, including Shirley Temple and Charlie Chan movies...
and Timothy S. Mayer and music and lyrics by George
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
and Ira Gershwin
Ira Gershwin
Ira Gershwin was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century....
.
Written to incorporate classic Gershwin tunes from Funny Face
Funny Face (musical)
Funny Face is a 1927 musical composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and book by Fred Thompson and Paul Gerard Smith.Originally called Smarty, it starred Fred Astaire and his sister Adele Astaire. It opened in Philadelphia to poor reviews, and amidst major re-writes,...
and other popular shows into one evening of entertainment, the plot, set in 1927 America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, revolves around Capt. Billy Buck Chandler, a barnstorming
Barnstorming
Barnstorming was a popular form of entertainment in the 1920s in which stunt pilots would perform tricks with airplanes, either individually or in groups called a flying circus. Barnstorming was the first major form of civil aviation in the history of flight...
aviator
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
, and Edith Herbert, an ex-English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
swimmer and the star of Prince Nicolai Erraclyovitch Tchatchavadze's International Aquacade. Billy's plan to be the first man to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
is sidetracked by his determination to win Edith's hand, and he takes a crash course in sophistication at Mr. Magix' Tonsorial and Sartorial Emporial to help him achieve his goal. What follows is a series of escapades and misadventures that seems destined to keep the potential lovers apart forever.
After 37 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 and choreographed by Tommy Tune
Tommy Tune
Thomas James "Tommy" Tune is an American actor, dancer, singer, theatre director, producer, and choreographer. Over the course of his career, he has won nine Tony Awards and the National Medal of Arts.-Early years:...
and Thommie Walsh
Thommie Walsh
Thomas Joseph “Thommie” Walsh III was an American dancer, choreographer, and director.-Biography:Born in Auburn, New York, Walsh was interested in dance from the age of five, but seriously considered foregoing it as a career when he was rejected by Juilliard...
, opened on May 1, 1983 at the St. James Theatre
St. James Theatre
The St. James Theatre is located at 246 W. 44th St. Broadway, New York City, New York. It was built by Abraham L. Erlanger, theatrical producer and a founding member of the Theatrical Syndicate, on the site of the original Sardi's restaurant. It opened in 1927 as The Erlanger...
, where it ran for 767 performances. The opening night cast included Tune, Twiggy
Twiggy
Lesley Lawson née Hornby known as Twiggy is an English model, actress, and singer. In the early-1960s she became a prominent British teenage model of swinging sixties London with others such as Penelope Tree....
, Roscoe Lee Browne
Roscoe Lee Browne
Roscoe Lee Browne was an American actor and director, known for his rich voice and dignified bearing.-Biography:Browne was the fourth son of a Baptist minister, Sylvanus S. Browne, and his wife Lovie...
, Denny Dillon
Denny Dillon
Denise "Denny" Dillon is an American comedian and former cast member of Saturday Night Live. At 4'11" , Dillon is the shortest cast member in the show's history...
, Charles "Honi" Coles
Charles Coles
Charles “Honi” Coles was an American actor and tap dancer.-Biography:Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Coles developed his high-speed rhythm tapping on the streets of his hometown. He first went to New York City as one of the Three Millers, who were known for their intricate and difficult dance...
, and Nana Visitor
Nana Visitor
Nana Visitor , born Nana Tucker, is an American actress, best known for playing Kira Nerys in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Jean Ritter in the television series Wildfire.-Early life:...
. Notable replacements during the run included Sandy Duncan
Sandy Duncan
Sandra Kay "Sandy" Duncan is an American singer, dancer and actress of stage and television, recognized through a blonde, pixie cut hairstyle and perky demeanor...
, Don Correia, Jeff Calhoun
Jeff Calhoun (choreographer)
Jeff Calhoun is an American director, choreographer, producer and dancer.As a student at Richland High School, now Pine-Richland High School , Calhoun was interested in both athletics and performance, playing football and studying tap dance. He danced in the ensemble at The Kenley Players in Ohio...
, and Georgia Engel.
