
AN R&H THEATRICALS TITLE
Pal Joey
Full-Length Musical, Dramatic Comedy / 4w, 2m plus ensemble
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Lorenz Hart
Book by John O'Hara
Image: 2008 Roundabout Theatre Company Production (Joan Marcus)
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Cast Size
4w, 2m plus ensemble -
Duration
More than 120 minutes (2 hours) -
Subgenre
Adaptation (Literature), Period, Romantic Comedy -
Target Audience
Adult, Senior, Pre-Teen (Age 11-13), Teen (Age 14-18)
Accolades
- Winner! Three 1952 Tony Awards
Nominee: 1964 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (Bob Fosse)
Nominee: 1977 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actress in a Musical (Joan Copeland)
Nominee: Four 2009 Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical
Nominee: Three 2009 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Revival of a Musical

Details
Summary
History
Pal Joey opened at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York on December 25, 1940, starring Gene Kelly and Vivienne Segal. Though some reviewers criticized the show for not following established musical comedy traditions, most critics raved, including the New York Herald Tribune, which called it “an outstanding musicomedy.” The show ran for 374 performances, a total surpassed in 1952 when a Broadway revival featuring Harold Lang and Vivienne Segal played 542 performances – the longest run of any Rodgers & Hart show.
For a more detailed history of Pal Joey, check out the below article in Breaking Character:
Pal Joey: A History of Rodgers & Hart's Bewitching Musical
by Bert Fink
Cast Attributes
Keywords
- Time Period 1940s/WWII
- Setting Chicago, late 1930s.
- Features Period Costumes
- Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
- Cautions
- Alcohol
- Mild Adult Themes
Media
“Still bewitches after all these years!” – Hollywood Reporter, 1995
“Pal Joey must be everybody's favorite musical.” – The Wall Street Journal
“Pal Joey is a treasure, with Rodgers & Hart in peak form.” – The New York Times
“The masterpiece of the long collaboration between composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz Hart.” – Newsweek
Videos
Pal Joey - Film Trailer (1957)
Pal Joey - Opening Night 2011
Photos
Image: 2008 Roundabout Theatre Company Production (Joan Marcus)
Image: 2023 New York City Center Production (Joan Marcus)
Image: 2023 New York City Center Production (Joan Marcus)
Image: 2023 New York City Center Production (Joan Marcus)
Music
Music Samples
- Musical Style Classic Broadway, Jazz
- Dance Requirements Difficult
- Vocal DemandsModerate
- Orchestra Size Large
- Chorus Size Medium
Licensing & Materials
- Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.