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37-575: After a pre-Broadway try-out at the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia, Wonderful Town premiered on Broadway in 1953, starring Rosalind Russell in the role of Ruth Sherwood, Edie Adams as Eileen Sherwood, and George Gaynes as Robert Baker. It won five Tony Awards , including Best Musical and Best Actress, and spawned three New York City Center productions between 1958 and 1966, the 1955 and 1986 West End production and 2003 Broadway revival. It

74-450: A circle . It has three shuffle steps on the beat, followed by a kick that is slightly ahead of the fourth beat. The conga, a term sometimes mistakenly believed to be derived from the African region of Congo , is both a lyrical and danceable genre, rooted in the music of carnival troupes or comparsas . The conga dance was believed to have been brought over from Africa by enslaved people in

111-408: A food samples man, as well as Mr. Valenti, but has also met Frank Lippencott, a local Walgreens manager who has developed a crush on her. Ruth, however, is left to wonder at her sister's magnetic appeal and her own unique romantic abilities — a talent for repelling men that is so successful that she could write a book entitled "One Hundred Easy Ways to Lose a Man." Eventually, Ruth talks her way into

148-708: A press pass : His boss has read her story about the Brazilian sailors and loved it, and given Ruth a job to take on the following Monday. The Vortex is alive with singing and dancing ("Wrong Note Rag"), and Bob decides it is the perfect moment to let Ruth know how he feels. The curtain closes as Eileen and the guests at the club sing "It's Love" along with everyone in a finale in celebration of Ruth and Bob's newfound affection. "Conquering New York" and "Conversation Piece" both quote Bernstein's piece for solo clarinet and jazz ensemble, " Prelude, Fugue, and Riffs ", premiered by Benny Goodman in 1955. Produced by Robert Fryer ,

185-464: A bogus assignment for Ruth. He sends her off to the Brooklyn Navy Yard to interview a group of Brazilian navy cadets. She quickly realizes that their sole interest is to learn and dance the "Conga!" . The sailors follow Ruth home, where the girls soon find themselves in chaotic confusion, as all the citizens of Christopher Street join the conga line in a finale. Ruth runs into Bob and gives him

222-769: A conga line is performed by the guests in a party scene. The 1955 musical film adaptation of My Sister Eileen features a conga line as a recurring gag. In the 1963 film Billy Liar , a scene at the Locarno Dance Hall in Manchester features the conga line. In 1984 the British band Black Lace reached number ten in the UK charts with the song "Do the Conga". In 1985 the Cuban-American band Miami Sound Machine reached number ten on

259-486: A conga-playing Argentine student. Spanish-Catalan bandleader Xavier Cugat , who gave Arnaz his musical start, helped to popularize the dance, but the biggest impact belonged to Arnaz himself. It is prominently featured in the 1941 Deanna Durbin film, It Started With Eve , in which Durbin and Charles Laughton dance the dance together in a nightclub. With its simple march step, the interlinking of dancers circling about in single file, and one-two-three-bump rhythm with

296-621: A life in New York City as a writer (Ruth) and an actress (Eileen). Soon they are living in a basement apartment , recently vacated by Violet. Their landlord is Mr. Appopoulos. Their apartment building is shaken frequently by dynamite from the construction of a subway underneath them and they are disturbed by Violet's returning customers. The sisters are soon stricken with homesickness for "Ohio". The next morning, Ruth and Eileen set out to try their hand at "Conquering New York", only to find defeat and humiliation. Eileen, at least, has gotten food from

333-449: A missing picture that he painted (that was actually stolen and sold for $ 2 by Helen and Wreck for Wreck to stay at the Y) as well as Eileen's arrest that he has threatened to evict them. Eileen discovers that Ruth is also attracted to Bob Baker, and the two of them wish, for a moment, that they had never left home ("Ohio" (reprise)). Eileen is then confronted by the rhythmical Speedy Valenti, owner of

370-480: A piece of her mind, while Eileen is hauled off to jail for causing the riot. In the local jail Eileen finds herself practically running the place, with Officer Lonigan and his brigade of doting Irish police officers at her beck and call. Given her name, they are convinced that she is Irish. They serenade her and are not at all discouraged when she says she is not Irish ("My Darlin' Eileen"). Ruth comes to assure Eileen that she will bail her out as soon as she collects

407-549: A staged concert starring Donna Murphy and Laura Benanti . With direction and choreography by Kathleen Marshall , the production was well received, eventually leading to a full revival. Again directed by Marshall, the 2003 Broadway Revival opened at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on November 23, 2003, and closed on January 30, 2005 after 497 performances. Murphy reprised her role as Ruth, with Jennifer Westfeldt as Eileen and Gregg Edelman as Robert. Brooke Shields took over

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444-428: A student at Trenton Tech, who got by very well only because of his ability with football. Eileen has invited Frank Lippencott, Bob Baker, and Chick Clark, a slimy newspaper scribe whom she has met with the object of furthering Ruth's career, over for potluck supper. Unaware of each other's feelings, both women find themselves attracted to Bob. Soon, all five of them are seated around the cramped apartment trying to fill

