Anything Goes - WikiHQ

Anything Goes is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The original book was a collaborative effort by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse, revised considerably by the team of Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The story concerns madcap antics aboard an ocean liner bound from New York to London. Billy Crocker is a stowaway in love with heiress Hope Harcourt, who is engaged to Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. Nightclub singer Reno Sweeney and Public Enemy Number 13, "Moonface" Martin, aid Billy in his quest to win Hope. Songs introduced that later became pop and jazz standards are "Anything Goes", "You're the Top", "All Through the Night", and "I Get a Kick Out of You".

Since its November 21, 1934 debut at the Alvin Theatre (now known as the Neil Simon Theatre) on Broadway, the musical has been revived several times in the United States and Britain. It has been adapted for film three times (in 1936, 1956 and a filmed version of a stage production in 2021), and adapted for television also three times (in 1950, 1954 and 1962). The musical has long been a popular choice for school and community productions.

History

The original idea for a musical set on board an ocean liner came from producer Vinton Freedley, who was living on a boat, having left the US to avoid his creditors. He selected the writing team, P. G. Wodehouse and Guy Bolton, and the star, Ethel Merman. The first draft of the show was called Crazy Week, which became Hard to Get, and finally Anything Goes. The original plot involved a bomb threat, a shipwreck, and human trafficking on a desert island, but, just a few weeks before the show was due to open, a fire on board the passenger ship SS Morro Castle caused the deaths of 138 passengers and crew members. According to one version, Freedley judged that to proceed with a show on a similar subject would be in dubious taste, and he insisted on changes to the script. However, theatre historian Lee Davis maintains that Freedley wanted the script changed because it was "a hopeless mess". Bolton and Wodehouse were in England at the time and were thus no longer available, so Freedley turned to his director, Howard Lindsay, to write a new book.

