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Promises, Promises

A scathing and hilarious satire of the corporate world, Promises, Promises is the exuberant musical adaptation of Billy Wilder's Oscar-winning film The Apartment.

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Description

  • Full Length Musical
  • Dramatic Comedy
  • 120 minutes

  • Time Period: 1960s
  • Target Audience: Teen (Age 14 - 18), Adult
  • 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

  • Accolades:
  • Winner! 2 Tony Awards for Best Actor and Best Featured Actress (1969)
    Winner! 2 Theatre World Awards for Outstanding Performances by Jerry Orbach and Jill O'Hara (1969)
    Winner! 3 Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Performances by Marian Mercer and Jerry Orbach; and for Outstanding Music by Burt Bacharach (1969)
    Winner! Tony Award for Best Featured Actress (2010)
    Winner! Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress (2010)
In New York City in the 1960s, an ambitious accountant named Chuck Baxter lends out his apartment to his supervisors, who need a discreet place for illicit afternoon rendezvous. Miserable and exploited, Chuck finds a beacon of hope in coworker Fran, who is trapped in a romantic predicament of her own.

The bittersweet romantic comedy features a groundbreaking contemporary score from composter Burt Bacharach. The score includes the blockbuster hit "I'll Never Fall In Love Again," plus "Knowing When To Leave," "Turkey Lurkey Time," "Whoever You Are," and the title song.
REVIEWS:

"Yes, of course, yes!... One of the wittiest books a musical has possessed in years… the music is modern pop and delightful."

Clive Barnes, The New York Times

"Buoyant… Set in 1962 Manhattan, the show is pleasingly retro without being a kitsch comic book."

New York Magazine

"Promises, Promises is a candy-flavored ride that more than delivers on its title."

New York Post

"Neil Simon's book is endlessly funny, while Burt Bacharach and Hal David's pop score, which uses background vocals in most songs, is catchy and tuneful."

On Off Broadway

Premiere Production: Promises, Promises opened on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre on December 1, 1968, starring Jill O'Hara, Jerry Orbach and Marian Mercer. A resounding hit, the show played for 1,281 performances. It was revived on Broadway at the Broadway Theatre in 2010, starring Kristin Chenoweth, Sean Hayes and Katie Finneran.

Characters

  • Casting: 3M, 2F
  • Casting Attributes: Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle), Strong Role for Leading Man (Star Vehicle), Expandable casting
  • Chorus Size: Large

  • CHUCK BAXTER
    J. D. SHELDRAKE
    FRAN KUBELIK
    DOBITCH
    SYLVIA GILHOOLEY
    KIRKEBY
    GINGER
    EICHELBERGER
    VIVIEN
    DR. DREYFUSS
    JESSE VANDERHOF
    MISS KREPLINSKI (Nurse)
    1st GIRL
    2nd GIRL
    NURSE (Office)
    DOCTOR (Office)
    MISS OLSON
    HOSTESS
    WAITER
    WATCHMAN
    MARGE MacDOUGALL
    KARL KUBELIK
    INTERN
    YOUNG MAN
    MES. SHELDRAKE

    • 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.

    25 x Script / Vocal-Chorus Books
    1 x Piano-Conductor's Score

    		$550.00 +$135.00/pm
    Orchestral Material Shipped a minimum of 1 month before the last performance. This is optional.

    3 Violins I & II
    2 Cello I & II
    1 Bass and Fender Bass

    1 Reed I: Flute, Piccolo, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone & optional Alto Flute
    1 Reed II: Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone & optional Flute
    1 Reed III: Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone & optional Oboe
    1 Reed IV: Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone & optional Flute

    1 Horn
    1 Trumpets I & II (both double on Flugelhorn)
    1 Trumpet III
    1 Trombone I
    1 Trombone II

    2 Percussion I & II:

    I: (Mallets)
    Timpani (2)
    Scraper
    Triangle
    Tambourine
    Chimes
    Cabaza
    Bells
    Tubophone (optional)
    Vibraphone
    Xylophone
    Finger Cymbals
    Sleigh Bells

    II: (Tap Drum Set)
    Bass Drum
    Snare Drum
    Tom-Tom
    Cymbals (Suspended, Hi-Hat, Finger)
    Triangle
    Tambourine
    Cowbell
    Wood Block
    Whistle

    1 Guitars I & II (both double Electric Guitar, Guitar II also doubles Bass Guitar)
    1 Piano and Electric Piano (Piano-Conductor's Score sent with rehearsal materials)

    NOTE: Violins, Cello, Horn and Trombone II are optional parts.

    		$350.00 +$135.00/pm

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