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The Most Happy Fella
Musical
Comedy
Original
Broadway
Opening Date
May 03, 1956
Closing Date
Dec 14, 1957
1st Preview
May 02, 1956
1st Preview
May 02, 1956
Previews
1
Performances
676
Musical
Comedy
Original
Broadway
External Links
Shop
Open Date: May 03, 1956
Close Date: Dec 14, 1957
Closed Flag: n
Is Final Week:
ABOUT THIS PRODUCTION
Theatres
Imperial Theatre
(May 03, 1956 - Oct 19, 1957)
Broadway Theatre
(Oct 21, 1957 - Dec 14, 1957)
Description
A musical in three acts
Setting
San Francisco; Napa, California; and Tony's home and barn. 1927.
People
Production Staff
Opening Night Cast
Replacements
Produced by
Kermit Bloomgarden
and
Lynn Loesser
Book by
Frank Loesser
; Based on "They Knew What They Wanted" by
Sidney Howard
; Music by
Frank Loesser
; Lyrics by
Frank Loesser
; Music orchestrated by
Don Walker
; Orchestra and choral direction by
Herbert Greene
Staged by
Joseph Anthony
; Choreographed by
Dania Krupska
Scenic Design by
Jo Mielziner
; Costume Design by
Motley
; Lighting Design by
Jo Mielziner
General Manager:
Max Allentuck
; Company Manager:
Joseph Harris
Production Stage Manager:
Henri Caubisens
; Stage Manager:
Terence Little
; Assistant Stage Mgr:
Arthur Rubin
Music Contractor:
Al Nano
; Assistant Conductor:
Sam Farber
; Cellist:
Shepard Coleman
Press Representative:
Arthur Cantor
and
Robert Ganshaw
Jo Sullivan
Rosabella
May 02, 1956 - Oct 19, 1957
Richard Torigi
Tony
Alternate
Robert Weede
Tony
Susan Johnson
Cleo
May 02, 1956 - Jul 27, 1957
Shorty Long
Herman
Mona Paulee
Marie
Myrna Aaron
Waitress
Neighbor
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Arthur Arney
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Ken Ayers
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Zina Bethune
Tessie
Helon Blount
Neighbor
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Theodora Brandon
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Betsy Bridge
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Lee Cass
The Cashier
The Postman
Bob Daley
Neighbor
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Thelma Dare
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Lanier Davis
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Henry Director
Neighbor
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Ralph Farnworth
The Bus Driver
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Rico Froehlich
Pasquale
Beverly Gaines
Waitress
Neighbor
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Alan Gilbert
Clem
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Russell Goodwin
The Priest
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Marlyn Greer
Waitress
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Norris Greer
The Brakeman
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
John Henson
Jake
Ciccio
Richard Hermany
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Keith Kaldenberg
The Doctor
Athan Karras
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Walter Kelvin
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Jerry Kurland
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Roy Lazarus
Al
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Art Lund
Joe
Martha Mathes
Waitress
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Carolyn Maye
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Meri Miller
Waitress
Country Girl
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Genevieve Owens
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Arthur Partington
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Louis Polacek
Max
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Hunter Ross
Neighbor
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Arthur Rubin
Giuseppe
Patti Schmidt
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
John Sharpe
City Boy
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Lillian Shelby
Neighbor's Lady
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Toba Sherwood
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Marjorie Smith
Neighbor's Lady
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Christopher Snell
Gussie
Evans Thornton
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Lois Van Pelt
Neighbor's Lady
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Understudies:
Ken Ayers
(The Doctor),
Helon Blount
(Cleo),
Ralph Farnworth
(Ciccio),
John Henson
(Herman),
Walter Kelvin
(The Cashier),
Carolyn Maye
(Rosabella),
Barbara Myers
(Tessie, Gussie),
Louis Polacek
(The Postman, Giuseppe),
Lillian Shelby
(Marie),
Ted Thurston
(Pasquale) and
Richard Torigi
(Tony)
Imperial Theatre
(May 03, 1956 - Oct 19, 1957)
Musical Director:
Anton Coppola
Orchestra and Choral Direction by
Anton Coppola
Cast
Helon Blount
Cleo
Jul 29, 1957 - Dec 14, 1957
Keith Kaldenberg
Herman
Jul 01, 1957 - ?