!Off-Broadway Revival

!First Broadway Revival

!First U.S. National Tour

!First West End Revival

!Second U.S. National Tour

!Second West End Revival

!Second Broadway Revival

!Third U.S. National Tour

!First UK National Tour

!Third London Revival

!Second UK Tour

!1934

!1935

!1962

!1987

!1988

! colspan="2" |1989

!2002

!2011

!2012

!2015

!2021

!2022

!Reno Sweeney

|Ethel Merman

|Jeanne Aubert

|Eileen Rodgers

|Patti LuPone

|Leslie Uggams

|Elaine Paige

|Mitzi Gaynor

|Sally Ann Triplett

|Sutton Foster

|Rachel York

|Debbie Kurup

|Sutton Foster

|Kerry Ellis

!Billy Crocker

|William Gaxton

|Jack Whiting

|Hal Linden

|Howard McGillin

|Rex Smith

|Howard McGillin

|Scott Stevensen

|John Barrowman

|Colin Donnell

|Erich Bergen

|Matt Rawle

|colspan='2' align=center|Samuel Edwards

!Moonface Martin

|Victor Moore

|Sydney Howard

|Mickey Deems

|Bill McCutcheon

|Rip Taylor

|Bernard Cribbins

|Robert Nichols

|Martin Marquez

|Joel Grey

|Fred Applegate

|Hugh Sachs

|Robert Lindsay

|Denis Lawson

!Hope Harcourt

|Bettina Hall

|Adele Dixon

|Barbara Lang

|Kathleen Mahony-Bennett

|Rebecca Baxter

|Ashleigh Sendin

|Donna English

|Mary Stockley

|Laura Osnes

|Alex Finke

|Zoë Rainey

|colspan='2' align=center|Nicole-Lily Baisden

!Lord Evelyn Oakleigh

|Leslie Barrie

|Peter Haddon

|Kenneth Mars

|Anthony Heald

|Paul V. Ames

|Martin Turner

|Richard Sabellico

|Simon Day

|Adam Godley

|Edward Staudenmayer

|Stephen Matthews

|colspan='2' align=center|Haydn Oakley

!Bonnie/Erma

|Vera Dunn

|Betty Kean

|Margery Gray

|Linda Hart

|Susan Terry

|Kathryn Evans

|Dorothy Kiara

|Annette McLauglin

|Jessica Stone

|Joyce Chittick

|Alex Young

|colspan='2' align=center|Carly Mercedes Dyer

!Elisha J. Whitney

|Paul Everton

|Richard Clarke

|Warren Wade

|Rex Everhart

|Gordon Connell

|Harry Towb

|Gordon Connell

|Denis Quilley

|John McMartin

|Dennis Kelly

|Simon Rouse

|Gary Wilmot

|Simon Callow

!Evangeline Harcourt

|May Abbey

|Diana Wilson

|Mildred Chandler

|Anne Francine

|Julie Kurnitz

|Ursula Smith

|Evelyn Page

|Susan Tracy

|Jessica Walter

|Sandra Shipley

|Jane Wymark

|Felicity Kendal

|Bonnie Langford

!Captain

|John C. King

|Henry Thompson

|Neal Patrick

|David Pursley

|Kenneth Kantor

|David Bacon

|Kenneth Kantor

|Paul Grunert

|Walter Charles

|Chuck Wagner

|Bob Harms

|colspan='2' align=center|Clive Hayward

!Purser

|Val Vestoff

|Lance Lister

|D. Bruce Rabbino

|Gerry Vichi

|Dale O'Brien

|David Bexon

|Dale O'Brien

|Robin Soans

|Robert Creighton

|Jeff Brooks

|Adam Dutton

|Martin Callaghan

|Cornelius Clarke

!Bishop Dobson

|Pacie Ripple

|Frank Foster

|Neal Patrick

|Richard Korthaze

|George Riddle

|Brian Ellis

|David Beckett

|Anthony Cable

|William Ryall

|Gary Lindemann

|Rohan Richards

|Marc Akinfolarin

|Eu Jin Hwang

!Ching / Luke

|Richard Wang

|Ley On

|Jeff Siggins

|Stanford Egi

|Alan Muraoka

|Hi Ching

|Marc C. Oka

|Raymond Chai

|Andrew Cao

|Vincent Rodriguez III

|Nick Len

|Alistair So

|Carl Au

!Ling / John

|Charlie Fang

|Ah Woo Sing

|Martin J. Cassidy

|Toshi Toda

|Ronald Yamamoto

|John Shin

|Alan Muraoka

|Vao Chin

|Raymond J. Lee

|Marcus Shane

|Andy Yau

|Jon Chew

|Trev Neo

Notes

Musical numbers

Act I

"Overture" – Orchestra
"I Get a Kick Out of You" (follows "Friendship" in 1962) – Reno Sweeney
"There's No Cure Like Travel (reinstated for 1987, 2011) / Bon Voyage" – Sailor, Girl and Ship's Crew and Company
"All Through the Night" (follows "Blow, Gabriel, Blow" in 1962 and "Be Like The Bluebird" in 1987, 2011) – Billy Crocker, Hope Harcourt and Men
"It's De-Lovely" (added in 1962, follows "Friendship" in 1987, 2011) – Billy Crocker and Hope Harcourt
"Easy to Love" (reinstated for 1987, 2011) – Billy Crocker
"Easy to Love (Reprise)" (added in 1987, 2011) - Hope Harcourt
"I Want to Row on the Crew (The Crew Song)" (added in 1987, 2011) – Elisha J. Whitney
"Sailor's Shanty (There'll Always Be A Lady Fair)" (cut in 1962, precedes "Friendship" in 1987, 2011) – The Foursome
"Where Are the Men?" (only in 1934) – Bonnie and Girls
"Heaven Hop" (only in 1962) - Bonnie and Girls
"You're the Top" (precedes "Bon Voyage" in 1962 while following it in 1987, 2011) – Reno Sweeney and Billy Crocker
"Sailor's Shanty (Reprise)" (only in 1934) - The Foursome
"Friendship" (added in 1962, no Billy in 1987, 2011) – Reno Sweeney, Moonface Martin, and Billy Crocker
"Anything Goes" – Reno Sweeney, the Foursome and Company
"You're the Top (Reprise)" (only in 1934) - Reno Sweeney, Moonface Martin, and Billy Crocker

