Gigi

A TAMS-WITMARK TITLE

Gigi

Full-Length Musical, Comedy  /  3w, 5m

Book and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner
Music by Frederick Loewe
Based on a novel by Colette

As produced by Edwin Lester for the Los Angeles and San Francisco Civic Light Opera Associations
And by Saint Subber for Broadway

Based on Colette’s novel and the 1958 motion picture, Lerner and Loewe’s exquisite musical transports audiences to the elegant atmosphere of Paris in the 1890s.

Image: 2015 Kennedy Center Production (Joan Marcus)

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w, 5m
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptation (Literature), Adaptation (Stage & Screen), Period, Romantic Comedy
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! 1974 Tony Award for Best Original Score
    Nominee: Four 1974 Tony Awards, including Best Actor
    Nominee: 2015 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical
    Winner! 2015 Drama Desk Award for Best Costumes
Gigi

Details

Summary
In the elegant atmosphere of Paris in the 1890s, a wealthy and handsome aristocrat named Gaston falls for Gigi, a young and innocent girl raised to be a courtesan.
History
The MGM film Gigi, directed by Vincente Minnelli, premiered on May 15, 1958, starring Leslie Caron, Louis Jordan, Maurice Chevalier and Hermione Gingold. On November 13, 1973, Gigi made its debut as a Broadway musical at the Uris Theatre, starring Alfred Drake, Agnes Moorehead, Karin Wolfe and Daniel Massey. The stage musical was revived on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre in 2015, starring Vanessa Hudgens, Corey Cott, Victoria Clark and Dee Hoty.

Gigi takes place in the city of romance, Paris, around the turn of the twentieth century. The tale is narrated by the distinguished Honoré Lachailles, a confirmed bachelor who has seen much of life in the Parisian aristocracy and is particularly wise in the nature of women ("Thank Heaven For Little Girls"), love, and marriage.

Honoré has a nephew, Gaston, who is extremely wealthy, handsome, and the object of desire of half the women in Paris. However, poor Gaston, for all his riches and attention, finds life quite dull ("It’s A Bore"). He is courting the beautiful but spoiled Liane D’Exelmans who, rumor says, has been carrying on with her skating instructor behind Gaston’s back. It looks as though Gaston and Liane’s romance is about to fizzle, which leaves him even more depressed. One of Gaston’s few pleasures is visiting the humble home of Inez Alvarez, the grandmother of Gigi, and playing cards with the young girl. Although Gigi is just a child to Gaston, she has a refreshing and candid way of reacting to him that none of his paramours have possessed. In any case, he totally enjoys her company.

Inez, or Mamita as she is called, has plans for Gigi to become a lady of breeding, and for assistance she has called on her sister Alicia, whose reputation in her younger days for pleasing her courtiers was beyond compare. Alicia takes pains to teach Gigi the difference between genuine gems and simulated stones, how to choose the correct cigar for a gentleman, and correct table manners for an elegant bill of fare. According to Alicia, pleasing a man is an art in itself. Gigi finds the lessons pointless, but she has little choice but to learn what is expected of her.

As predicted, the romance between Gaston and Liane comes to an abrupt end when, at a party given by Honoré, Liane becomes infatuated with every man in the room except Gaston, and in a jealous pique, he pours a bottle of champagne down the front of her dress ("She Is Not Thinking Of Me Tonight"). The incident immediately becomes the talk of Paris, with gossips recalling the ladies Gaston has jilted in the past, and who his next love will be. Gigi overhears these conversations and is shocked that her mischievous, teasing card partner has such a roguish reputation.

At Honoré’s suggestion, Gaston begins courting a different lady every night, as not to appear distraught from his parting with Liane. He confesses to Gigi one evening, however, that he is weary of this meaningless show for appearance’s sake. Although he is due to attend a party in his honor that evening, he decides in favor of staying with Mamita and Gigi for dinner and more cards. As all three have had a bit too much champagne with dinner, Gigi playfully makes a bet with Gaston that should he lose the game, he will take her and Mamita to Trouville by the sea for the weekend ("The Night They Invented Champagne"). She wins, and he lives up to his part of the bargain. Their holiday proves to be the most delightful Gaston has had in years, and he finds himself looking at Gigi in a new light. While at Trouville, Mamita meets Honoré by chance, and they recall a romance between them many years ago ("I Remember It Well").

Arriving back in Paris, Gaston finds he cannot get Gigi off his mind ("Gigi"), and decides to court her seriously. Both Gigi and Mamita are wary of this prospect because of Gaston’s reputation with women, but Aunt Alicia is quite happy with the situation. She immediately begins to negotiate with Gaston’s lawyers for a financial settlement for Gigi ("The Contract"), as she is to be Gaston’s paramour.

Gigi, insulted by the arrangement, refuses to accept Gaston’s company or money under the circumstances proposed. She later relents, however, as she tells him she would rather be miserable with him than without him ("In This Wide, Wide World"). Gaston, realizing how he has compromised her values, requests Gigi’s hand in marriage, which she happily offers.

