CRAZY FOR YOU THE NEW GERSHWIN® MUSICAL Music and Lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin; Book by Ken Ludwig. Coconception by Ken Ludwig and Mike Ockrent. Inspired by material by Guy Bolton and John McGowan. Originally produced on Broadway by Roger Horchow and Elizabeth Williams THE STORY ACT ONE It is backstage at the Zangler Theater in New York City in the 1930s during a performance of the "Zangler Follies." Impresario Bela Zangler is in love with Tess, his Dance Director but since Zangler is married, Tess rejects his advances. Also back stage is Bobby Child, heir to a wealthy banking family, who yearns to be in showbusiness. Bobby talks Zangler into letting him audition on the spot, but the audition is not a success. Outside the theatre, Bobby is accosted by Irene, his wealthy fiancée, whom he doesn't want to marry, then by his mother, who insists that he go to Deadrock, Nevada to foreclose on a property. Bobby escapes the argument by conjuring up the Follies Girls. When he returns to reality, he chooses Deadrock over Irene and hurries off to Grand Central station and for Deadrock. Deadrock is a has-been mining town where the only woman in town is Polly Baker, a feisty postmistress. Her father, Everett, owns the Gaiety Theater that has now gone to seed. Everett has received a letter from New York stating that a banker named Bobby Child has been sent to foreclose on the theatre as the mortgage payments have not been made. Polly vows that if she ever meets this "Bobby Child "she'll do "something ugly". Moments later, Bobby staggers into town, sees Polly and falls instantly in love with her. Polly, beneath her brusque exterior, yearns privately for a man she can love. The towns saloon is owned by Lank Hawkins," a man of vision" who wants to marry Polly and buy Everett's Theatre. Inside the saloon, Polly meets Bobby for the first time, and Bobby declares her love for her. Polly is unimpressed with his Eastern Ways, but Bobby urges her to "have her fling" and teaches her to dance. As they dance Polly falls deeply in love with Bobby. That night, on the stage of the Gaiety Theater, Bobby gets an idea: the theatre can be saved by putting on a show! After Polly is persuaded to join the plan, Bobby introduces himself. " I'm Bobby Child" The name sinks in and Polly slaps him across the face. He's from that bank! This is a trick! Heartbroken , Polly flees in tears, never wanting to see him again . Bobby, too, is heartbroken, when suddenly, spying a trunk of costumes, he gets another idea: "Bela Zangler!" Three days later, ten glamorous Follies Girls arrive in Deadrock to the amazement of the men folk. Along with the girls is Bobby masquerading as Zangler complete with beard, cane and Hungarian accent. He's been sent, he says, by Bobby Child. Polly and Everett readily agree to let the great impresario put on a show to save the theatre. Everyone rushes off to the first rehearsal. Two weeks later, preparation for the show are in full swing. Although the men-folk are still disastrous performers. "Zangler" (i.e. Bobby) changes all that in the course of a single rehearsal. Irene now shows up, looking for Bobby She recognises him and threatens to expose him to Polly if he doesn't promise to return with her to New York. When Irene leaves, "Zangler" tries to persuade Polly to give Bobby a chance; but Polly confesses that she's madly in love with him - "Zangler". Bobby is horrified. This is not what he was planning. The following evening, the cast is busily preparing for the show. Lank is desperate to stop the show, and Irene is desperate to find Bobby, who's been hiding from her all day. When people are spotted coming from the station, the cast assembles excitedly on the street. Alas, the only arrivals are an English couple. These are the Fodors who are writing a guide book to the American West. They come to review Lank's saloon. Lank, triumphant, leads the Fodors gleefully into his establishment. The company has now hit rock bottom, and "Zangler" is the most desolate of all. He apologies for failing the town, but as he starts to leave, Polly speaks up. So what if they didn't sell any tickets? Since "Zangler" come along,
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