Act II

"Entr'acte" – Orchestra
"Public Enemy Number One" – Captain, Purser, Company
"Let's Step Out" (only in 1962) – Bonnie and Company
"Let's Misbehave" (only in 1962) – Reno Sweeney and Lord Evelyn Oakleigh
"Blow, Gabriel, Blow" – Reno Sweeney and Company
"Goodbye, Little Dream, Goodbye" (added in 1987, 2011) – Hope Harcourt
"Be Like the Bluebird" – Moonface Martin
"All Through the Night (Reprise)" (cut in 1987, 2011) – Billy Crocker and Hope Harcourt
"I Get a Kick Out of You (Reprise)" (only in 1934) - Reno Sweeney
"The Gypsy in Me" (cut in 1962, sung by Lord Evelyn Oakleigh in 1987, 2011) – Hope Harcourt and Girls
"Take Me Back to Manhattan" (only in 1962) – Reno Sweeney and Angels
"Buddie, Beware" (reinstated for 1987, 2011) – Erma Latour and Sailors
"Finale (You're the Top / Anything Goes)" ("You're the Top" replaced by "I Get a Kick Out of You" in 1987 and "It's De-Lovely" in 2011) – Reno Sweeney and Ensemble

;This chart shows all songs that were performed; placement of the songs varied. Source: Internet Broadway Database listing

{| class="wikitable" width="90%"

! width="30%"| 1934 Original

! width="30%"| 1962 off-Broadway Revival

! width="30%"| 1987 and 2011 Revivals

! colspan="3"| "I Get a Kick Out of You"

| Reno expresses her love to Billy in the bar at the beginning of Scene 1, reprised later near the show's end.

| The song is sung towards the end of Act 1, when Reno realizes she is in love with Evelyn.

| Same as 1934.

! colspan="3"| "(There's No Cure Like Travel) Bon Voyage"

| The Sailors and guests board the ship, ready to depart, singing the "Bon Voyage" section of the song, but with no "There's No Cure Like Travel" portion.

| Same as 1934.

| The complete song is sung. ("There's No Cure Like Travel" was written for 1934, but later cut).

! colspan="3"| "You'd Be So Easy to Love"

| Written for 1934, but cut during rehearsals.

| Here, Billy makes an advance on Hope. Although she turns him away, she secretly agrees with him.

! colspan="3"| "The Crew Song"

| Originally written for a 1914 college show, Paranoia. Elisha J. Whitney prepares for a date with Mrs. Evangeline Harcourt and sings about his Yale days.

! colspan="3"| "Sailor's Chanty (There'll Always Be A Lady Fair)"

| Sung by sailors during a scene change, and later reprised.

| (however, an instrumental version of the song can be heard in the overture)

| Same as 1934, with fewer verses and no reprise.

! colspan="3"| "Heaven Hop"

| Originally written for Paris, Bonnie attracts a group of sailors.

! colspan="3"| "Where Are the Men?"

| Bonnie attracts a group of sailors.

| Replaced by "Heaven Hop".

! colspan="3"| "You're the Top"

| Billy convinces Reno to help him win Hope's heart (where "Friendship" would go in the revivals). There is also an encore of the song, totaling approximately six minutes.

| Sung at the beginning of the show in place of "I Get a Kick Out of You" with fewer verses.

| Sung as a pep-talk from Reno to a discouraged Billy.

! colspan="3"| "Friendship"

| Originally written for DuBarry Was a Lady; Reno, Billy, and Moonface sing about their strong bond

| Similar to 1962, but only Reno and Moonface sing, and some alternate lyrics

! colspan="3"| "It's De-Lovely"

| Originally written for Red, Hot and Blue; Billy and Hope have a romantic moment where "All Through the Night" was in 1934 and "You'd Be So Easy to Love" was in 1987. They are joined by the sailors and women of the ship.

| Sung later in the musical, near the Act I Finale. The sailors and women do not join in, and there is an extended dance sequence in the middle.

! colspan="3"| "Anything Goes"

| Sung by Reno before the Act I Finale when she considers marrying Evelyn.

| Ended Act I and sung about Billy as Snake Eyes, as well as Evelyn. Contained alternate lyrics.

| Similar to 1962, but only about Billy as Snake Eyes, with more alternate lyrics. The 2011 version adds a verse not heard since 1962: "They think he's gangster number one, so they've made him their favorite son, and that goes to show: Anything Goes!"

