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Irene (Revised 1973)

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

Book by Hugh Wheeler and Joseph Stein
From an Adaptation by Harry Rigby
Based on the Original Play by James Montgomery
Music by Harry Tierney
Lyrics by Joseph McCarthy
Additional Lyrics and Music by Charles Gaynor & Otis Clements

The longest-running Broadway show of its era, Irene is a charming romantic comedy about a young Irish girl who falls for a society gentleman during the Roaring Twenties.

  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 4m
  • Duration
    Duration
    120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Period, Romantic Comedy
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences
Accolades
Accolades
  • Nominee: Four 1973 Tony Awards
    Winner! 1973 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor (George S. Irving)
    Winner! 1973 Theatre World Award
Irene (Revised 1973)

Details

Summary
Based on James Montgomery's play Irene O’Dare, Irene tells the story of a shop assistant and recent immigrant to New York’s Upper West Side who is introduced to Long Island's high society when she's hired by one of its leading grande dames to help redecorate her home. The score includes the hits "Alice Blue Gown," "You Made Me Love You" and "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows."
History
The original Broadway production of Irene opened at the Vanderbilt Theatre in 1919 and ran for 675 performances, setting a record as the longest-running musical in Broadway history, which it held for nearly 20 years. This revival of Irene opened on Broadway at the Minskoff Theatre on 13 March 1973 starring Debbie Reynolds in the title role and George S. Irving as Madame Lucy. Directed by Gower Champion, the revival ran for 594 performances.
  • Time Period 1920s
  • Setting
    Various locations in New York City. 1919-1925.
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Additional Features Drag Performance
  • Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)

Media

“An evening of light-hearted fun.” – National Review
“Songs you can sing along with and dances you can swing along with... an evening of light-hearted fun.” – The National Review

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.

Music Rentals

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Authors

Hugh Wheeler

Hugh Wheeler

Hugh Wheeler (1912-1987) won three Tony Awards, for Candide, A Little Night Music and Sweeney Todd. He also wrote the libretto for the revival of Irene and is the author of the plays Big Fish, Little Fish; Look, We’ve Come Through; We Have Always Lived in the Castle; and addi ...

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Joseph Stein

Joseph Stein

Joseph Stein (1912-2020) won the Tony Award and Drama Critics Circle Award for Fiddler on the Roof. His other musicals include Zorba! (Tony nom., Drama Critics Circle Award), Rags (Tony nom.), The Baker’s Wife (Laurence Olivier Award, London), June, Take Me Along, Irene (star ...

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Harry Rigby

Harry Rigby

HARRY RIGBY was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1925. With Jule Styne and Alexander H. Cohen, he produced Make A Wish, his first Broadway musical, in 1951. Additional Broadway credits include John Murray Anderson’s Almanac, Hallelujah Baby! (winner of the 1968 Tony Award ...

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Author

James Montgomery

Harry  Tierney

Harry Tierney

HARRY TIERNEY was already an established composer before his first Broadway show, Irene. He wrote the scores for Keep Smiling and Not Likely later in London. When he returned to the States, he wrote songs for the Ziegfeld Follies, Royal Vagabond and Follow Me, among others. T ...

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Joseph McCarthy

Joseph McCarthy

JOSEPH MCCARTHY born in 1885, was a charter member of ASCAP. He wrote over 500 songs and eleven plays and reviews. He wrote the film scores for his Rio Rita and for several other motion pictures, including Song of the Big Trail, High Society and a second version of Irene. Mr ...

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Author

Charles Gaynor

Author

Otis Clements

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