Finian's Rainbow Revival 1955

Ages: 6+
Opened: May 18, 1955

Finian's Rainbow - 1955 - Broadway History , Info & More

City Center
131 W. 55th St. New York, NY

The show had its Broadway premiere in 1947, which ran for 725 performances and won three Tony Awards, including one for star David Wayne and one for legendary choreographer Michael Kidd who made his Broadway debut with the show. One of the first of the socially conscious postwar musicals, Finian's Rainbow is unusual in that it deals in a satirical way with issues of class, race, and economics, most specifically in the character of a bigoted Southern senator who is accidentally turned black. It was also notable in its time for featuring an integrated cast at a time when most shows did not and for featuring a mute character who expresses herself solely through dance. The musical was revived in 1955 at City Center and in 1960 at Broadway's 46th Street Theatre.

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Theatre Wesleyan Presents BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL This Month
by A.A. Cristi - Apr 3, 2023

Theatre Wesleyan will present Bat Boy: The Musical at the Thad Smotherman Theatre at Texas Wesleyan University (1205 Binkley Street, 76105) for one weekend only, April 20-23. 

BWW Review: DAMN YANKEES is a Winner at Shaw Festival
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Americana and the Golden Age of the Broadway musical has happily landed at the Shaw Festival in their knock it out of the park production of DAMN YANKEES. After years without a staged musical at the Festival Theatre and repeated cancellations of it's production of GYPSY (thanks Covid!), the magic of the American musical comedy can be seen once again.

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TCM To Pay Tribute To Musicals In June Programming Special 'Mad About Musicals!'
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Theatre Wesleyan to present 75th Anniversary Production of 'OKLAHOMA!' at the Scott Theatre
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The Texas Wesleyan University Department of Theatre's production of 'OKLAHOMA!' will be performed at the W. E. Scott Theatre for one weekend only, April 19-22, 2018.

Patrick Cassidy and Andrea McArdle Sign on for HAMMERSTEIN IN HOLLYWOOD Benefit at Bucks County Playhouse
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Goodspeed Musicals and Cleveland Public Library Home to Rare Collection of Live Musical Recordings
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STAGE TUBE: On This Day for 5/18/16- FINIAN'S RAINBOW
by Nicole Rosky - May 18, 2016

Today in 1955, Finian's Rainbow opened at City Center, where it ran for 15 performances. Finian's Rainbow is a musical with a book by E.Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy, lyrics by Harburg, and music by Burton Lane. The 1947 Broadway production ran for 725 performances. Finian moves to the southern United States (the fictional state of Missitucky is a humorous combination of Mississippi and Kentucky) from Ireland with his daughter Sharon, to bury a stolen pot of gold near Fort Knox, in the mistaken belief that it will grow. A leprechaun follows them, desperate to recover his treasure before the loss of it turns him permanently human. Complications arise when a bigoted and corrupt U.S. Senator gets involved, and when wishes are made inadvertently over the hidden crock.

Wow, Wow, Wow Fellas! Meet the Creative Team of Broadway-Bound HELLO, DOLLY!
by Nicole Rosky - Jan 19, 2016

As BroadwayWorld reported this morning, Bette Midler will indeed return to Broadway in one of the most cherished shows in musical theater history when she takes on the role of Dolly Gallagher Levi in Michael Stewart's (book) and Jerry Herman's (music and lyrics) masterpiece, Hello, Dolly!. Directed by four-time Tony Award® winner Jerry Zaks, Hello, Dolly! will begin performances on Broadway on March 13, 2017, with an official opening night of April 20, 2017. Rehearsals begin one year from today. This new production of Hello, Dolly!, the first new production of this classic musical to appear on Broadway since it opened more than fifty years ago, will have at its helm Jerry Zaks as its director, and will feature choreography by Tony Award-winner Warren Carlyle. The new Dolly! will pay tribute to the original work of legendary director/choreographer Gower Champion, which has been hailed both then and now as one of the greatest stagings in musical theater history. Below, reacquaint yourself with the creative team, old and new!

STAGE TUBE: On This Day for 5/18/15- FINIAN'S RAINBOW
by Nicole Rosky - May 18, 2015

Today in 1955, Finian's Rainbow opened at City Center, where it ran for 15 performances. Finian's Rainbow is a musical with a book by E.Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy, lyrics by Harburg, and music by Burton Lane. The 1947 Broadway production ran for 725 performances. Finian moves to the southern United States (the fictional state of Missitucky is a humorous combination of Mississippi and Kentucky) from Ireland with his daughter Sharon, to bury a stolen pot of gold near Fort Knox, in the mistaken belief that it will grow. A leprechaun follows them, desperate to recover his treasure before the loss of it turns him permanently human. Complications arise when a bigoted and corrupt U.S. Senator gets involved, and when wishes are made inadvertently over the hidden crock.

Photo Flashback: A Fond Farewell - Remembering The Stars We Lost in 2014
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Broadway fans had plenty of reasons to celebrate this year, with dozens of shows having opened since January, hundreds of actors having made their debuts, and many more having returned to the stage for critically acclaimed performances. Not all news was good though, as we also suffered a loss of an incredible amount of talent. Below, BroadwayWorld sends a fond farewell to those who passed away in 2014.