481-611: Is a lighter piece than Bernstein's later works, West Side Story and Candide , but none of the songs have become as popular. During the summer of 1935 in Greenwich Village , New York , a tour guide leads a group of sightseers on a tour of " Christopher Street " and its colorful residents. When the tourists have departed, the witty Ruth Sherwood arrives in Greenwich Village with Eileen, her younger sister. The two have just arrived from Columbus, Ohio , determined to forge

518-523: Is thrilled that Bob quit his job and assures the unbelieving Bob that it's love that he feels for Ruth. Bob, faced with the facts, hesitantly realizes the truth that it is love ("It's Love"). The mood at the Vortex turns jazzy ("Ballet At the Village Vortex"). Eileen finds herself with a case of stage fright and she convinces Ruth to join her on stage to sing. Chick arrives to make amends and presents Ruth with

555-540: The Edwin Forrest House . The opening performance was The Red Robe in 1928. A renovation of the theatre was undertaken in 1997, including redecoration and the addition of handicapped-accessible restrooms. Over the years, the Forrest Theatre has been a proving ground for various Broadway plays and musicals, serving as the location for previews and try-outs of these productions. Some of the shows that played at

592-776: The Shaw Festival in Niagara On The Lake , Ontario. In 2012 the Hallé Concerts Society , the Royal Exchange Theatre , Manchester, and The Lowry , Salford Quays , mounted a joint production at the Lowry from 31 March to 21 April, with the Hallé Orchestra conducted by Sir Mark Elder . It then went on to tour the UK until 7 July. The cast included Connie Fisher , Lucy van Gasse and Michael Xavier . The production

629-473: The 1940s - he permitted people to dance congas during elections, but a police permit was required. The conga dance style is more of a march, which is characterized by its distinctive conga drum rhythm. It differs from the Cuban rumba , which uses movements considered " hip " and shows the sensually aggressive attitude of each dancer. Conga music is played with a staccato beat as its base, which gives rhythm to

666-586: The Forrest Theatre has joined with the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts to offer a season of Broadway touring productions. Notes Conga Line The conga line is a novelty line dance that was derived from the Cuban carnival dance of the same name and became popular in the US in the 1930s and 1950s. In order to perform the dance, dancers form a long, processing line, which would usually turn into

703-453: The Forrest prior to moving to Broadway include The Women (1936), Make Mine Manhattan (1948), Along Fifth Avenue (1948), The Liar (1950), Wonderful Town (1953), The Music Man (1957), Funny Girl (1963), The Star-Spangled Girl (1966), Breakfast at Tiffany's (1966), Golden Rainbow (1967), The Wiz (1974), and Chicago (1975). Since the 2007–08 season,

740-412: The Village Vortex (the night club), who arranges for her New York City debut as a singer because her fame has reached the front page of the news. Mr. Appopoulos immediately changes his tune now that one of his tenants has a paying job, and extends their lease. Eileen soon learns that Bob Baker has quit his job as a result of a disagreement with his boss about Ruth's story on the Brazilian sailors. Eileen

777-546: The West Indies, and became a popular street dance in Cuba. The style was appropriated by politicians during the early years of republic in an attempt to appeal to the masses before election. During Gerardo Machado 's dictatorship in Cuba, Havana citizens were forbidden to dance the conga since rival groups would work themselves to high excitement and start street fights. This was not the case when Fulgencio Batista became president in

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814-620: The apartment, looking for Ruth, and Eileen invites him over for dinner as well. The phone rings, and it is Chick Clark, a newspaper editor, whom Eileen met in an elevator, wanting to see Eileen. The upstairs neighbors, Wreck, an out-of-season American football player ("Pass the Football"), and his live-in lover, Helen, ask the girls to hide Wreck while Helen's mother, Mrs. Ella Wade is in town, because Mrs. Wade does not yet know about Wreck. Eileen happily agrees to stow him in their apartment, much to Ruth's hesitation. Wreck describes his lucky history as

851-457: The awkward silence ("Conversation Piece"). Meanwhile, Helen deals with her overbearing and exaggerated mother. Ruth and Bob talk over the quality of her stories, and he advises her to write about what she knows rather than flights of fancy. Both say several wrong things, and he finally tells her off. He soon regrets it as Ruth rushes inside in tears ("A Quiet Girl"). While all this is happening, anxious to be alone with Eileen, Chick Clark creates

888-467: The conga lacked the polyrhythmic sophistication of the son , mambo , or salsa but served to nurture the future receptivity of an international public to the wider gamut of Cuban musical styles. 1940 “Too Many Girls” starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. 1940 “Strike Up The Band” starring Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney In the 1950 Malayan movie entitled Twin Sisters (Kembar?) , in the opening scene,

925-457: The dance resulted in many cultural references in contemporary media. For example, the conga line was a recurring theme in Warner Bros. animated cartoons of the 1940s. This music and dance form has become totally assimilated into Cuba's musical heritage and has been used in many film soundtracks in the US and Mexico . One of the earliest and most successful of 20th-century Cuban musical exports,

