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The Unsinkable Molly Brown (musical)
Encyclopedia
The Unsinkable Molly Brown is a musical with music and lyrics by Meredith Willson
and book by Richard Morris
. The plot is a fictionalized account of the life of Margaret Brown
, who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic, and her wealthy miner-husband.
production opened at the Winter Garden Theatre
on November 3, 1960 and closed on February 10, 1962 after 532 performances and 1 preview. It was directed by Dore Schary
and choreographed by Peter Gennaro
. The opening night cast included Tammy Grimes
, Harve Presnell
, and Jack Harrold
. Grimes won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
. Grimes appeared in the US national tour in 1962, including Los Angeles and San Francisco in April and June 1962, respectively.
Presnell reprised his stage role for the 1964 film also entitled The Unsinkable Molly Brown starring Debbie Reynolds
. The two starred in a 1989-1990 national tour.
The first West End
production, with Abi Finley
and Sean Pol McGreevy
in the leading roles, opened in May 2009.
A reading of the musical was held in May 2010, with Sutton Foster
as Molly.
and applies for a job. On the way to Leadville, Colorado she meets J.J. "Leadville" Johnny Brown, who falls in love with her and promises to give her whatever she wants ("I'll Never Say No"). After they marry, Johnny sells a claim and provides Molly with the money she wants, enough to enter the high social life in Denver ("Beautiful People of Denver"). Molly and Johnny, now dressed in gaudy finery, are made fun of by the Denver society people she wants to impress, and they travel to Europe, against Johnny's better instincts.
The couple, and especially Molly, are welcomed and accepted by European royalty, but the attentions of Prince DeLong towards Molly upset Johnny and he returns to Leadville alone. Molly realizes that Johnny is her true love, and she sails for home on the RMS Titanic ("Dolce Far Niente"). As the Titanic sinks and the tragedy unfolds, Molly survives in one of the lifeboats. She finally is reunited with Johnny, who has built Molly her own "castle," a beautiful home in the Rocky Mountains
.
Act II
Meredith Willson
Robert Meredith Willson was an American composer, songwriter, conductor and playwright, best known for writing the book, music and lyrics for the hit Broadway musical The Music Man...
and book by Richard Morris
Richard Morris
Richard Morris may refer to:* Richard Morris * Richard Morris * Richard Morris Welsh international footballer who played for Plymouth Argyle...
. The plot is a fictionalized account of the life of Margaret Brown
Margaret Brown
Margaret Brown was an American socialite, philanthropist, and activist who became famous due to her involvement with the 1912 sinking of the RMS Titanic, after exhorting the crew of lifeboat 6 to return to look for survivors. It is unclear whether any survivors were found after life boat 6...
, who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic, and her wealthy miner-husband.
Productions
The original BroadwayBroadway 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 opened 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....
on November 3, 1960 and closed on February 10, 1962 after 532 performances and 1 preview. It was directed by Dore Schary
Dore Schary
Isadore "Dore" Schary was an American motion picture director, writer, and producer, and playwright who became head of production at MGM and eventually president of the studio...
and choreographed by Peter Gennaro
Peter Gennaro
Peter Gennaro was an American dancer and choreographer.-Biography:Gennaro was born in Metairie, Louisiana. He made his Broadway debut in the ensemble of Make Mine Manhattan in 1948. He followed this with Kiss Me, Kate and Guys and Dolls...
. The opening night cast included Tammy Grimes
Tammy Grimes
-Early life:Grimes was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, the daughter of Eola Willard , a naturalist and spiritualist, and Nicholas Luther Grimes, an innkeeper, country-club manager, and farmer. She attended high school at the then-all girls school, Beaver Country Day School, in Chestnut Hill,...
, Harve Presnell
Harve Presnell
Harve Presnell was an American actor and singer. He began his career in the mid 1950s as a classical baritone, singing with orchestras and opera companies throughout the United States...
, and Jack Harrold
Jack Harrold
Jack Harrold was an American operatic tenor and voice teacher. Admired for his comedic skills, he specialized in the tenor buffo repertoire. He had a particularly long association with the New York City Opera from the 1940s through the 1980s. He also appeared in several Broadway musicals...
