Productions
After six previews, the Broadway theatre, Broadway production, directed by Abbott and choreographed by Joe Layton, opened on October 17, 1960, at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, 46th Street Theatre, where it ran for 216 performances. The cast included Maurice Evans (actor), Maurice Evans (better known as a Shakespearean actor than a musical performer) as Reverend Brock and Ron Husmann as Tommy. Tony Award nominations went to Evans for Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical, Best Actor in a Musical, Husmann for Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, Best Featured Actor in a Musical, and Cecil Beaton for Tony Award for Best Costume Design in a Musical, Best Costume Design in a Musical, and Husmann won the Theatre World Award for his performance. An cast album, original cast recording was released by Capitol Records, and Bobby Darin's recording of "Artificial Flowers" reached #20 on the Billboard charts. The musical was produced in New York City Center's ''Encores!'' staged concert series in March 2000, directed by Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Rob Ashford. The cast included David Ogden Stiers (Brock), Debbie Gravitte (Nita), Tom Alan Robbins (Joe), Patrick Wilson (American actor), Patrick Wilson (Tommy), Sarah Uriarte Berry (Laura), Kevin Conway (actor), Kevin Conway (Lt. Schmidt), and Jessica Stone (Margie). A concert cast recording was released by DRG Records.Synopsis
Reverend Brock, a single-minded 1890s social reformer works to sanitize the Tenderloin, a red-light neighborhood in western Manhattan. He is foiled by everyone associated with the district, including the corrupt politicians and police who are Police corruption, taking their cut from the earnings of the prostitution, prostitutes who work the streets there. Tommy Howatt, a writer for the local scandal sheet ''Tatler'', infiltrates the minister's church and proceeds to play one side against the other, eventually framing Brock by revealing to the authorities his plan to raid the brothels, but ultimately saving him by siding with him at his trial. As a result, the Tenderloin is shut down and Brock, asked to resign from his church, heads for Detroit with the hope of succeeding there as well.Songs
;Act I * Bless This Land – Chorus * Little Old New York – Nita, Gertie, Girls, All * Dr. Brock – Brock * Artificial Flowers – Tommy, Jessica, All * What's in it for You? – Tommy, Brock * Reform – Girls * Tommy, Tommy – Laura * The Picture of Happiness – Tommy, Margie, Chorus * My Miss Mary – Company * Dear Friend – Brock, Group * The Army of The Just – Martin, Tommy, Brock, Men * How the Money Changes Hands – Company ;Act II * Good Clean Fun – Brock, Chorus * My Miss Mary – Tommy, Laura, Chorus * My Gentle Young Johnny – Nita * The Trial – Company * The Tenderloin Celebration – Frye, Gertie, Company * Reform (Reprise) – Liz, Nellie, Margie, Girls * Tommy, Tommy (Reprise) – Laura * Little Old New York (Reprise) – CompanyCharacters
*Reverend Brock – an idealistic old preacher *Tommy Howatt – an ambitious young reporter *Laura Crosbie – a society girl who falls for Tommy *Ellington Dupont Smythe II – Laura's elegant young suitor *Purdy – Laura's wealthy uncle *Bridget – Purdy's maid *Frye – a detective *Gertie – a vivacious young prostitute *Joe Kovack – a farmer who discovered coal on his land *Nita – escapes prostitution when she falls in love with Joe *Margie – one of the girls Tommy shares a musical act with *Jessica Havemeyer – clerk at the church Parish House *Martin – a prudish church choirmaster *Mrs. Barker – a church lady and friend of Rev. Brock *Chairman – officiates over the trial of the Tenderloin *Deacon – an old man who Tommy hires to take pictures *Rooney – a police officer *Sergeant – collects the money all the derelicts give the police *Schmidt – a corrupt police lieutenant *Derelicts; Prostitutes at Clark's tavern (Pearl, Maggie, Nellie, Liz)Background
William Goldman, William and James Goldman were called in to doctor the show. "We'd been writing those other things and somebody must have read it and liked it and we were probably cheap and they asked us to do it," recalls William Goldman. Goldman also said the writer they replaced would not leave the project. "It was terrifying."References
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