! colspan="3"| "Act I Finale"

| Whereas the revivals ended the act with "Anything Goes", the 1934 original had a scene where Hope rejects Billy, who is posing as Snake Eyes. Reno and Moonface try to cheer him up with a reprise of "You're the Top", to no avail. Billy is the hero of the ship to everyone but the girl he really wants.

| Replaced by "Anything Goes".

! colspan="3"| "Public Enemy Number One"

| After a marching-style intro by the sailor quartet, the song turns into a mock-hymn to Billy.

| The opening verse is cut, leaving only the hymn, sung a cappella style with no instrumentals, unlike the other versions.

| The introduction is back, sung by the Captain and Purser instead of the sailors, and also shortened a bit.

! colspan="3"| "Let's Step Out"

| Originally written for Fifty Million Frenchmen. Bonnie arouses the passengers after the "Public Enemy Number One" with a dance number.

! colspan="3"| "Let's Misbehave"

| Originally written for Paris; realizing Billy is beyond her reach Reno sets her sights on Evelyn as he realizes he's not in love with Hope.

! colspan="3"| "Blow, Gabriel, Blow"

| Sung by Reno to cheer everyone up after Billy is arrested as an impostor.

| Same as 1934.

| Sung before Billy is arrested, as part of Reno's "sermon".

! colspan="3"| "Goodbye, Little Dream, Goodbye"

| Originally written for Born to Dance, dropped from Red, Hot and Blue, first appears in O Mistress Mine. Sung by Hope after Billy is arrested, in which she realizes she's in love too late. An introductory verse absent in the 1987 revival was reinstated for the 2011 revival.

! colspan="3"| "Be Like the Bluebird"

| Sung by Moonface to cheer up Billy in the brig.

| Same as 1934 (missing a verse), but sung after "All Through the Night".

| Same as 1934 (missing a verse).

! colspan="3"| "All Through the Night"

| Sung by Billy and Hope on deck early in the show, where "It's De-Lovely" and "You'd Be So Easy to Love" went in revivals, with a chorus. Reprised when Hope visits Billy in the brig.

| Same as the 1934 reprise.

| Same as 1962, but with only Billy singing, complete with chorus.

! colspan="3"| "The Gypsy in Me"

| Sung by Hope, letting her wild side out after Reno tells her that Billy will fight for her.

| Now sung by Evelyn to Reno, turning into a comedic song and dance number, wooing her with his wild side, and adding to the plot about his family's disturbing secret.

! colspan="3"| "Take Me Back to Manhattan"

| Originally written for The New Yorkers. Sung by a homesick Reno and her Angels.

! colspan="3"| "Buddie Beware"

| Sung by Reno during a scene change about her problems with men, replaced in later runs with a reprise of "I Get a Kick Out of You".

| Sung by Erma to the sailors who are in love with her. Fewer verses.

! colspan="3"| "Finale"

| Reprises of "You're the Top" and "Anything Goes".

| Same as 1934

| Reprises of "I Get a Kick Out of You" and "Anything Goes". In the 2011 revival, the cast sings reprises of "It's De-Lovely" and "Anything Goes".

Cut songs

"Waltz Down the Aisle" [dropped before the Boston tryout, later reworked by Porter as "Wunderbar" for Kiss Me, Kate] - Sir Evelyn and Hope Harcourt
"What a Joy to Be Young" [dropped before the New York opening; alternate title: "To Be in Love and Young"] - Hope Harcourt
"Kate the Great" [unused] - Reno Sweeney and Angels

Notable productions

Broadway

The official Broadway debut was at the Alvin Theatre on November 21, 1934. It ran for 420 performances, becoming the fourth longest-running musical of the 1930s, despite the impact of the Great Depression on Broadway patrons' disposable income. The opening production was directed by Howard Lindsay with choreography by Robert Alton and sets by Donald Oenslager. Today, the show remains a frequently-revived favorite.

