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Applause

Full-Length Musical, Dramatic Comedy  /  4w, 4m

Book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green
Music by Charles Strouse
Lyrics by Lee Adams
Based on the film All About Eve and the original story by Mary Orr

Original production directed and choreographed by Ron Field
Originally produced by Joseph Kipness and Laurence Kasha

An updated musical adaptation of the classic film All About Eve, Applause uncovers the ruthless world of show business, where a conniving young actress attempts to sabotage the career of a seasoned musical theatre star.

Applause

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 4m
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptation (Stage & Screen)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences
Accolades
Accolades
  • Winner! Four 1970 Tony Awards, including Best Musical
    Nominee: Ten 1970 Tony Awards
    Winner! Two 1970 Theatre World Awards for Best Actor and Best Featured Actress
    Winner! Three 1970 Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Director, Choreography, and Performance
Applause

Details

Summary

With sass, wit, and a pulsing 1970s score, Applause presents show biz in all its glory and ferocity. The updated musical version of All About Eve concerns superstar Margot Channing and her ambitious, scheming assistant, Eve Harrington.

Book writers Betty Comden and Adolph Green wrote, "The strength of All About Eve, so soundly conceived and executed on the screen, lay in the timelessness of its basic story. It is a tale of treachery... told in terms of the witty, glamorous theatre star and the mousy, adoring girl from the sticks who ingratiates herself into the star's private world, and then systematically attempts to take over her career, her lover, and her life." The musical's hit songs include "But Alive," "Applause," "Welcome to the Theater" and "Something Greater."

History
Applause opened on Broadway at the Palace Theatre on Mar 30, 1970, starring Lauren Bacall, Len Cariou and Penny Fuller. Bonnie Franklin sang the title song. The production won four Tony Awards and ran for 896 performances.
Keywords
Performing Groups
  • Time Period 1970s
  • Setting In and around New York. 1970.
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)

Media

“Bright, witty, direct, and nicely punchy… the whole show is sharp and fun.” – Clive Barnes, The New York Times

“A musical play that is bright, witty, direct, and nicely punchy… the whole show is sharp and fun – everyone’s idealized version of what show business ought to be.” – Clive Barnes, The New York Times

Music

Music Samples

  • Musical Style Classic Broadway
  • Dance Requirements Moderate
  • Vocal DemandsDifficult
  • Orchestra Size Large
  • Chorus Size Large

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

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Authors

Lee Adams

Lee Adams

Lee Adams began his professional career as a journalist, working as a newspaper reporter, magazine writer and editor, and radio writer and interviewer. But his life took a sudden turn when his “hobby” of lyric writing led to Bye, Bye Birdie in 1960. This unheralded little Bro ...

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Charles Strouse

Charles Strouse

Charles Strouse is one of America's most successful musical theatre composers. His first Broadway musical, Bye Bye Birdie (1960), written with his long-time collaborator Lee Adams, won him a Tony Award and the London Critics Best Foreign Musical Award. In 1970, Applause, star ...

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Adolph Green

Adolph Green

Adolph Green (1914-2002) was an award-winning screenwriter, librettist and lyricist, co-writing with his longtime creative partner, Betty Comden. Comden and Green had a groundbreaking partnership of over 60 years, winning Tony Awards for their lyrics and/or librettos for Appl ...

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Betty Comden

Betty Comden

Betty Comden (1917-2006) was an award-winning screenwriter, librettist and lyricist, co-writing with her longtime creative partner, Adolph Green. Comden and Green had a groundbreaking partnership of over 60 years, winning Tony Awards for their lyrics and/or librettos for Appl ...

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