New Girl In Town

Musical in Two Acts, 16 Scenes. Book by George Abbott. Based on the play "Anna Christie" by Eugene O'Neill. Music and lyrics by Bob Merrill.

Dances and musical numbers staged by Bob Fosse.
Production (settings, costumes) designed by Rouben Ter-Arutunian.
Musical direction by Hal Hastings.
Dance music devised by Roger Adams. Orchestrations by Robert Russell Bennett and Philip J. Lang.
Directed by George Abbott. Produced by Frederick Brisson, Robert E. Griffith and Harold S. Prince.

Opened 14 May 1957 at the 46th Street Theatre and closed 24 May 1958 after 432 performances.

Synopsis

Chris Christopherson, an old, hard-drinking Swedish barge captain, gets word that his daughter, Anna, is coming to visit him. He hasn't seen her since she was 5 and is expecting the innocent young girl he remembers.

Anna arrives and is greeted by Marthy, Chris's common-law wife. She confesses her life is quite different from what Chris has imagined. Recently the "house" where she was working was raided. The resulting jail sentence has ruined Anna's health. She is hoping Chris will put her up until she regains her strength. Chris welcomes her with open arms and reformed manner. Chris is different from what Anna expected, and she hides her hurt from him. His respectable airs even force him to evict Marthy.

Chris takes Anna on his next barge run to Boston. On the return trip they rescue three shipwrecked sailors, including Mat Burke, a defiant, worldly ox of a seaman. After she repulses his initial passes, they become fast friends. Anna is proud of her new-found dignity. The change is healthful and brings elegance to her character. On land the romance continues. One reward is tickets to society's Check Apron Ball where Anna is the stand-out in the crowd. Marthy has taken all she can and begins drinking. She becomes loud, and when Mat tries to quiet her down, Marthy tells him the truth about Anna's past. Anna tries to convince Mat that she has changed, but his disillusionment will no longer permit him to accept their love. He joins a ship sailing for China to try and forget her.

Anna has picked up the pieces before and she does so again. She becomes a farmer in Staten Island and finds compassion in Henry, a produce shop owner. Marthy repents and swears off drinking. It's a year later, Marthy is beating a drum for the Seamen's Home, and Mat is back in port. Chris tries to keep him away from Anna who is visiting, but the meeting is inevitable. Mat has come to find her and find her he does. She is in her potato-picking rags, yet a beautiful sight to Mat. Time has healed and Anna is as lovely as that first night on the barge.

CASTING:

30 parts, 10 principals.Other principals are small roles that require singing, dancing, and acting talent. Good medium-sized dancing and singing ensembles. Total cast, 35–40. (2 or 3 children optional.)

CAST

(in order of appearance):

Dancers: Singers:

Scenes and Settings

2 acts, 16 scenes, 4 full stage sets (including 4 drops), 1 partial stage set, 1 fence fly-in of multi-coloured doors, 4 drop scenes.The action takes place near the Waterfront, New York City, at the turn of the century.

Act 1

Scene I: The Waterfront.
Scene 2: A Street with a mesh fence.
Scene 3: Johnny-the-Priest's Saloon.
Scene 4: A Street in the Warehouse District.
Scene 5: Chris's Barge on a foggy night at sea, off Provincetown.
Scene 6: A Street near the Waterfront.
Scene 7: The Waterfront.
Scene 8: The Street with the fence.
Scene 9: Chris's Room.
Scene 10: A Street Scene.
Scene 11: The Check Apron Ball.

Act 2

Scene I: The Check Apron Ball.
Scene 2: In the Street, outside the Brewery.
Scene 3: A Street in the Warehouse District.
Scene 4: Chris's Room.
Scene 5: The Waterfront. One year later.

 

PERIOD AND COSTUMES:

Shortly after turn of the century (1900) : New York City waterfront. Waterfront sailor and dock worker garb. Prostitute finery of the times (high-button shoes, low-cut blouses, bright and striped skirts just slightly below the knee). Bulky sweaters, sea captain uniform. Society floor-length bustled dresses, large hats, loud striped and checked suits. Black overcoat, dungarees, broad-striped shirts, old farm clothes, society girl Seamen's Home uniforms.

CHOREOGRAPHY:

Modern, soft shoe, ballroom spins, waltz, "Check Apron Ball" production number.

LIGHTING AND SPECIAL EFFECTS:

Dramatic lighting required. Fog, foghorns, and other water-front effects.

Musical Numbers:

ACT 1

1. Roll Yer Socks Up - Seaman, Dancers, Singers
2. Anna Lilla - Chris
3. Sunshine Girl - Oscar, Pete, Bartender
4. On the Farm - Anna
5. Flings - Marthy, Lily, Pearl
6. It's Good To Be Alive - Anna
7. Look at 'Er - Mat
8. It's Good To Be Alive (reprise) - Mat
9. Yer My Friend, Aintcha? - Marthy, Chris
10. Did You Close Your Eyes? - Anna, Mat
11. At the Check Apron Ball - Dancers, Singers
12. There Ain't No Flies on Me - Anna, Dancers & Company

ACT 2

13. Ven I Valse - Anna, Chris, Dancers, Singers
14. Sunshine Girl (reprise) - Dancers, Singers
15. If That Was Love - Anna
16. Ballet - Anna, Masher, Dancers
17. Chess and Checkers - Marthy, Dancers, Singers
18. Look at 'Er (reprise) - Mat

 

INSTRUMENTATION:

Violins A–B, viola, cello, bass, clar (flute, pic), flute (pic, clar), oboe (Eng. horn), bass clar (clar, flute), clar (bari sax, bassoon), trumpet I–II, III, trombone I–II, horn, guitar, percussion, piano-conductor.