Aspiring writer Ruth McKinney and her sister Eileen moved from Ohio to Manhattan in 1935. Ruth aspired to be a writer, and Eileen wanted to be a performer. They moved into an apartment on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village and had adventures that ended up as short stories, a play ("My Sister Eileen"), a musical, a non-musical movie, and finally, a sitcom!
Aside from some minor misunderstandings and moments of melancholia, "Wonderful Town" is a pretty happy-go-lucky show.
Lyricists Betty Comden and Adolph Green provide genuinely funny and heartfelt words, set to a fantastic Leonard Bernstein score.
Tony Awards (1953):
Best Musical
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical (Rosalind Russell)
Best Choreography (Donald Saddler)
Best Conductor and Musical Director (Lehmen Engel)
Roz's co-star Edith (Edie) Adams wasn't neglected, either - she won the Theatre World Award of 1953.
Biggest Hits
Ohio
Conga!
Wrong Note Rag
Honorable Mentions
One Hundred Ways
Swing!
My Darlin' Eileen
Musical Numbers
- Christopher Street
- Ohio
- One Hundred Ways
- What A Waste
- A Little Bit in Love
- Pass the Football
- Conversation Piece
- A Quiet Girl
- Conga!
- My Darlin' Eileen
- Swing!
- It's Love
- Ballet at The Village Vortex (instrumental)
- Wrong Note Rag