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Girl Crazy (Original 1930)

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

Music and Lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin
Book by Guy Bolton and Jack McGowan

The original musical that inspired Crazy For You! A charming romantic comedy set in a sleepy Arizona town, Girl Crazy features some of George and Ira Gershwin's most beloved songs.

Girl Crazy (Original 1930)

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    5w, 5m
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Romantic Comedy
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for all audiences
Girl Crazy (Original 1930)

Details

Summary
Wealthy playboy Danny Churchill has been sent by his parents to Custerville, Arizona, to manage his family’s ranch and to focus on more serious matters than alcohol and women. But Danny turns the place into a dude ranch, imports Broadway showgirls, and hires Kate Forthergill as an entertainer. Eventually, visitors come from both coasts to the ranch and Danny falls in love with the local postmistress, Molly Gray.
History
Girl Crazy opened on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre on October 14, 1930, starring Allen Kearns as Danny and featuring debut performances by Ethel Merman (as Kate) and Ginger Rogers (as Molly). The production ran for 272 performances. The show served as the basis for the 1992 musical Crazy For You, which has a completely rewritten book and songs added from other Gershwin shows.
Keywords
Girl Crazy (1930) marked the celebrated Broadway debut of Ethel Merman and the seventh and second-to-last musical comedy written by George & Ira Gershwin. The story was also the second stage musical for Ginger Rogers. The story is about a wealthy New York playboy whose father sends him West to get him away from some gangster types. However, the city slicker brings his friends with him and they clash hilariously with the locals as the tenderfeet try to convert a rundown lodge into a money-making dude ranch.

Principals
(5 female; 5 male)

Molly Gray
Patsy West
Tess Parker
Kate Fothergill
Flora James

Danny Churchill
Gieber Goldfarb
Slick Fothergill
Frisco
Lank Sanders

Supporting

The Foursome

Others

Pete
Sam Mason
Jake Howell
Eagle Rock
Hotel Proprietor
Lariat Joe
Sergeant of Police
Cowboys and Dudeens

  • Time Period 1930s
  • Setting Custerville, Arizona and San Luz, Mexico, 1930.
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)

Music

Music Samples

Act I

Overture – Orchestra
1. “The Lonesome Cowboy” – The Foursome & Cowboys
2. Incidental: Entrance of Molly – Orchestra
3. “Bidin' My Time” – The Foursome
4. “Could You Use Me?” – Danny & Molly
5. “Bidin' My Time” – The Foursome
6. “Bronco Busters” – Dudeens & Cowboys
7. Incidental (Change of Scene) – Orchestra    
8. “Barbary Coast” – Patsy, Tess & Ensemble
9. “Embraceable You” – Danny & Molly
10. Finaletto (“Goldfarb”) – Gieber, Slick & Chorus
11. Reprise: “Bidin' My Time” – The Foursome
12. Incidental (Change of Scene) – Orchestra
13. Reprise: “Embraceable You” – Danny & Molly
14. “Sam and Delilah” – Frisco, Kate & Ensemble
15. “I Got Rhythm” – Kate, The Foursome & Specialty Dancers
16. Finale Act I: “Bronco Buster” / “Embraceable You” – Ensemble, Danny & Kate

Act II

17. Entr'acte – Orchestra
18a. "Land of the Gay Caballero” – Ensemble
18b. Eileen’s Dance – Orchestra
19. “But Not For Me” – Molly & Gieber
20. “Treat Me Rough” – Slick & Girls
21. “Boy! What Love Has Done to Me!” – Kate
22. Intro to Torch Song – Orchestra
23. Incidental (Change of Scene) – Orchestra
24a. Entrance of Molly and Boys – Orchestra
24b. “When It's Cactus Time in Arizona” – Molly & Boys
25. Finale Act II: “I’ve Got Rhythm” – Company

Full Orchestration

Violin I
Violin II
Viola I
Viola II
Cello
Bass

Flute
Oboe-English Horn
Alto Saxophone I: Clarinet & Baritone Saxophone
Alto Saxophone II: Clarinet & Baritone Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone: Flute & Clarinet

Trumpets I & II
Trumpet III
Trombones I & II

Percussion
Snare Drum
Bass Drum
Tom Tom
Suspended Cymbal
Temple Blocks
Wood Block
Castanets
Xylophone
Vibraphone
Bells
Piano

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

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!
35 Libretto-Vocal Book
1 Piano-Conductor
1 Flute
1 Oboe/English Horn
1 Alto Saxophone 1
1 Alto Saxophone 2
1 Tenor Saxophone
2 Trumpet 1&2
1 Trumpet 3
2 Trombone 1&2
1 Piano
1 Percussion
2 Violin 1
1 Violin 2
1 Viola 1
1 Viola 2
1 Cello
1 Bass
35 Libretto-Vocal Book
1 Piano-Conductor

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Authors

George Gershwin

George Gershwin was born in Brooklyn on September 26, 1898, and began his musical training when he was 13. At 16, he quit high school to work as a "song plugger" for a music publisher, and soon he was writing songs himself. "Swanee," as introduced by Al Jolson, brought George ...

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Ira Gershwin

Ira Gershwin, the first songwriter to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize, was born in New York City on December 6, 1896. In 1917 The Evening Sun published his first song (“You May Throw All The Rice You Desire But Please, Friends, Throw No Shoes”). Four years later, Ira enjoyed hi ...

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Guy Bolton

Guy Bolton (1884-1979) was born in Broxbourne, Hertfordshire, England, on November 23, 1884. Bolton famously collaborated with Jerome Kern and P.G. Wodehouse on a series of buoyant musicals for the 299-seat Princess Theatre, including Have A Heart; Oh, Boy!; Leave It To Jane; ...

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John McGowan

John "Jack" McGowan (1894–1977) was an American librettist, director and producer. His writing credits included: Say When; Pardon My English; Earl Carroll's Vanities of 1932; Heigh-ho, Everybody; Singin' the Blues; Girl Crazy; Flying High; Murray Anderson's Almanac; Hold Ever ...

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