. Grimes won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
This is a list of the winners and nominations of the Tony Award for the Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical. The award, introduced in 1950, was previously named as Best Performance by a Featured or Supporting Actress in a Musical until 1976....
. Grimes appeared in the US national tour in 1962, including Los Angeles and San Francisco in April and June 1962, respectively.
Presnell reprised his stage role for the 1964 film also entitled The Unsinkable Molly Brown starring Debbie Reynolds
Debbie Reynolds
Debbie Reynolds is an American actress, singer, and dancer.She was initially signed at age 16 by Warner Bros., but her career got off to a slow start. When her contract was not renewed, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer gave her a small, but significant part in the film Three Little Words , then signed her to...
. The two starred in a 1989-1990 national tour.
The first 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...
production, with Abi Finley
Abi Finley
Abigail "Abi" Finley is an actress and Musical Theatre performer from Prestwich, Greater Manchester, England, the daughter of a prominent local Jewish performer....
and Sean Pol McGreevy
Sean Pol McGreevy
Sean Pol McGreevy is an Irish actor, singer, composer and musical director best known for Musical Theatre and singing/playing piano in the West End of London...
in the leading roles, opened in May 2009.
A reading of the musical was held in May 2010, with Sutton Foster
Sutton Foster
Sutton Lenore Foster is an American actress, singer and dancer. Foster has received two Tony Awards, in 2002 for her role of Millie Dillmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie and in 2011 for her role of Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes...
as Molly.
Plot
In the early 1900s, feisty tomboy Molly Tobin wrestles with her three younger brothersand tells them and her father that she wants to learn to read and write and to find a rich husband ("I Ain't Down Yet"). Molly makes her way to the Saddle Rock saloon in Leadville, ColoradoLeadville, Colorado
Leadville is a Statutory City that is the county seat of, and the only municipality in, Lake County, Colorado, United States. Situated at an elevation of , Leadville is the highest incorporated city and the second highest incorporated municipality in the United States...
and applies for a job. On the way to Leadville, Colorado she meets J.J. "Leadville" Johnny Brown, who falls in love with her and promises to give her whatever she wants ("I'll Never Say No"). After they marry, Johnny sells a claim and provides Molly with the money she wants, enough to enter the high social life in Denver ("Beautiful People of Denver"). Molly and Johnny, now dressed in gaudy finery, are made fun of by the Denver society people she wants to impress, and they travel to Europe, against Johnny's better instincts.
The couple, and especially Molly, are welcomed and accepted by European royalty, but the attentions of Prince DeLong towards Molly upset Johnny and he returns to Leadville alone. Molly realizes that Johnny is her true love, and she sails for home on the RMS Titanic ("Dolce Far Niente"). As the Titanic sinks and the tragedy unfolds, Molly survives in one of the lifeboats. She finally is reunited with Johnny, who has built Molly her own "castle," a beautiful home in the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
.
Musical numbers
Act I- I Ain't Down Yet -- Molly Tobin and Her Brothers
- Belly Up to the Bar, Boys -- Molly Tobin, Christmas Morgan and the Miners
- I've A'ready Started In -- Johnny "Leadville" Brown, Christmas Morgan, Charlie, Burt and Gitter
- I'll Never Say No -- Johnny "Leadville" Brown
- My Own Brass Bed -- Molly Tobin
- The Denver Police -- Three Policemen
- Beautiful People of Denver -- Molly Tobin
- Are You Sure? -- Molly Tobin, Monsignor Ryan and Guests
- I Ain't Down Yet (Reprise)-- Molly Tobin and Johnny "Leadville" Brown
Act II
- Happy Birthday, Mrs. J. J. Brown -- Princess DeLong, Prince DeLong and the International set
- Bon Jour (The Language Song) -- Molly Tobin, Prince DeLong and the International set
- If I Knew -- Johnny "Leadville" Brown
- Chick-a-pen -- Molly Tobin and Johnny "Leadville" Brown
- Keep-a-Hoppin' -- Johnny "Leadville" Brown and His Leadville Friends
- Up Where the People Are -- Monte Carlo Guests
- Dolce Far Niente -- Prince DeLong and Molly Tobin
- Colorado, My Home -- Johnny "Leadville" Brown, Molly Tobin and Leadville Friends