West End

Charles B. Cochran, a British theatrical manager, had bought the London performance rights during the show's Boston run,

1962 Off-Broadway revival to 1987 Broadway revival

The production was revived in an Off-Broadway production in 1962, opening on May 15, 1962, at the Orpheum Theatre. It was directed by Lawrence Kasha with a cast that included Hal Linden as Billy Crocker, Kenneth Mars as Sir Evelyn, and Eileen Rodgers as Reno Sweeney. For this revival, the script was revised to incorporate several of the changes from the movie versions. Most changes revolved around the previously minor character Bonnie. This revision was also the first stage version of Anything Goes to incorporate several songs from other Porter shows: "Take Me Back to Manhattan" from The New Yorkers, 1930, "It's De-Lovely" from Red, Hot and Blue, 1936, “Friendship" from Du Barry Was a Lady, 1939, “Heaven Hop” and "Let's Misbehave" from Paris, 1928, and “Let’s Step Out” from Fifty Million Frenchmen, 1929.

For the 1987 Broadway revival, John Weidman and Timothy Crouse (Russel's son) updated the book and re-ordered the musical numbers, using Cole Porter songs from other Porter shows, a practice which the composer often engaged in. This revival was rescored for a 16-piece swing band playing on stage, in the style of early Benny Goodman. This production opened at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, in Lincoln Center, on October 19, 1987, and ran for 784 performances. Directed by Jerry Zaks and choreographed by Michael Smuin, it starred Patti LuPone as Reno Sweeney, Howard McGillin as Billy, Bill McCutcheon as Moonface, and Anthony Heald as Lord Evelyn; Leslie Uggams and Linda Hart were replacement Renos. It was nominated for ten Tony Awards (including nominations for McGillin, LuPone, McCutcheon, and Heald), winning for Best Revival of a Musical, Best Featured Actor (McCutcheon), and Best Choreography. The production also won the Drama Desk Awards for Outstanding Revival of a Musical and Outstanding Actress (for LuPone).

1989 West End revival and Australia

Elaine Paige, a British actress and singer, heard of the success of the 1987 Broadway production and made sure to attend a performance. After seeing the production herself, she was determined to bring it to London. To secure a place in the show's cast, Paige decided it was best she co-produced the show with her then-partner, lyricist Tim Rice. The London production opened in July 1989 at the Prince Edward Theatre. Paige starred as Reno Sweeney (she was replaced later in the run by Louise Gold). The original cast also starred Howard McGillin as Billy Crocker Bernard Cribbins as Moonface, and Kathryn Evans as Erma. The other principals included Ursula Smith, Martin Turner, and Ashleigh Sendin.

Jerry Zaks again directed the production, with scenic and costume design by Tony Walton, lighting by Paul Gallo, and sound by Tony Meola. The musical director was John Owen Edwards and the choreographer Michael Smuin.

The show transferred to Australia the same year and played in both Sydney and Melbourne, starring Geraldine Turner as Reno Sweeney, Peter Whitford as Moonface, Simon Burke as Billy Crocker, Marina Prior as Hope Harcourt, and Maggie Kirkpatrick as Evangeline Harcourt.

2002–2003 Concert, London, and West End revivals

In April 2002, a one-night-only concert performance of the show was performed at the Vivian Beaumont Theater. Patti LuPone played Reno with Howard McGillin as Billy and Boyd Gaines as Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. LuPone and Gaines would later star together in the 2008 Broadway revival of Gypsy. The performance was directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom with music supervision by David Chase and designs by Tony Walton.

The National Theatre revived the musical, which opened at the Olivier Theatre on December 18, 2002, and closed on March 22, 2003. The production then transferred to the West End at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, running from September 26, 2003 (in previews), through August 28, 2004. Directed by Trevor Nunn, it starred Sally Ann Triplett, John Barrowman, and Yao Chin (who is now a TV reporter). A cast recording of this production is available.

2011 Broadway revival

A revival of the 1987 Broadway rewrite opened on April 7, 2011, at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre, produced by the Roundabout Theatre Company. Previews began on March 10, 2011. This production was directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall with musical supervision by Rob Fisher, dance arrangements by David Chase, and designs by Derek McLane, Martin Pakledinaz, and Peter Kaczorowski. This revival retained much of the 1987 orchestrations by Michael Gibson with some additions from arranger Bill Elliott.