Arthur Arney
Max
Ken Ayers
The Doctor
Louis Bolyard
The Brakeman
Betsy Bridge
Gladys
Lanier Davis
Clem
Nancy Davis
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Marcella Dodge
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Waitress
Ralph Farnsworth
Ciccio
Ralph Farnworth
Ciccio
Joyce L. Foss
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Tony Gardell
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Garold Gardner
City Boy
Billy Harris
Gussie
Richard Hermany
Jake
Stuart Hodes
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Jack Irwin
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Jack McCann
Clem
Wendy Nickerson
Waitress
Country Girl
Hal Norman
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
The Brakeman
Janice Painchaud
Waitress
Hunter Ross
City Boy
Tony Rossi
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
The Bus Driver
James Schlader
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Thelma Scott
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Ann Sparkman
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Waitress
Neighbor
Richard Weede
The Priest
Understudies:
Jack Irwin
(Joe) and
Jane Romano
(Cleo)
Broadway Theatre
(Oct 21, 1957 - Dec 14, 1957)
Cast
Dean Dittman
Herman
Rina Falcone
Marie
Betty Oakes
Rosabella
Oct 19, 1957 - Dec 14, 1957
Milton Jiricka
Giuseppe
Walter Kelvin
The Cashier
The Postman
Al
Bill Reynolds
The Doctor
Bob Roman
Ciccio
Songs
music by
Frank Loesser
; lyrics by
Frank Loesser
Act 1
Sung By
Ooh! My Feet!
Cleo
I Know How It Is
Rosabella and Cleo
Seven Million Crumbs
Cleo
I Don't Know (The Letter)
Rosabella
Maybe He's Kind of Crazy
Cleo
Somebody, Somewhere
Rosabella
The Most Happy Fella
Tony and Company
A Long Time Ago
Marie and Tony
Standing on the Corner
Herman, Jake, Clem and Al
Joey, Joey, Joey
Joe
Soon You Gonna Leave Me, Joe
Tony
Rosabella
Tony
Abbondanza
Pasquale, Giuseppe and Jake
Plenty Bambini
Tony
Sposalizio
Giuseppe, Jake, Pasquale and Company
Special Delivery! (I Seen Her at the Station)
The Postman
Benvenuta
Pasquale, Jake and Giuseppe
Aren't You Glad?
Rosabella
No Home, No Job
Rosabella
Don't Cry
Joe
Act 2
Sung By
Fresno Beauties / Cold and Dead
Ensemble, Joe and Rosabella
Love and Kindness
The Doctor
Happy to Make Your Acquaintance
Tony, Rosabella and Cleo
I Don't Like This Dame
Marie and Cleo
Big D
Herman, Cleo and Ensemble
How Beautiful the Days
Tony, Rosabella and Joe
Young People
Marie, Tony and Ensemble
Warm All Over
Rosabella
Old People Gotta
Tony
I Like Everybody
Herman and Cleo
I Love Him / I Know How It Is
Rosabella and Cleo
Like a Woman Loves a Man
Rosabella and Tony
My Heart Is So Full of You
Tony and Rosabella
Hoedown
Tony, Rosabella and Ensemble
Mamma, Mamma
Tony
Act 3
Sung By
Abbondanza
(Reprise)
Pasquale, Giuseppe and Ciccio
Goodbye, Darlin' / I Like Everybody
(Reprise)
Cleo and Herman
Song of a Summer Night
The Doctor and Ensemble
Please Let Me Tell You
Rosabella
Tell Tony and Rosabella Goodbye for Me (Tony's Thoughts)
Joe
She Gonna Come Home Wit' Me
Tony
Nobody's Ever Gonna Love You
Marie and Tony
I Made a Fist
Cleo and Herman
Finale
Tony, Rosabella and Ensemble
Awards
Tony Award®
Best Musical
1957 Nominee
Music by
Frank Loesser
Lyrics by
Frank Loesser
Book by
Frank Loesser
Produced by
Kermit Bloomgarden
and
Lynn Loesser
Best Actor in a Musical
1957 Nominee
Robert Weede
Best Featured Actress in a Musical
1957 Nominee
Jo Sullivan
Best Choreography
1957 Nominee
Choreographed by
Dania Krupska
Conductor and Musical Director
1957 Nominee
Musical Director:
Herbert Greene
Best Direction
1957 Nominee
Staged by
Joseph Anthony
Theatre World
Award
1956 Recipient
Susan Johnson
People
Songs
Awards
Production Staff
Opening Night Cast
Replacements
Produced by
Kermit Bloomgarden
and
Lynn Loesser
Book by
Frank Loesser
; Based on "They Knew What They Wanted" by
Sidney Howard
; Music by
Frank Loesser
; Lyrics by
Frank Loesser
; Music orchestrated by
Don Walker
; Orchestra and choral direction by