962-631: The drummer, forming a line that moves like a snake in an open circle. The line (or the circular chain) would grow longer and the drumming more intense until it finally stopped. The dance has two styles, which is a single line form and partners. The single line is more popular in Cuba. Beginning in the late 1930s, the dance became popular in the United States ; however, in the 1940s, it became very popular due to Hollywood's "Latin" musicals. RKO Pictures ' offerings were particularly influential, notably Too Many Girls (1940), in which Desi Arnaz appeared as

999-624: The final 6 months of the run. The West End premiere opened at The Prince's Theatre on February 25, 1955, running for 207 performances starring Pat Kirkwood as Ruth, Shani Wallis as Eileen, and Sid James as Wreck. The musical was produced by Jack Hylton with Cyril Ornadel as music director. On November 30, 1958, CBS Television broadcast a live special of the musical, with Rosalind Russell (Ruth Sherwood), Jackie McKeever (Eileen Sherwood), Sydney Chaplin (Bob Baker), and Jordan Bentley (the Wreck). In May 2000 City Center Encores! presented

1036-559: The fourth beat strongly marked, the dance was not only attractive but also readily accessible to US and other foreign audiences. The dance started to gain a foothold in the US around 1929, when the original La Conga nightclub opened its doors in Manhattan . It is believed that the La Conga was at Broadway and 51st Street. By 1937, the conga was well known in New York. The widespread popularity of

1073-457: The money from her new job as a promoter for the Village Vortex, a local nightclub. At the club, Ruth digs the rhythm of swing ("Wonderful Town Swing"). Meanwhile, Wreck is awkwardly masquerading as a wealthy art collector to meet the approval of Helen's mother, and Chick is frantically calling Eileen, trying to make things right. Thanks to Bob, Eileen is soon released from jail, and the sisters learn that Mr. Appopoulos has been so scandalized by

1110-407: The movements of the dancers. Conga dancers lift their legs in time with the rhythm of the music, marking each beat with the strong motion of their body. The basic dance steps start from left leg 1-2-3 kick then repeat, opposite. Originally, a band member wearing a drum would venture onto the dance floor and begin zig-zagging around while drumming out the rhythm. Dancers would start joining up behind

1147-415: The music have been made over the years. Forrest Theatre 39°56′55″N 75°09′35″W  /  39.9486°N 75.1596°W  / 39.9486; -75.1596 The Forrest Theatre is a live theatre venue at 1114 Walnut Street Center City area of Philadelphia , Pennsylvania . It has a seating capacity of 1,851 and is managed by The Shubert Organization . The original Forrest Theatre

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1184-681: The offices of a short story magazine, where she meets Bob Baker. Bob likes Ruth, but advises her that she has little chance of success, and tells her flat out what a waste of money and time it was to come to New York City , because he along with many others have done the same thing ("What a Waste"). Undaunted, Ruth leaves three stories with Bob in the hope that he will read them. Meanwhile, Eileen has been eating all of her lunches free at Walgreens, and finds herself infatuated with Frank ("A Little Bit in Love"), and invites him over to dinner so Ruth can have free lunches when she goes to Walgreens, too. Bob arrives at

1221-468: The original production premiered at the Winter Garden Theatre on February 25, 1953, where it ran for 559 performances, closing on July 3, 1954. George Abbott served as director, with choreography by Donald Saddler . The original cast featured Rosalind Russell in the role of Ruth Sherwood, Edie Adams as Eileen Sherwood, and George Gaynes as Robert Baker. Carol Channing replaced Russell for

1258-617: The role of Ruth beginning September 28, 2004. As had happened when Shields was a replacement for Rizzo in the Broadway revival of Grease , the cast album was re-released with Shields' voice replacing Murphy's. A West End revival starring Maureen Lipman opened at the Queen's Theatre in August 1986 and closed March 1987. A Non-Equity National Tour was presented by Music Theatre Associates in 2006 and 2007. Wonderful Town premiered on May 25, 2008 at

1295-412: Was directed by Braham Murray . Mary Zimmerman directed the 2016 Goodman Theatre (Chicago) revival which previewed from September 10 to run September 20 to October 23: the cast included Bri Sudia (Ruth) Lauren Molina (Eileen), and Matt DeCaro (Appopoulos), the sets were designed by Todd Rosenthal . The production was staged with a 1950s - rather than 1930s - setting. An off-West-End production

1332-562: Was on Broad and Sansom Street but Fidelity Trust Company demolished it and replaced it in 1928 with the Fidelity-Philadelphia Trust Company Building (now the Wells Fargo Building). The new theatre was built in 1927 at the cost of $ 2 million, and was designed by architect Herbert J. Krapp ; it was named after the 19th century actor Edwin Forrest , who was born in Philadelphia, and owned and lived in

1369-611: Was presented at Ye Olde Rose and Crown Theatre by All Star Productions in October 2016. In Dec 2016, the Staatsoperette Dresden presents the premiere of a German version (book and lyrics translated by Roman Hinze ) Opera Holland Park mounted a 2021 revival of Wonderful Town headlined by Louise Dearman as Ruth: running July 1–4, the production featured Ako Mitchell as Bob Baker. Though there have been only two major Broadway productions of Wonderful Town , many recordings of

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