The show's opening night cast featured Sutton Foster as Reno Sweeney, Joel Grey as Moonface Martin, Laura Osnes as Hope Harcourt, Jessica Walter as Evangeline Harcourt, Colin Donnell as Billy Crocker, Adam Godley as Sir Evelyn Oakleigh, John McMartin as Elisha Whitney, Jessica Stone as Erma, Robert Creighton as Purser, Andrew Cao as Luke, Raymond J. Lee as John, and Walter Charles as the Captain. The production was received generally very well by the critics and received a total of nine Tony Award nominations and ten Drama Desk Award nominations, including Best Actress in a Musical, Best Director of a Musical, and Best Revival of a Musical. The revival won the Drama Desk Awards and Tony Awards for Best Revival and Best Choreography, and Foster won the Drama Desk and Tony Awards for Best Actress in a Musical.

A cast recording of this production became available as a digital download on August 23, 2011, and it arrived in stores on September 20, 2011.

Stephanie J. Block took over for Sutton Foster as Reno Sweeney in a limited engagement (November 4–23, 2011) while Foster filmed a television pilot. Block permanently assumed the role on March 15, 2012, as Foster left the musical to take a role in a television series.

The production was originally scheduled to run through July 31, 2011, and was initially extended to April 29, 2012. It was extended two more times before closing on July 8, 2012, after 521 regular performances and 32 previews.

2012 U.S. national tour

A national tour in the United States began in October 2012 at the Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio, which was played more than 25 other major cities. Rachel York played Reno Sweeney. Other cast-members included Fred Applegate as Moonface Martin, Erich Bergen as Billy Crocker, Jeff Brooks as Purser, Joyce Chittick as Erma, Alex Finke as Hope Harcourt, Dennis Kelly as Elisha Whitney, Vincent Rodriguez III as Luke, Marcus Shane as John, Sandra Shipley as Mrs. Evangeline Harcourt, Edward Staudenmayer as Sir Evelyn Oakleigh, and Chuck Wagner as the Captain.

2015 U.K. tour

The critically acclaimed Sheffield Theatres production directed by Daniel Evans began a UK and Ireland tour at the New Wimbledon Theatre on January 29, 2015, and was scheduled to visit 32 venues in its nine-month run. The production starred Debbie Kurup as Reno Sweeney and Matt Rawle as Billy Crocker with Hugh Sachs as Moonface Martin and Jane Wymark as Evangeline Harcourt until April 4, 2015, followed by Shaun Williamson and Kate Anthony, respectively, from April 6, 2015. The tour was cut short and ended at the Grand Opera House, Belfast on May 30, 2015.

2015 Australian revival

An Australian revival was announced in September 2014 with the cast led by Caroline O'Connor as Reno Sweeney and featuring Todd McKenney, Alex Rathgeber, Claire Lyon, Wayne Scott Kermond, and Alan Jones. Jones was replaced in the role of the Captain by Gerry Connolly in Melbourne and Brisbane. The revival, directed by Dean Bryant, played in Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney, sequentially, running from June until November.

2021 London revival and tour

A revival directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall, based on the 2011 Broadway production, opened for a limited season at the Barbican Theatre in London on August 4, 2021. The production repurposed the previous Broadway set designs by Derek McLane, sound design by Simon Baker, lighting design by Neil Austin and musical direction/supervision by Stephen Ridley. Previews began on July 23 and, following two extensions, the show closed on November 6, 2021.

Originally set to star Megan Mullally until she withdrew due to injury, Sutton Foster took over as Reno Sweeney in her London theatre debut. It also starred Robert Lindsay as Moonface Martin, Gary Wilmot as Eli Whitney and Felicity Kendal as Mrs. Harcourt. Foster and Kendal departed the production in October, and were replaced by Rachel York and Haydn Gwynne, respectively. The production received rave critical reviews, broke box office records at the Barbican, and received 9 Olivier Award nominations including Best Musical Revival the following year. During its run, the show was recorded for cinema distribution. This version was eventually shown on the Great Performances US television series on May 13, 2022.

After concluding its run at the Barbican, a UK and Ireland tour from April 2022 and a limited return to the Barbican from July 2022 were announced. The new cast featured Kerry Ellis as Reno Sweeney, Denis Lawson as Moonface Martin, Simon Callow as Eli Whitney, and Bonnie Langford as Mrs. Harcourt. Nicole-Lily Baisden, Samuel Edwards, Carly Mercedes Dyer and Hadyn Oakley reprised their performances from the London run.

