THE STORY

Oscar Jaffee, an egotistical and perpetually broke theatrical producer, plots to talk his estranged paramour, Lily Garland, into appearing in one of his plays. He contrives to book a drawing room on the Twentieth Century (a luxurious train) at the same time she does.  However, she's a successful and equally egotistical movie actress and wants nothing more to do with her "Svengali in an alley" despite the pleas of Oscar's hapless assistants, Owen and Oliver.  Complicating matters are Lily's current lover, Bruce Granit, who doesn't want to see his meal ticket evaporate, and Letitia Primrose, a rich old religious fanatic who gives Oscar $200,000 to produce the play Mary Magdalene -- and chaos results when Mrs. Primrose proves to be a fraud. 

Detailed Synopsis on "The Guide to Musical Theatre" 

 

ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

On the Twentieth Century is often extolled but rarely produced.  Don't miss this opportunity to enjoy one of the last great traditional Broadway musical scores, performed in concert by top Boston and New York talent, including a large ensemble, and accompanied by a full orchestra. 
 

 ABOUT THE PRODUCER

On the Twentieth Century is presented by Overture Productions, who won awards for their previous concert productions, The Baker's Wife with Judy Kuhn and Follies in Concert with Len Cariou.  Overture Productions is a 501c(3) not for profit organization.  Net proceeds and balcony tickets will be donated to Boston-based youth arts organizations.

 

ABOUT THE MUSICAL 

On the Twentieth Century "may have been the last great Broadway musical comedy," at least according to the recent "Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Shows of All Time."  It opened on February 19, 1978, and at the season's end won Tony Awards for its book and score, attesting to the fact that Broadway legends Cy Coleman, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green were all operating at the top of their game.  John Cullum, Kevin Kline, and set designer Robin Wagner were also Tony winners, while Imogene Coca, Madeline Kahn, director Hal Prince, and the show itself were all nominated.  It played 460 performances at the St. James Theatre on Broadway and opened March 19, 1980, at Her Majesty's Theatre in London, playing an additional 165 performances. 

The musical is based on the Ben Hecht-Charles MacArthur comedy Twentieth Century, captured on screen by Howard Hawks in the 1934 film starring John Barrymore and Carole Lombard. The authors' inspiration was to portray the play's extravagant, larger-than-life characters in overblown, bravura, comic-operetta style. Coleman's music (while retaining his own inimitable voice) is a conscious homage to the styles of Rossini, Offenbach, Gilbert & Sullivan and Romberg, and Comden and Green's lyrics are similarly giddy and frivolous.