The Unsinkable Molly Brown (musical)
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- This article is about the stage musical. For the 1964 film, see The Unsinkable Molly Brown (film)
| The Unsinkable Molly Brown | |
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| CD Cover Broadway Cast Recording | |
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| Music | Meredith Willson |
| Lyrics | Meredith Willson |
| Book | Richard Morris |
| Productions | 1960 Broadway 1964 film 1989 U.S. tour |
The Unsinkable Molly Brown is a musical with music and lyrics by Meredith Willson and book by Richard Morris. The musical tells a fictionalized version of the life of Margaret Brown, who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic, and her wealthy miner-husband.
The musical was directed by Dore Schary with choregraphy by Peter Gennaro. It opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre on November 3, 1960, and closed on February 10, 1962, after 532 performances and 1 preview. Debbie Reynolds and Harve Presnell starred in a national tour 1989-1990, playing cities from New Haven to Seattle. (New York Times, June 11, 1989 and October 1, 1989)
A film adaptation was released in 1964 starring Debbie Reynolds and Harve Presnell.
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[edit] Plot synopsis
In the early 1900s feisty tomboy Molly Tobin wrestles with her brothers and tells them and her father what she wants: to read and write and to find a rich husband ("I Ain't Down Yet"). Molly makes her way to a saloon in Leadville, Colorado and applies for a job. At the saloon she meets J. J. "Leadville" Johnny Brown, who falls in love with Molly, promising to give her whatever she wants ("I'll Never Say No"). After they marry, Johnny sells a claim and provides Molly with the money she wants--enough to enter the high social life in Denver ("Beautiful People of Denver"). Molly and Johnny, now dressed in gaudy finery, are made fun of by the Denver "society" people she wants to impress, and they travel to Europe, against Johnny's better instincts.
The couple, and especially Molly, are welcomed and accepted by European royalty, but the attentions of Prince DeLong towards Molly upset Johnny and he returns to Leadville alone. Molly realizes that Johnny is her true love, and she sets off for home in the RMS Titanic ("Dolce Far Niente"). As the Titanic sinks and the tragedy unfolds, Molly survives in one of the lifeboats, and is welcomed home. She is finally re-united with Johnny, who has built Molly her own "castle", a beautiful home in the Rocky Mountains.
[edit] Principal cast
- Molly Tobin -- Tammy Grimes
- Johnny "Leadville" Brown -- Harve Presnell
- Shamus Tobin -- Cameron Prudhomme
- Prince DeLong -- Mitchell Gregg
- Princess DeLong -- Mony Daimes
- Monsignor Ryan -- Jack Harrold
- Michael Tobin -- Sterling Clark
- Patrick Tobin -- Bob Daley
- Mrs. McGlone -- Edith Meiser
[edit] Musical numbers
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[edit] Awards and nominations
Tammy Grimes won the Tony Award as Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