Regional revivals

A high-profile co-production between Gateway Playhouse (Bellport, New York) and Ogunquit Playhouse starred Andrea McArdle as Reno Sweeney and Sally Struthers as Mrs. Harcourt. The production, which ran in May to June 4, 2016, featured the Derek McLane sets and Martin Pakledinaz costumes that were created for the 2011 Broadway revival, which was produced by the Roundabout Theatre Company. The production was directed by Jayme McDaniel and choreographed by Jason Wise.

In August 2024, there was a revival at The Muny. It starred Jeanna de Waal as Reno, Jay Armstrong Johnson as Billy, Kevin Chamberlin as Martin, George Abud as Lord Evelyn, Kimberly Immanuel as Hope, Adrianna Hicks as Erma, Ann Harada as Evangeline, Lara Teeter as Elisha, and Eric Jordan Young as the Captain. Marcia Milgrom Dodge will direct with choreography by Jared Grimes.

Film versions

In 1936, Paramount Pictures turned Anything Goes into a movie musical. It starred Ethel Merman (the original Reno), with Bing Crosby in the role of Billy Crocker. Other cast members included Ida Lupino, Charles Ruggles, Arthur Treacher, and Grace Bradley. The director was Lewis Milestone. Among those contributing new songs were Hoagy Carmichael, Richard A. Whiting, Leo Robin, and Friedrich Hollaender.

The book was drastically rewritten for a second film version, also by Paramount, released in 1956. This movie again starred Crosby (whose character was renamed), and Donald O'Connor. The female leads were Zizi Jeanmaire and Mitzi Gaynor. The script departed significantly from the original story and was written by Sidney Sheldon. The lesser-known Porter songs were cut, and new songs, written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn, were substituted.

A third version, directed by Ross MacGibbon and Kathleen Marshall, filmed live on stage during a performance of the 2021 London revival, follows the 2011 Broadway revival. This version was eventually shown on US television on PBS' Great Performances on May 13, 2022.

In 1954, Ethel Merman, at the age of forty-six, reprised her role as Reno in a specially adapted live television version of the musical, co-starring Frank Sinatra as the hero, now renamed Harry Dane; Merman's good friend Bert Lahr (who had co-starred with her on Broadway in DuBarry Was a Lady) as Moonface Martin; and Sheree North. This version was broadcast live on February 28, 1954, as an episode of The Colgate Comedy Hour, and has been preserved on kinescope. It used five of the original songs plus several other Porter numbers and retained the shipboard setting, but it had a somewhat different plot. It has been reported that Merman and Sinatra did not get along well. This version was released on DVD in 2011.

In 1962, a Norwegian language television movie adaptation starring Per Asplin and Anita Thallaug aired as part of the NRK series '.

Awards and nominations

1987 Broadway revival

{| class="wikitable" width="95%"

! width="5%"| Year

! width="20%"| Award

! width="45%"| Category

! width="20%"| Nominee

! width="10%"| Result

| rowspan="21" align="center"| 1988

| rowspan="10"| Tony Award

| colspan="2"| Best Revival

| Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical

| Howard McGillin

| Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical

| Patti LuPone

| rowspan="2"| Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical

| Bill McCutcheon

| Anthony Heald

| Best Direction of a Musical

| Jerry Zaks

| Best Choreography

| Michael Smuin

| Best Scenic Design

| rowspan="2"| Tony Walton

| Best Costume Design

| Best Lighting Design

| Paul Gallo

| rowspan="11"| Drama Desk Award

| colspan="2"| Outstanding Revival of a Musical

| Outstanding Actor in a Musical

| Howard McGillin

| Outstanding Actress in a Musical

| Patti LuPone

| rowspan="2"| Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical

| Bill McCutcheon

| Anthony Heald

| Outstanding Director of a Musical

| Jerry Zaks

| Outstanding Choreography

| Michael Smuin

| Outstanding Orchestrations

| Cole Porter

| Outstanding Costume Design

| rowspan="2"| Tony Walton

| Outstanding Set Design

| Outstanding Lighting Design

| Paul Gallo

1989 West End revival

{| class="wikitable" width="95%"

