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ON THE TOWN – Leonard Bernstein, Roger Edens, and Lennie Hayton

June 10, 2024 Leave a comment

GREATEST SCORES OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

Original Review by Craig Lysy

When the 1944 ballet “Fancy Free” by Jerome Robbins gained critical acclaim, it was brought to Broadway as a play with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. It opened on December 28, 1944 at the Adelphi Theatre, running for 462 performances. Following this successful run MGM management decided to bring it to the big screen. It secured the film rights, Arthur Freed was placed in charge of production with a $2.1 million budget, Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen were tasked with directing, and Betty Comden and Adolph Green would write the screenplay. Kelly would also manage the choreography. For the cast, Gene Kelly would star as Gabey, joined by Frank Sinatra as Chip, Jules Munshin as Ozzie, Vera-Ellen as Ivy, Betty Garrett as Hildy Esterhazy, and Ann Miller as Claire Huddesen. Read more…