The show opened in the UK at the Chichester Festival Theatre and then opened in the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
at the Piccadilly Theatre
Piccadilly Theatre
The Piccadilly Theatre is a West End theatre located at 16 Denman Street, behind Piccadilly Circus and adjacent to the Regent Palace Hotel, in the City of Westminster, England.-Early years:Built by Bertie Crewe and Edward A...
in February 2002, starring Janie Dee
Janie Dee
Janie Dee is an English actress and singer.She is married to the actor Rupert Wickham.-Theatre:Dee is presently part of the Globe Theatre 2011 season playing The Countess of Roussillion in Shakespeare's "All's Well that Ends Well" and in October she goes to Nottingham Playhouse to play Amanda in ...
and Tim Flavin
Tim Flavin
Tim Flavin is an American actor. He is the first American actor to receive the Laurence Olivier Award in 1984 for his performance in the musical On Your Toes.- References :* biography for "Singn' in the Rain", UK Productions....
with direction by Loveday Ingram and choreography by Craig Revel Horwood
Craig Revel Horwood
Craig Revel Horwood is an Australian-British dancer, choreographer, and theatre director in the United Kingdom.-Biography:...
.
Cabaret
Cabaret
Cabaret is a form, or place, of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue: a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables watching the performance, as introduced by a master of ceremonies or...
singer and Gershwin historian Michael Feinstein
Michael Feinstein
Michael Jay Feinstein is an American singer, pianist, and music revivalist. He is an interpreter of, and an anthropologist and archivist for, the repertoire known as the Great American Songbook. In 1988 he won a Drama Desk Special Award for celebrating American musical theatre songs...
served as the musical consultant for the project.
Lucie Arnaz
Lucie Arnaz
Lucie Désirée Arnaz is an American actress, singer, dancer and producer. She is the daughter of actors Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, and is the sister of actor Desi Arnaz, Jr..- Early life :...
starred in the international tour, and Stephanie Zimbalist
Stephanie Zimbalist
Stephanie Zimbalist is an American actress best known for her role as Laura Holt on the NBC detective series Remington Steele.-Background:...
starred in the national tour, both opposite Tommy Tune.
Song list
Act I- I Can't Be Bothered Now
- Blah, Blah, Blah
- Boy WantedBoy Wanted"Boy Wanted" is a 1921 song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin.It was introduced in the musical A Dangerous Maid .-Notable recordings:...
- SoonSoon (song)"Soon" is a 1927 song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin.It was introduced by Helen Gilligan and Jerry Goff in the 1930 revision of the musical Strike Up the Band.- Notable recordings :...
- High Hat/Sweet and Low
- Just Another RhumbaJust Another Rhumba"Just Another Rumba" is a 1937 song composed by George Gershwin with lyrics by Ira Gershwin.Most likely written for A Damsel in Distress it was never included in the final production, and although the song went into rehearsal for The Goldwyn Follies , it was never included in the final...
- He Loves and She LovesHe Loves and She Loves"He Loves and She Loves" is a 1927 song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin.It replaced "How Long Has This Been Going On?" in the Broadway musical Funny Face. It was introduced by Adele Astaire and Allen Kearns...
- 'S Wonderful'S WonderfulS Wonderful" is a popular song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics written by Ira Gershwin. It was introduced in the Broadway musical Funny Face by Adele Astaire and Allen Kearns....
- Strike Up the Band
Act II
- In The Swim
- Nice Work If You Can Get ItNice Work If You Can Get It"Nice Work If You Can Get It may refer to:*Nice Work If You Can Get It , a 1983 Ella Fitzgerald album*"Nice Work If You Can Get It" , a popular standard song by George and Ira Gershwin...
- My One And OnlyMy One and Only (song)"My One and Only" is a song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, written for the 1927 musical Funny Face where it was introduced by Fred Astaire, Betty Compton and Gertrude McDonald...
- Funny Face
- Kicking The Clouds Away
- How Long Has This Been Going On?How Long Has This Been Going On?"How Long Has This Been Going On?" is a song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin for the musical "Funny Face" in 1928.Replaced by "He Loves and She Loves" in Funny Face, it was eventually introduced in the musical Rosalie by Bobbe Arnst.-Notable recordings:*Audrey Hepburn in...
Awards and nominations
- Tony AwardTony AwardThe 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 Musical (nominee) - Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical (nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (Tune, winner)
- Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical (Twiggy, nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Coles, winner)
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Dillon, nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Costume Design (nominee)
- Tony Award for Best Choreography (winner)
- Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical (nominee)
- Drama Desk AwardDrama Desk AwardThe Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
for Outstanding Musical (nominee) - Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Twiggy, nominee)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Coles, winner)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography (winner)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Orchestration (winner)
- Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Costume Design (nominee)