! width="5%"| Year

! width="20%"| Award

! width="45%"| Category

! width="20%"| Nominee

! width="10%"| Result

| align="center"| 1989

| Laurence Olivier Award

| Best Actress in a Musical

| Elaine Paige

2002 London revival

{| class="wikitable" width="95%"

! width="5%"| Year

! width="20%"| Award

! width="45%"| Category

! width="20%"| Nominee

! width="10%"| Result

| align="center"| 2002

| Laurence Olivier Award

| colspan="2"| Outstanding Musical Production

2011 Broadway revival

{| class="wikitable" width="95%"

! width="5%"| Year

! width="20%"| Award

! width="45%"| Category

! width="20%"| Nominee

! width="10%"| Result

| rowspan="28" align="center"| 2011

| rowspan="9"| Tony Award

| colspan="2"| Best Revival of a Musical

| Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical

| Sutton Foster

| Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical

| Adam Godley

| Best Direction of a Musical

| rowspan="2"| Kathleen Marshall

| Best Choreography

| Best Scenic Design

| Derek McLane

| Best Costume Design

| Martin Pakledinaz

| Best Lighting Design

| Peter Kaczorowski

| Best Sound Design

| Brian Ronan

| rowspan="10"| Drama Desk Award

| colspan="2"| Outstanding Revival of a Musical

| Outstanding Actor in a Musical

| Colin Donnell

| Outstanding Actress in a Musical

| Sutton Foster

| Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical

| Adam Godley

| Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical

| Laura Osnes

| Outstanding Director of a Musical

| rowspan="2"| Kathleen Marshall

| Outstanding Choreography

| Outstanding Costume Design

| Martin Pakledinaz

| Outstanding Sound Design

| Brian Ronan

| Outstanding Set Design

| Derek McLane

| rowspan="8"| Outer Critics Circle Award

| colspan="2"| Best Revival of a Musical

| Best Actress in a Musical

| Sutton Foster

| rowspan="3"| Best Featured Actor in a Musical

| Adam Godley

| Colin Donnell

| John McMartin

| Best Featured Actress in a Musical

| Laura Osnes

|Best Direction of a Musical

| rowspan="2"| Kathleen Marshall

| Best Choreography

| Astaire Award

| Best Dancer on Broadway

| Sutton Foster

| align=center|2012

| Grammy Award

| colspan="2"| Best Musical Show Album

2021 London revival

{| class="wikitable" width="95%"

! width="5%"| Year

! width="20%"| Award

! width="45%"| Category

! width="20%"| Nominee

! width="10%"| Result

| rowspan="13" align=center| 2022

| rowspan="9" |Laurence Olivier Award

| colspan="2" |Best Musical Revival

|Best Actor in a Musical

|Robert Lindsay

|Best Actress in a Musical

|Sutton Foster

|Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical

|Gary Wilmot

|Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical

|Carly Mercedes Dyer

|Best Director

|rowspan=2|Kathleen Marshall

|Best Theatre Choreographer

|Best Costume Design

|Jon Morrell

|Best Original Score or New Orchestrations

|David Chase, Bill Elliott and Rob Fisher

| rowspan="4" | WhatsOnStage Award

| colspan="2" | Best Musical Revival

| Best Supporting Actor in a Musical

| Robert Lindsay

| Best Supporting Actress in a Musical

| Carly Mercedes Dyer

| Best Choreography

| Kathleen Marshall

Recordings

There are many popular cast recordings of the show, including:

1935 Original London cast
1936 Studio cast
1950 Studio recording with Mary Martin
1953 Studio cast
1954 Television cast
1956 Film cast
1962 Off Broadway revival cast Hal Linden
1969 London revival cast Marion Montgomery
1987 Broadway revival cast with Patti LuPone and Howard McGillin
1988 Studio cast with Kim Criswell conducted by John McGlinn
1989 Australian revival cast
1989 London revival cast with Elaine Paige
1995 Studio cast with Louise Gold
2003 London revival cast
2011 Broadway revival cast with Sutton Foster

References

Sources

External links

https://anythinggoesmusical.co.uk/home
Tams-Witmark listing for 1987 production
Tams-Witmark listing for 1962 production
Anything Goes 1962 Broadway revival cast recording album on Masterworks Broadway
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