Li'l Abner (musical)

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For the film based on the musical, see Li'l Abner
Li'l Abner
Music Gene De Paul
Lyrics Johnny Mercer
Book Norman Panama
Melvin Frank
Based upon Al Capp's comic strip
Li'l Abner
Productions 1956 Broadway

Li'l Abner is a musical with a book by Norman Panama and Melvin Frank, music by Gene De Paul, and lyrics by Johnny Mercer.

Based on the comic strip Li'l Abner by Al Capp, the show is, on the surface, a broad spoof of hillbillies but is also a pointed satire taking on any number of topics, ranging from an incompetent United States federal government to standards of masculinity.

The plot centers on two things: first, Dogpatch, the town that is the main setting of the comic strip, has been declared the "most unnecessary town" in the U.S. and is set to be turned into a nuclear testing site; second, the baby tonic that Abner has been fed all his life by his mother, Mammy Yokum, is discovered to be a potion that makes men strong and handsome, but also utterly uninterested in romance.

The town is ultimately saved when a plaque is discovered declaring that its local hero, the Confederate General Jubilation T. Cornpone was, by virtue of his incompetence, so instrumental in the defeat of his own army as to be a hero of the Republic.

The Broadway production, directed and choreographed by Michael Kidd, opened on November 15, 1956 at the St. James Theatre where it ran for 693 performances. The original Broadway cast starred Peter Palmer in the title role and Edie Adams as Daisy Mae. Other prominent cast members were Howard St. John as General Bullmoose, Stubby Kaye as Marryin' Sam, Charlotte Rae as Mammy Yokum (Li'l Abner's mother), Tina Louise as Appassionata von Voom, Julie Newmar as Stupifyin' Jones, Carmen Alvarez as Moonbeam McSwine, Ted Thurston as Senator Jack S. Phogbound, and Tony Mordente as Lonesome Polecat.

Contents

[edit] Song list

Act I
  • A Typical Day - Dogpatchers
  • If I Had My Druthers - L'il Abner and Cronies
  • If I Had My Druthers (Reprise) - Daisy Mae
  • Jubilation T. Cornpone - Marryin' Sam and Dogpatchers
  • Rag Offen the Bush - Dogpatchers
  • Namely You - Daisy Mae and L'il Abner
  • Unnecessary Town - L'il Abner, Daisy Mae and Dogpatchers
  • What's Good for General Bullmoose - Secretaries
  • The Country's in the Very Best of Hands - L'il Abner and Marryin' Sam
  • Sadie Hawkins Day ((Ballet)) - Dogpatchers
Act II
  • Oh Happy Day - Dr. Finsdale, Dr. Smithborn, Dr. Krogmeyer and Dr. Schleifitz
  • I'm Past My Prime - Daisy Mae and Marryin' Sam
  • Love in a Home - L'il Abner and Daisy Mae
  • Progress Is the Root of All Evil - Gen. Bullmoose
  • Progress Is the Root of All Evil (Reprise) - Gen. Bullmoose
  • Put 'Em Back - Wives
  • Namely You (Reprise) - Daisy Mae
  • The Matrimonial Stomp - Marryin' Sam and Dogpatchers
  • Finale - Entire Company

[edit] Awards and nominations

[edit] 1957 Tony Awards

[edit] Theatre World Awards

  • 1957 Theatre World Award - Peter Palmer (WINNER)
  • 1958 Theatre World Award - Wynne Miller (WINNER)

[edit] External links