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by - May 18, 2014

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STAGE TUBE: On This Day 5/18- FINIAN'S RAINBOW
by Nicole Rosky - May 18, 2014

Today in 1955, Finian's Rainbow opened at City Center, where it ran for 15 performances. Finian's Rainbow is a musical with a book by E.Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy, lyrics by Harburg, and music by Burton Lane. The 1947 Broadway production ran for 725 performances. Finian moves to the southern United States (the fictional state of Missitucky is a humorous combination of Mississippi and Kentucky) from Ireland with his daughter Sharon, to bury a stolen pot of gold near Fort Knox, in the mistaken belief that it will grow. A leprechaun follows them, desperate to recover his treasure before the loss of it turns him permanently human. Complications arise when a bigoted and corrupt U.S. Senator gets involved, and when wishes are made inadvertently over the hidden crock.

Goodspeed's Red Sox Edition of DAMN YANKEES Opens Tonight
by BWW News Desk - Apr 30, 2014

Goodspeed Musicals kicks off its 2014 season at the Goodspeed Opera House with the home run hit Damn Yankees. Goodspeed brings a unique New England flavor to its production, setting it in 1955 Boston and pitting the storied Yanks against the beloved Boston Red Sox. This ace musical comedy runs now through June 21 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn.

David Beach, James Judy, Lora Lee Gayer & More to Star in Goodspeed's Red Sox Edition of DAMN YANKEES; Cast Confirmed
by Tyler Peterson - Mar 5, 2014

Goodspeed Musicals kicks off its 2014 season at the Goodspeed Opera House with the home run hit Damn Yankees. Goodspeed brings a unique New England flavor to its production, setting it in 1955 Boston and pitting the storied Yanks against the beloved Boston Red Sox. This ace musical comedy will run from April 11 - June 21 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. Damn Yankees will be sponsored by Dr. and Mrs. David F. Frankel and Bank of America.

STAGE TUBE: On This Day 5/18- FINIAN'S RAINBOW
by Nicole Rosky - May 18, 2013

Today in 1955, Finian's Rainbow opened at City Center, where it ran for 15 performances. Finian's Rainbow is a musical with a book by E.Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy, lyrics by Harburg, and music by Burton Lane. The 1947 Broadway production ran for 725 performances. Finian moves to the southern United States (the fictional state of Missitucky is a humorous combination of Mississippi and Kentucky) from Ireland with his daughter Sharon, to bury a stolen pot of gold near Fort Knox, in the mistaken belief that it will grow. A leprechaun follows them, desperate to recover his treasure before the loss of it turns him permanently human. Complications arise when a bigoted and corrupt U.S. Senator gets involved, and when wishes are made inadvertently over the hidden crock.

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STAGE TUBE: On This Day 5/18- FINIAN'S RAINBOW
by Nicole Rosky - May 18, 2012

Today in 1955, Finian's Rainbow opened at City Center, where it ran for 15 performances. Finian's Rainbow is a musical with a book by E.Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy, lyrics by Harburg, and music by Burton Lane. The 1947 Broadway production ran for 725 performances. Finian moves to the southern United States (the fictional state of Missitucky is a humorous combination of Mississippi and Kentucky) from Ireland with his daughter Sharon, to bury a stolen pot of gold near Fort Knox, in the mistaken belief that it will grow. A leprechaun follows them, desperate to recover his treasure before the loss of it turns him permanently human. Complications arise when a bigoted and corrupt U.S. Senator gets involved, and when wishes are made inadvertently over the hidden crock.

PIPE DREAM at City Center Encores! Closes
by BWW News Desk - Apr 1, 2012

Laura Osnes stars as Suzy in the New York City Center Encores! production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Pipe Dream running through April 1. Pipe Dream is directed by Marc Bruni with music direction by Rob Berman and choreography by Kelli Barclay, and plays for seven performances at New York City Center, West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues. The Encores! presentation marks the first time the musical will be seen on the New York stage since the original production closed in June 1956.

Full Cast Announced for Encores! PIPE DREAM
by Nicole Rosky - Mar 13, 2012

Casting is complete for Rodgers and Hammerstein's Pipe Dream, the second Encores! production of the 2011-12 season, running March 28 - April 1. Pipe Dream will be directed by Marc Bruni with music direction by Rob Berman and choreography by Kelli Barclay. It will play for seven performances at New York City Center, West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues.

Tom Wopat and Will Chase Join Laura Osnes in Encores! PIPE DREAM!
by Nicole Rosky - Feb 9, 2012

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Full Cast Announced for Encores' MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG!
by Nicole Rosky - Jan 18, 2012

Casting has been completed for New York City Center's upcoming Encores! production of Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along, the first New York City Center Encores! production of the season. Merrily We Roll Along, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth, will be directed by James Lapine with music direction by Rob Berman and musical staging by Dan Knechtges. Merrily has been extended for a two-week run and will play for 15 performances, February 8-19, 2012, at New York City Center, 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues.

Finian's Rainbow FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

This Time of the Year
How Are Things in Glocca Morra?
Look to the Rainbow
Old Devil Moon
Something Sort of Grandish
If This Isn't Love
Necessity
That Great Come-and-Get-It Day
When the Idle Poor Become the Idle Rich
Dance o' the Golden Crock
The Begat
When I'm Not Near the Girl I Love
Rain Dance Ballet
Finian's Rainbow has had 15 productions including Broadway which opened in 1947, Broadway which opened in 1947, West End which opened in 1947, Broadway which opened in 1955, Broadway which opened in 1955, Broadway which opened in 1960, Broadway which opened in 1960, Regional (US) which opened in 1997, New York which opened in 1999, US Tour which opened in 1999, New York which opened in 2003, Off-Broadway which opened in 2004, Off-Broadway which opened in 2004, Broadway which opened in 2009 and Off-Broadway which opened in 2016.

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