A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Seesaw

Full-Length Musical, Comedy  /  4w, 4m

Music by Cy Coleman
Lyrics by Dorothy Fields
Book by Michael Bennett
Based on the play Two for the Seesaw by William Gibson

This ebullient musical adapatation of William Gibson's play Two for the Seesaw, originally directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett, is a delightful romantic comedy set in early 1970s New York City.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 4m
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences
Accolades
Accolades
  • Nominee: Seven 1974 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Book and Score

Details

Summary

From the composing team of Sweet Charity, Seesaw is an intimate, engaging love story and a big, brassy musical comedy rolled into one delightful evening of theatre. Jerry Ryan, a handsome, WASPish lawyer from Omaha who has left his wife and fled to New York, meets Gittel Mosca, a single, loveable Jewish girl from the Bronx who’s studying to be a dancer. This unlikely pair meet, fall in love, and part in a bittersweet tale that is full of fun, music and laughter through tears. Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields' sparkling musical numbers capture the excitement of New York street life and the up-and-down “seesaw” of Gittel and Jerry’s affair.

History
Seesaw premiered on Broadway at the Uris Theater on March 18, 1973. Directed and choreographed by Michael Bennett, the production featured Ken Howard, Michele Lee, Giancarlo Esposito and Tommy Tune.
Cast Attributes
Keywords

JERRY RYAN
GITTEL MOSCA
DAVID
SOPHIE
JULIO GONZALES
SPARKLE
NURSE
ETHEL

CITIZENS OF NEW YORK

  • Time Period 1970s
  • Setting New York City. 1973.
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • No Special Cautions

Media

Videos

  • Seesaw youtube thumbnail

    Seesaw

Music

Song Samples

See-Saw
My City
Nobody Does it Like Me
In Tune
Spanglish
Welcome to the Holiday Inn
You're a Lovable Lunatic
He's Good For Me
Ride Out the Storm
We've Got It
Poor Everybody Else
Chapter 54, Number 1909
It's Not Where You Start
I'm Way Ahead of the See-Saw

Act I

“Seesaw” – Company
“My City” – Jerry & Ensemble
“Nobody Does It Like Me” – Gittel
“In Tune” – Gittel & Jerry
“Spanglish” – Julio, Gittel, Jerry, Sophie & Company
“Welcome to Holiday Inn!” – Gittel
“You're a Lovable Lunatic” – Jerry
“He's Good for Me” – Gittel
“Ride Out the Storm” – Sparkle Sophie & Company

Act II

“We've Got It” – Jerry
“Poor Everybody Else” – Gittel
“Chapter 54, Number 1909” – David, Jerry, Gittel & Ensemble
“The Concert” – Gittel & Ensemble
“It's Not Where You Start” – David & Company
“I'm Way Ahead” – Gittel
“Seesaw (Reprise)” – Gittel

Piano-Conductor
Reed 1 (Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone)
Reed 2 (Clarinet, Alto Saxophone)
Reed 3 (Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone)
Reed 4 (Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone)
Trumpet 1&2
Trumpet 3
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Guitar
Percussion 1&2
Drums
Violin
Viola
Cello
Bass (Fender & Acoustic)
  • Musical Style Classic Broadway
  • Orchestra Size Medium

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Music Rentals

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1 Piano-Conductor
20 Vocal Book
1 Reed 1
1 Reed 2
1 Reed 3
1 Reed 4
2 Trumpet 1&2
1 Trumpet 3
1 Trombone 1
1 Trombone 2
1 Guitar
2 Percussion 1&2
1 Drums
2 Violin
1 Viola
1 Cello
1 Bass
1 Piano-Conductor
20 Vocal Book

Scripts

Available Formats:

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Authors

Author

William Gibson

Cy Coleman

Cy Coleman (1929–2004) was born Seymour Kaufman in New York City to Eastern European Jewish parents, and was raised in the Bronx. A child prodigy, Coleman gave piano recitals at Steinway Hall, Town Hall and Carnegie Hall between the ages of six and nine. His educational backg ...

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Michael Bennett

Michael Bennett (1943–1987) was an American musical theatre director, writer, choreographer, and dancer. He won seven Tony Awards for his choreography and direction of Broadway shows and was nominated for an additional eleven.

Bennett's choreography credits include Henry, Swee ...

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Dorothy Fields

Dorothy Fields (1904–1974) was an award-winning American librettist and lyricist. The brother and sister team of Herbert and Dorothy Fields was part of a vibrant New York theatrical family that also included their brother, Joseph, a prolific librettist and playwright, and the ...

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