A TAMS-WITMARK TITLE

Top Banana

Full-Length Musical, Comedy  /  2w, 7m

Johnny Mercer, Hy S. Kraft

Music and Lyrics by Johnny Mercer / Book by Hy S. Craft

The zany and uproarious story of variety-show host Jerry Biffle, the ratings-obsessed star of the Blendo Soap Program, with songs from award-winning tunesmith Johnny Mercer.

Top Banana

Request licence
Get the Script
  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    2w, 7m
  • Duration
    Duration
    More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Period, Parody/Spoof
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Appropriate for All Audiences
Accolades
Accolades

  • WINNER! 1952 Tony Award for Best Actor (Phil Silvers)

Top Banana

Details

Summary
Top Banana is the zany and uproarious story of variety-show host Jerry Biffle, the ratings-obsessed star of the Blendo Soap Program. While courting the department-store model Sally Peters, Jerry introduces her to Cliff Lane, a singer on his show. Cliff and Sally fall in love and plan to get married, but Jerry is oblivious to their romantic involvement.
History
Top Banana opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre on November 1, 1951, starring Phil Silvers as Jerry Biffle. The show played for 350 performances. In 1954, a film adaptation of the show featured several cast members from the Broadway production.
Keywords
Performing Groups
  • Time Period 1950s
  • Setting New York City. 1951.
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)

Music

Music Samples

  • Musical Style Classic Broadway
  • Dance Requirements Moderate
  • Vocal DemandsDifficult
  • Orchestra Size Large
  • Chorus Size No Chorus

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Music Rentals

Concord offers a full suite of resources to help you put on the show of a lifetime!
Get the Script

Add-Ons

Take a look below at how you can enhance your show!

Authors

Author

Johnny Mercer

Hy S. Kraft

Hy S. Kraft

HY KRAFT had many works for the Broadway stage include Top Banana, starring Phil Silvers; The New Yorkers; the musical Hot-Cha; Cue for Passion; and Ten Per Cent. For film he co-adapted An American Tragedy and Tobacco Story with Theodore Dreiser and also wrote Champagne Waltz ...

View full profile

Now Playing

Related