Sherry
A musical in 2 Acts, 12 scenes: book and lyrics by James Lipton; music by Laurence Rosenthal: based on the George S. Kaufman-Moss Hart play The Man Who Came to Dinner.
Alvin Theatre, Broadway - Opened 28th March, 1967. (72 performances)
Synopsis
When internationally-famous thirties radio broadcaster and critic Sheridan Whiteside slips and injures his hip outside the Stanley residence in a small town in Ohio, the family have to put him up - and put up with him - over Christmas. Pompous, cunning and waspish, Whiteside completely takes over the house for his broadcasts, encourages the Stanley kids to defy their parents, attracts assorted wacky friends, and receives tons of fan mail and strange gifts, including an Egyptian mummy case.
When his faithful secretary Maggie falls for local reporter and would-be playwright Bert Jefferson, Whiteside pulls out all the stops to block the romance, including using glamorous stage star, Lorraine Sheldon, to divert Bert. It does not work and when to everyone's relief Whiteside eventually leaves, he falls over again on the way out and has to be brought back in.
Musical Numbers
Original Broadway song list
- Turn on Your Radio - Sarah, Maggie, Daisy, Ensemble
- Why Does the Whole Damn World Adore Me? - Sheridan
- Meet Mesalia - Maggie, Bert, Ensemble
- Maybe It's Time for Me - Maggie
- How Can You Kiss Those Good Times Goodbye? - Sheridan, Maggie
- With This Ring - Maggie, Bert, Sheridan, Dr. Bradley
- Sherry - Lorraine, Sheridan
- Alas, Lorraine - Beverly
- Au Revoir - Beverly
- Proposal Duet - Lorraine, Beverly
- Listen Cosette - Lorraine, Cosette
- Christmas Eve Broadcast - Sheridan, Lorraine, Ensemble
- Putty in Your Hands - Lorraine, Ensemble
- Harriet's Pavan - Harriet
- Imagine That - Maggie, Sheridan
- Marry the Girl Myself - Sheridan, Banjo
- The Fred Astaire Affair - Sheridan, Banjo, Ginger, Ensemble
- How Can You Kiss Those Good Times Goodbye? (reprise) - Maggie
- Putty in Your Hands (reprise) - Lorraine, Sheridan, Banjo
- Harriet Sedley - Sheridan, Banjo, Ernest
Cast (in order of appearance):
- Daisy Stanley
- Miss Preen
- John
- Sarah
- Maggie Cutler
- Ernest W. Stanley
- Dr. Bradley
- Sheridan Whiteside
- Harriet Stanley
- Bert Jefferson
- Lorraine Sheldon
- Cosette
- Beverly Carlton
- Westcott
- Billy
- Banjo
- Ginger
Scenes and Settings
The action takes place between December 10th and Christmas Day, 1938, in Mesalia, Ohio.
Act 1
- Scene I: The Stanley Living Room.
- Scene 2: Township of Mesalia.
- Scene 3: Exterior of Stanley Residence.
- Scene 4: The Stanley Residence.
- Scene 5: A Jewelry Shop.
- Scene 6: The Stanley Living Room.
- Scene 7: Mansion House Hotel in Mesalia.
- Scene 8: The Stanley Living Room.
Act 2
- Scene 1: Billy's Tavern.
- Scene 2: The Stanley Solarium.
- Scene 3: The Stanley Library.
- Scene 4: The Stanley Living Room.
Studio recording song list
- Why Does the Whole Damn World Adore Me?
- Whiteside's Prayer
- In the Very Next Moment
- Crockfield
- Maybe It's Time for Me
- How Can You Kiss Those Good Times Goodbye?
- With This Ring
- Sherry!
- Alas, Lorraine/Au Revoir
- Proposal Duet
- I Always Stay at the Ritz
- Christmas Eve
- Putty in Your Hands
- Imagine That
- Preen Beguine
- Marry the Girl Myself
- Putty in Your Hands (Reprise)
- Harriet Sedley
- Au Revoir (Reprise)
- Whiteside's Prayer (Reprise)
- Sherry (Reprise)