MusicalComedyOriginalBroadway
Opening Date
Sep 29, 1960
Closing Date
Dec 31, 1961
1st Preview
Sep 28, 1960
1st Preview
Sep 28, 1960
Previews
2
Performances
524
MusicalComedyOriginalBroadway
External Links
Shop

ABOUT THIS PRODUCTION

Theatres
Plymouth Theatre
(Sep 29, 1960 - Oct 28, 1961)
Alvin Theatre
(Oct 30, 1961 - Dec 31, 1961)
Setting
In Paris, on Devil's Island, and at sea.
Comments
"Irma La Douce" is not only French; it is intensely Parisian French. Set in an area tourists seek, but so seldom find, its musical idiom, its moral atmosphere, its plot and its argot are part of Paris not even all Parisians know; a part of Paris where the underworld is known as the "milieu." A tart is a "poule," a pimp is a "mec" and money is "grisbi." the underworld is known as the "milieu." A tart is a "poule," a pimp is a "mec" and money is "grisbi."
Theatre Owned / Operated by The Shubert Organization
Produced by David Merrick; Produced in association with Donald Albery and H.M. Tennent, Ltd.; Produced by arrangement with Henry Hall
Original book by Alexandre Breffort; English book by Julian More, David Heneker and Monty Norman; Music by Marguerite Monnot; Original lyrics by Alexandre Breffort; English lyrics by Julian More, David Heneker and Monty Norman; Music orchestrated by Andre Popp; Additional orchestrations by Robert Ginzler; Dance music by John Kander; Vocal arrangements by Bert Waller and Stanley Lebowsky; Musical Director: Stanley Lebowsky
Directed by Peter Brook; Choreographed by Onna White
Scenic Design by Rolf Gérard; Costume Design by Rolf Gérard; Lighting Design by Joe Davis
General Manager: Jack Schlissel; Company Manager: Vince McKnight
General Stage Manager: Ben Janney; Stage Manager: David Clive; Production Supervisor: Neil Hartley; Assistant Stage Mgr: John Ray and Angelo Mango
Music Contractor: Morris Stonzek; Assistant Conductor: Don Pippin
Press Representative: Frank Goodman and Ben Washer; Assistant to the Director: Frank Stevens; Asst. to the Choreographer: Tom Panko; Casting: Michael Shurtleff; Casting Assistant: Robert Schear; Advertising: The Blaine Thompson Company and Fred Golden
Keith Michell
Nestor-Le-Fripe
a Law Student
Sep 28, 2960 - May 27, 1961
Elizabeth Seal
Irma-La-Douce
a Puole
Stuart Damon
Frangipane
Fred Gwynne
Polyte-Le-Mou
a Mec
George S. Irving
Police Inspector
Aric Lavie
Roberto-Les-Diams
a Mec
Zack Matalon
Jojo-Les-Yeux-Sales
a Mec
Clive Revill
Bob-Le-Hotu
Proprietor of the Bar-des-Inquiets
Osborne Smith
Persil-Le-Noir
a Mec
George Del Monte
M. Bougne
a Ballroom Owner
 
Second Warder
 
Gendarme, Prisoner and Irma's Admirer
Michael Fesco
Gendarme, Prisoner and Irma's Admirer
Rico Froehlich
Counsel for the Prosecution
 
Third Warder
 
Gendarme, Prisoner and Irma's Admirer
Eddie Gasper
A Client
 
Gendarme, Prisoner and Irma's Admirer
Elliott Gould
An Usher
 
First Warder
 
A Priest
 
Gendarme, Prisoner and Irma's Admirer
Byron Mitchell
Court Gendarme
 
Gendarme, Prisoner and Irma's Admirer
Joe Rocco
An Honest Man
Rudy Tronto
Counsel for the Defense
 
A Tax Inspector
 
Gendarme, Prisoner and Irma's Admirer
Standby: Virginia Vestoff (Irma-La-Douce)
Understudies: Stuart Damon (Nestor-Le-Fripe), George Del Monte (Persil-Le-Noir), Rico Froehlich (Police Inspector), Eddie Gasper (Counsel for the Defense, Roberto-Les-Diams), Murray Gitlin (An Honest Man, Court Gendarme, First Warder, A Priest, A Client), Elliott Gould (Polyte-Le-Mou, Counsel for the Prosecution), George S. Irving (Bob-Le-Hotu), Angelo Mango (M. Bougne, Second Warder, A Tax Inspector), Byron Mitchell (Third Warder, Frangipane) and Rudy Tronto (Jojo-Les-Yeux-Sales)

Plymouth Theatre (Sep 29, 1960 - Oct 28, 1961)

Stage Manager: Harold Stone

Cast

Stuart Damon
Nestor-Le-Fripe
a Law Student
May 29, 1961 - May 31, 1961
Denis Quilley
Nestor-Le-Fripe
a Law Student
Jun 01, 1961 - Dec 31, 1961
Ben Gillespie
Gendarme, Prisoner and Irma's Admirer

Alvin Theatre (Oct 30, 1961 - Dec 31, 1961)

Theatre Owned / Operated by Herman Bernstein
music by Marguerite Monnot; lyrics by David Heneker, Julian More and Monty Norman
Act 1
Sung By
Valse Milieu
Bob-Le-Hotu
Sons of France
The Mecs, Polyte-Le-Mou and Police Inspector
The Bridge of Caulaincourt
Irma-La-Douce and Nestor-Le-Fripe
Our Language of Love
Irma-La-Douce and Nestor-Le-Fripe
She's Got The Lot
Police Inspector and Irma's Admirers
Our Language of Love (Reprise)
Irma-La-Douce
Dis-Donc
Irma-La-Douce
Le Grisbi is le Root of le Evil in Man
Bob-Le-Hotu, Nestor-Le-Fripe and the Mecs
Wreck of a Mec
Nestor-Le-Fripe
That's a Crime
Bob-Le-Hotu, Nestor-Le-Fripe and the Mecs
Act 2
Sung By
The Bridge of Caulaincourt (Reprise)
Irma-La-Douce and Nestor-Le-Fripe
From a Prison Cell
Nestor-Le-Fripe and the Mecs
Irma-la-Douce
Irma-La-Douce
There Is Only One Paris for That
Nestor-Le-Fripe, the Mecs and Prisoners
The Freedom of the Seas
Nestor-Le-Fripe and the Mecs
There Is Only One Paris for That (Reprise)
Nestor-Le-Fripe and the Mecs
Our Language of Love (Reprise)
Irma-La-Douce
But
Nestor-Le-Fripe, Police Inspector, A Tax Inspector, M. Bougne and Polyte-Le-Mou
Christmas Child
The Company

Tony Award®

 

Best Musical

1961 Nominee ; Produced in association with Donald Albery and H.M. Tennent, Ltd.
Lyrics by Alexandre Breffort , Julian More , David Heneker and Monty Norman
Book by Alexandre Breffort , Julian More , David Heneker and Monty Norman
Music by Marguerite Monnot
Produced by David Merrick

Best Actress in a Musical

1961 Winner
Elizabeth Seal
 

Best Featured Actor in a Musical

1961 Nominee
Clive Revill
 

Best Costume Design (Musical)

1961 Nominee
Costume Design by Rolf Gérard
 

Best Choreography

1961 Nominee
Choreographed by Onna White
 

Best Direction of a Musical

1961 Nominee
Directed by Peter Brook
 

Best Conductor and Musical Director

1961 Nominee
Musical Director: Stanley Lebowsky
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