Singing Principals
(3 female; 5 male)

Honore Lachailles
Gaston Lachailles
Gigi
Inez Alvarez (Mamita)
Aunt Alicia
Manuel
Maître DuFresne
Maître Duclos

Supporting Roles

Liane D’Exelmans
Charles (Aunt Alicia's butler)
Sandomir

Ensemble

A Head Waiter
A Receptionist
A Telephone Installer
A Maître d’Hotel
Two Waiters
Liane’s Dance Partner
An Artist
A Count
Dancing Teacher
Two Law Clerks

  • Time Period 19th Century
  • Setting Paris (mostly) at the turn of the century.
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

Photos

  • Gigi

    Image: 2015 Kennedy Center Production (Joan Marcus)

  • Gigi

    Image: 2015 Kennedy Center Production (Joan Marcus)

  • Gigi

    Image: 2015 Kennedy Center Production (Joan Marcus)

  • Gigi

    Image: Sam Norkin

Music

Music Samples

Act I

Overture
1. “Thank Heaven For Little Girls” – Honore
2. “It’s A Bore” – Honore & Gaston
2a. Playoff: It's A Bore - Orchestra
3. “The Earth And Other Minor Things” – Gigi
3a. Scene Change (Alicia) - Orchestra
4. “Paris Is Paris Again” – Honore & Ensemble
5. “She Is Not Thinking Of Me” – Gaston
5a. Playoff: She Is Not Thinking - Orchestra
6. “It’s A Bore” (Reprise #1) – Honore, Gaston & Aunt Alicia
6a. “It’s A Bore” (Reprise #2) – Honore, Gaston, Manuel & Aunt Alicia
7. “The Night They Invented Champagne” – Gigi, Mamita & Gaston
7a. “The Night They Invented Champagne” Encore – Gigi, Mamita & Gaston
7b. Trouville Lobby - Orchestra
8. “I Remember It Well” – Honore & Mamita
9. “I Never Want To Go Home Again” – Gigi & Ensemble

Act II

10. Entr'acte - Orchestra
11. Opening Act II: “The Telephone” - Mamita & Telephone Installer
11a. The New Dress - Orchestra
12. “Gigi” – Gaston
12a. Playoff: Gigi - Orchestra
13. “The Contract” – Alicia, Mamita, Duclos & Dufresne
13a. The Contract Playoff - Orchestra
13b. Seen Change - Orchestra
14. “I’m Glad I’m Not Young Anymore” – Honore
14a. “I’m Glad I’m Not Young Anymore” Encore – Honore
14b. Playoff: Glad I'm Not Young - Orchestra
15. “In This Wide, Wide World” – Gigi
15a. Playoff: In This Wide Wide World - Orchestra
16. At Maxim's (Can-Can) _ Orchestra
16a. Maxim's Waltz - Orchestra
16b. Scene Change - Orchestra
17. Reprise: “Thank Heaven For Little Girls” – Honore
18. Bows - Orchestra
19. Exit Music - Orchestra

Full Orchestration

Reed 1 (Flute & Piccolo)
Reed 2 (Flute, Oboe & Clarinet)
Reed 3 (Clarinet)
Reed 4 (Clarinet, Bass Clarinet & Flute)
Reed 5 (Bassoon)
Horn 1&2
Trumpet 1&2
Trumpet 3
Trombone 1 (Tenor)
Trombone 2 (Tenor)
Percussion [Timpani (2 Drums), Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Tom Tom, Triangle, Pop Gun (loud), Bell Tree, Temple Blocks, Cymbals (2 suspended, sizzle), Wood Block, Cowbell, Anvil (optional), Bird Whistle, Bells, Xylophone, Vibraphone]
Piano-Celeste
Harp
Violin 1
Violin 2
Viola
Cello
Bass

  • Musical Style Classic Broadway
  • Dance Requirements Moderate
  • Vocal DemandsDifficult
  • Orchestra Size Large
  • Chorus Size Medium

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!
10 Piano-Conductor
20 Libretto-Chorus Book
1 Reed 1
1 Reed 2
1 Reed 3
1 Reed 4
1 Reed 4
2 Horn 1&2
2 Trumpet 1&2
1 Trumpet 3
1 Trombone 1
1 Trombone 2
1 Piano/Celeste
1 Percussion
1 Harp
2 Violin 1
1 Violin 2
1 Viola
1 Cello
1 Bass
10 Piano-Conductor
20 Libretto-Chorus Book

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Authors

Alan Jay Lerner

ALAN JAY LERNER wrote these plays with Frederick Loewe: Life of the Party, What’s Up, The Day Before Spring, Brigadoon, Paint Your Wagon, My Fair Lady, Camelot, Gigi. He also wrote Love Life with Kurt Weill, On A Clear Day You Can See Forever and Carmelina with Burton Lane, C ...

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Frederick Loewe

ALAN JAY LERNER wrote these plays with Frederick Loewe: Life of the Party, What’s Up, The Day Before Spring, Brigadoon, Paint Your Wagon, My Fair Lady, Camelot, Gigi. He also wrote Love Life with Kurt Weill, On A Clear Day You Can See Forever and Carmelina with Burton Lane, C ...

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Author

Colette

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