Herbert Greene
Staged by
Joseph Anthony
; Choreographed by
Dania Krupska
Scenic Design by
Jo Mielziner
; Costume Design by
Motley
; Lighting Design by
Jo Mielziner
General Manager:
Max Allentuck
; Company Manager:
Joseph Harris
Production Stage Manager:
Henri Caubisens
; Stage Manager:
Terence Little
; Assistant Stage Mgr:
Arthur Rubin
Music Contractor:
Al Nano
; Assistant Conductor:
Sam Farber
; Cellist:
Shepard Coleman
Press Representative:
Arthur Cantor
and
Robert Ganshaw
Jo Sullivan
Rosabella
May 02, 1956 - Oct 19, 1957
Richard Torigi
Tony
Alternate
Robert Weede
Tony
Susan Johnson
Cleo
May 02, 1956 - Jul 27, 1957
Shorty Long
Herman
Mona Paulee
Marie
Myrna Aaron
Waitress
Neighbor
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Arthur Arney
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Ken Ayers
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Zina Bethune
Tessie
Helon Blount
Neighbor
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Theodora Brandon
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Betsy Bridge
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Lee Cass
The Cashier
The Postman
Bob Daley
Neighbor
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Thelma Dare
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Lanier Davis
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Henry Director
Neighbor
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Ralph Farnworth
The Bus Driver
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Rico Froehlich
Pasquale
Beverly Gaines
Waitress
Neighbor
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Alan Gilbert
Clem
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Russell Goodwin
The Priest
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Marlyn Greer
Waitress
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Norris Greer
The Brakeman
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
John Henson
Jake
Ciccio
Richard Hermany
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Keith Kaldenberg
The Doctor
Athan Karras
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Walter Kelvin
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Jerry Kurland
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Roy Lazarus
Al
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Art Lund
Joe
Martha Mathes
Waitress
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Carolyn Maye
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Meri Miller
Waitress
Country Girl
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Genevieve Owens
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Arthur Partington
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Louis Polacek
Max
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Hunter Ross
Neighbor
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Arthur Rubin
Giuseppe
Patti Schmidt
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
John Sharpe
City Boy
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Lillian Shelby
Neighbor's Lady
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Toba Sherwood
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Marjorie Smith
Neighbor's Lady
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Christopher Snell
Gussie
Evans Thornton
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Lois Van Pelt
Neighbor's Lady
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Understudies:
Ken Ayers
(The Doctor),
Helon Blount
(Cleo),
Ralph Farnworth
(Ciccio),
John Henson
(Herman),
Walter Kelvin
(The Cashier),
Carolyn Maye
(Rosabella),
Barbara Myers
(Tessie, Gussie),
Louis Polacek
(The Postman, Giuseppe),
Lillian Shelby
(Marie),
Ted Thurston
(Pasquale) and
Richard Torigi
(Tony)
Imperial Theatre
(May 03, 1956 - Oct 19, 1957)
Musical Director:
Anton Coppola
Orchestra and Choral Direction by
Anton Coppola
Cast
Helon Blount
Cleo
Jul 29, 1957 - Dec 14, 1957
Keith Kaldenberg
Herman
Jul 01, 1957 - ?
