A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (musical)
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A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a musical with a book by George Abbott and Betty Smith, lyrics by Dorothy Fields, and music by Arthur Schwartz.
Based on Smith's autobiographical novel of the same name, it tells the tale of the working class Nolan clan at the turn of the 20th century. Father Johnny is an optimistic but undependable singing waiter who spends his paycheck in the neighborhood saloon, his hard-working wife Katie is a disappointed realist weary from years of broken promises, daughter Francie idolizes her father, and Aunt Cissy is the victim of a string of romantic misadventures with common-law husbands, each of which she insists on calling Harry after her first lover.
In Smith's book, the plot had unfolded through the eyes of young Francie, whose role was diminished when Shirley Booth was cast as Aunt Cissy, originally a secondary character whose prominence was expanded and tailored to Booth's comedic talents.
After two previews, the Broadway production, directed by Abbott and choreographed by Herbert Ross, opened on April 19, 1951 at the Alvin Theatre, where it ran for 267 performances. In addition to Booth, the cast included Johnny Johnston as Johnny, Marcia Van Dyke as Katie, and Nomi Mitty as Francie. Van Dyke was honored with a Theatre World Award.
Booth's performance proved to be both an asset and detriment to the production, since it was an audience pleaser but detracted from what should have been the story's primary focus, the struggles faced by Johnny and Katie as their marriage slowly crumbles.
Goodspeed Opera House mounted a revised production relegating Aunt Cissy to a supporting role in 2003. An Encores! staging at New York City Center two years later starred Emily Skinner.
A cast recording of the original production is available on a compact disc released by Sony.
[edit] Song list
Act I
- Payday
- Mine Til Monday
- Make the Man Love Me
- I'm Like a New Broom
- Look Who's Dancing
- Make the Man Love Me (Reprise)
- Love is the Reason
- Mine Next Monday
- If You Haven't Got a Sweetheart
- I'll Buy You a Star
Act II
- That's How It Goes
- He Had Refinement
- Growing Pains
- Is That My Prince?
- Halloween
- Don't Be Afraid
- I'm Like a New Broom (Reprise)
- Love Is the Reason (Reprise)
- Look Who's Dancing (Reprise)
- If You Haven't Got a Sweetheart (Reprise)
