70, Girls, 70

Infobox Musical
name= 70, Girls, 70


caption=Original Broadway Windowcard
music=John Kander
lyrics=Fred Ebb
book=Fred Ebb
basis="Breath of Spring" by Peter Coke
productions= 1971 Broadway
1991 West End
2006 Concert
awards=

"70, Girls, 70" is a musical with a book by Fred Ebb and Norman L. Martin adapted by Joe Masteroff, lyrics by Ebb, and music by John Kander.

The musical is based on the 1958 play "Breath of Spring" by Peter Coke. The plot concerns a group of larcenous old folks who steal furs from various New York City stores with the intent of using the proceeds from their resale to buy their Upper West Side retirement hotel, the New Sussex Arms, which is slated to be sold to developers.

Productions

After nine previews, the Broadway production, supervised by Stanley Prager, directed by Paul Aaron, and choreographed by Onna White, opened on April 15 1971 at the Broadhurst Theatre, where it ran for 35 performances. The cast included Mildred Natwick, Lillian Roth, Hans Conried, and Lillian Hayman. Natwick was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

The show premiered in the West End at the Vaudeville Theatre on June 17, 1991 running through September 1991. Directed by Paul Kerryson, it starred Dora Bryan, Pip Hinton and Joan Savage. It featured a revised book, new songs, and reduced orchestrations. The production did away with the big sets, big numbers and full-scale orchestra. This production was staged on one set and with a band of four musicians. Kerryson explained: "Part of the problem of 70, Girls, 70 on Broadway...must have been that it was done so big, which doesn't suit this particular musical. Its charm here is that it is so intimate." [Citation
last = Hemming
first = Sarah
title =
newspaper = The Independent (London)
pages = 17
year =1991
date = 1991-06-19
url = ] ["The Times", "Last Chance", September 19, 1991]

The "Encores!" series at New York City Center presented a concert version in April 2006. Directed by Kathleen Marshall and conducted by Paul Gemignani, it starred Olympia Dukakis, Bob Dishy, Anita Gillette, George S. Irving, and Charlotte Rae. [Isherwod, Charles. [http://theater2.nytimes.com/2006/04/01/theater/reviews/01girl.html "70, Girls, 70' Presents Old Faces Above Young Hearts",] "New York Times" review, April 1, 2006]

ong list

;Act I
*Old Folks
*Home
*Broadway My Street
*The Caper
*Coffee in a Cardboard Cup
*You and I, Love
*Do We?
*Hit It, Lorraine
*See the Light ;Act II
*Boom Ditty Boom
*Believe
*Go Visit your grandmother
*70, Girls, 70
*The Elephant Song
*Yes1991 London additions
*Well-Laid Plans
*I Can't Do That Anymore

References

External links

* [http://www.ibdb.com/production.asp?ID=3598 Internet Broadway Database listing]
* [http://www.stageagent.com/Shows/View/1672 plot summary & character descriptions]
* [http://www.nodanw.com/shows_s/70__girls__70.htm NODANW listing ]