Arthur Arney
Max
Ken Ayers
The Doctor
Louis Bolyard
The Brakeman
Betsy Bridge
Gladys
Lanier Davis
Clem
Nancy Davis
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Marcella Dodge
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Waitress
Ralph Farnsworth
Ciccio
Ralph Farnworth
Ciccio
Joyce L. Foss
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Tony Gardell
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Garold Gardner
City Boy
Billy Harris
Gussie
Richard Hermany
Jake
Stuart Hodes
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Jack Irwin
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Jack McCann
Clem
Wendy Nickerson
Waitress
Country Girl
Hal Norman
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
The Brakeman
Janice Painchaud
Waitress
Hunter Ross
City Boy
Tony Rossi
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
The Bus Driver
James Schlader
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Thelma Scott
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Ann Sparkman
All the Neighbors and All the Neighbors' Neighbors
Waitress
Neighbor
Richard Weede
The Priest
Understudies:
Jack Irwin
(Joe) and
Jane Romano
(Cleo)
Broadway Theatre
(Oct 21, 1957 - Dec 14, 1957)
Cast
Dean Dittman
Herman
Rina Falcone
Marie
Betty Oakes
Rosabella
Oct 19, 1957 - Dec 14, 1957
Milton Jiricka
Giuseppe
Walter Kelvin
The Cashier
The Postman
Al
Bill Reynolds
The Doctor
Bob Roman
Ciccio
music by
Frank Loesser
; lyrics by
Frank Loesser
Act 1
Sung By
Ooh! My Feet!
Cleo
I Know How It Is
Rosabella and Cleo
Seven Million Crumbs
Cleo
I Don't Know (The Letter)
Rosabella
Maybe He's Kind of Crazy
Cleo
Somebody, Somewhere
Rosabella
The Most Happy Fella
Tony and Company
A Long Time Ago
Marie and Tony
Standing on the Corner
Herman, Jake, Clem and Al
Joey, Joey, Joey
Joe
Soon You Gonna Leave Me, Joe
Tony
Rosabella
Tony
Abbondanza
Pasquale, Giuseppe and Jake
Plenty Bambini
Tony
Sposalizio
Giuseppe, Jake, Pasquale and Company
Special Delivery! (I Seen Her at the Station)
The Postman
Benvenuta
Pasquale, Jake and Giuseppe
Aren't You Glad?
Rosabella
No Home, No Job
Rosabella
Don't Cry
Joe
Act 2
Sung By
Fresno Beauties / Cold and Dead
Ensemble, Joe and Rosabella
Love and Kindness
The Doctor
Happy to Make Your Acquaintance
Tony, Rosabella and Cleo
I Don't Like This Dame
Marie and Cleo
Big D
Herman, Cleo and Ensemble
How Beautiful the Days
Tony, Rosabella and Joe
Young People
Marie, Tony and Ensemble
Warm All Over
Rosabella
Old People Gotta
Tony
I Like Everybody
Herman and Cleo
I Love Him / I Know How It Is
Rosabella and Cleo
Like a Woman Loves a Man
Rosabella and Tony
My Heart Is So Full of You
Tony and Rosabella
Hoedown
Tony, Rosabella and Ensemble
Mamma, Mamma
Tony
Act 3
Sung By
Abbondanza
(Reprise)
Pasquale, Giuseppe and Ciccio
Goodbye, Darlin' / I Like Everybody
(Reprise)
Cleo and Herman
Song of a Summer Night
The Doctor and Ensemble
Please Let Me Tell You
Rosabella
Tell Tony and Rosabella Goodbye for Me (Tony's Thoughts)
Joe
She Gonna Come Home Wit' Me
Tony
Nobody's Ever Gonna Love You
Marie and Tony
I Made a Fist
Cleo and Herman
Finale
Tony, Rosabella and Ensemble
Tony Award®
Best Musical
1957 Nominee
Music by
Frank Loesser
Lyrics by
Frank Loesser
Book by
Frank Loesser
Produced by
Kermit Bloomgarden
and
Lynn Loesser
Best Actor in a Musical
1957 Nominee
Robert Weede
Best Featured Actress in a Musical
1957 Nominee
Jo Sullivan
Best Choreography
1957 Nominee
Choreographed by
Dania Krupska
Conductor and Musical Director
1957 Nominee
Musical Director:
Herbert Greene
Best Direction
1957 Nominee
Staged by
Joseph Anthony
Theatre World
Award
1956 Recipient
Susan Johnson
PRODUCTIONS
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May 05, 1956
The Most Happy Fella
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May 22, 1956
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