Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
- Full Length Musical, Comedy, 1920s
- 4M, 3F
- ISBN: TW-8905
Based on Anita Loos’s 1925 bestseller of the same title, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes follows Lorelei Lee, a blonde from Little Rock, Arkansas, who sails to Europe with her friend Dorothy to perform in a nightclub in Paris.
More information
Description
- Full Length Musical
- Comedy
- 120 minutes
- Time Period: 1920s
- Target Audience: Appropriate for all audiences
- Set Requirements: Unit Set/Multiple Settings
- Cautions: Mild Adult Themes
- Orchestra Size: Large
- Performance Group:
- High School/Secondary, College Theatre / Student, Community Theatre, Professional Theatre
Lorelei Lee is about to embark on the Ile de France for a cruise to Europe, where she will marry the delightfully rich Gus Esmond, son of America’s Button King. With her is her friend Dorothy Shaw, both of them ex-Follies girls. However, two clouds appear on the horizon right away. Gus announces that his father insists he stay behind for an important button conference, so he can’t travel with the girls. And he has heard worrying news about a new invention called the zipper, which just might ruin his great button empire.
The girls set about enjoying their cruise. They have plenty of help, notably from the American Olympic Team who are also en route for Paris. Also on board are Mrs. Spofford, the richest widow in Philadelphia, and her son Henry, who takes to Dorothy in a big way. There is an English couple too – Sir Francis and Lady Beekman; she has a diamond tiara that Lorelei just knows would look its best on her own blonde head. And there is Josephus Gage, a hearty young man who turns out to America’s Zipper King. So when Lorelei gets a wireless message from Gus that his father has found out about a little escapade of hers with a revolver in Little Rock and it looks like the wedding is off, it is only logical that she should turn her attention to Josephus and Sir Francis.
Eventually Lorelei succeeds in getting her tiara and her Gus – and arranges a merger between the button business and the zipper business that looks like it will bring lots of success (and lots more diamonds) in the future.
Premiere Production:
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes opened on Broadway at the Ziegfeld Theatre on December 8, 1949, starring Carol Channing, Yvonne Adair, Jack McCauley, Eric Brotherson and George S. Irving. The production played for 740 performances. In 1995, a production at the Goodspeed Opera House transferred to the Lyceum Theatre in New York and starred KT Sullivan. In 2012, a staged concert production was presented by New York City Center's Encores!, starring Megan Hilty and Rachel York.
Characters
- Casting: 4M, 3F
- Casting Attributes: Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle), Expandable casting
- Chorus Size: Large
SIR FRANCIS BEEKMAN - Traveling with his wife but easily distracted by young women.
DOROTHY SHAW - (dancer/singer) Follies dancer and fun-loving best friend to Lorelei.
MRS. ELLA SPOFFORD - Philadelphia’s richest woman-alcoholic mother of Henry.
HENRY SPOFFORD - Shy college student, William Penn Memorial Glee Club conductor.
LORELEI LEE - Follies dancer, “retired” by a practical arrangement with Mr. Gus Esmond, Jr.
GUS ESMOND, JR. - The Button King, sponsor of Lorelei and Dorothy’s trip to Paris.
JOSEPHUS GAGE - The Zipper King, an entrepreneur and health addict.
COLES & ATKINS - (singers/specialty tap dancers) Originally played by Honi Coles and Cholly Atkins (non-speaking roles).
Entertainers at the Pre-Catalan Club for the number “Mamie is Mimi.”
Supporting:
LADY PHYLLIS BEEKMAN - A matron representing the British traveling upper class.
GLORIA STARK - (dancer) Follies dancer and former colleague of Lorelei and Dorothy.
ROBERT (ROBBEAR) LEMANTEUR - French magistrate.
LOUIS LEMANTEUR - Son of Robert, a police officer.
ESMOND, SR. - Frail founding elder in firm control of his son and his Button empire.
BILL - (dancer) A small speaking role as the Master of Ceremonies at the Pre-Catalan Club. Bill is the dance partner for Dorothy in the numbers “I Love What I’m Doing” and “Keeping Cool With Coolidge.”
Small Speaking Parts (Doubling Roles):
PIERRE - A steward on the “Île de France.”
STEWARD - On the “Île de France.”
2nd STEWARD - On the “Île de France”.
3rd STEWARD - On the “Île de France”.
FRANK - An Olympic boy, team member.
GEORGE - An Olympic boy, team member.
TWO SHOW GIRLS - Passengers aboard ship.
TWO OTHER SHOW GIRLS - Passengers aboard ship.
OLYMPIC MAN - Passenger aboard ship.
TAXI DRIVER - (dancer) A Frenchman, may be played by Bill, dance partner for Gloria in the scene under the Eiffel Tower.
LEON - A valet in the Ritz Hotel in Paris.
MAÎTRE d'HÔTEL - Pre-Catalan Club, Paris.
HEADWAITER - Pre-Catalan Club, Paris.
FIFI & ZIZI - Girls being escorted by Sir Francis in Paris.
HEADWAITER - Central Park Casino, New York.
Non-Speaking Roles Played by Chorus & Dancers:
On Ship:
STEWARDS (Male Quartet including Pierre)
OLYMPIC TEAM BOYS (8 including Frank & George)
BANNER CARRIERS (2 young girls)
SHOWGIRLS (8)
AUTOGRAPH SEEKERS
SHIP'S PASSENGERS & THEIR FRIENDS
In France:
NURSEMAIDS (Sopranos & Altos) (9)
WORKMEN (Tenors & Basses) (9)
SHOPGIRLS (8 Dancers)
PARISIAN MEN (8 Dancers)
BRETON NURSE
LITTLE GIRL (The nurse’s charge)
PRIEST (Tenor solo)
PARIS PARTY PEOPLE
PRE-CATALAN CLUB DANCING PATRONS
WAITERS & BARTENDER
FLOWER GIRL (Sells an orchid to Gus for Gloria)
GIGOLO (Joins Zizi & Fifi when Sir Francis leaves)
SOLO TENOR (or Contralto for the “Coquette” number)
In New York:
SINGERS & DANCERS (as couples ballroom dancing at a party in the Central Park Casino)
CASINO WAITERS
WEDDING GUESTS (They respond on cue as a group)
POLICEMAN (Uniformed escorted for Esmond Sr.)
BRIDESMAIDS & WEDDING ATTENDANTS (Chorus)
Available Material
| Name | Price |
|---|---|
|
Perusal Material
Shipped immediately. This is optional.
Order Now
1 x Lib-Vocal Book |
$24.00 |
|
Rehearsal Material
Shipped a minimum of 3 months before the last performance. This must be hired as a condition of the License to produce this show.
34 x Chorus-Vocal Parts |
$550.00 +$135.00/pm |
|
Orchestral Material
Shipped a minimum of 1 month before the last performance. This is optional.
2 Violin I (2 Stands) |
$350.00 +$135.00/pm |
