Unfortunately, I've never had the experience of seeing a show together with sailors.
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
Did they ever do a stage musical version of "Some Like it Hot"? Not only was the movie itself funny, but Joe E. Brown as the sailor was absolutely hilarious.
The thing that I find interesting about shows with sailors is that most of them are frothy comedies, except for South Pacific.
Audrey, the Phantom Phanatic, who nonetheless would rather be Jean Valjean, who knew how to make lemonade out of lemons.
"Did they ever do a stage musical version of "Some Like it Hot"? Not only was the movie itself funny, but Joe E. Brown as the sailor was absolutely hilarious. The thing that I find interesting about shows with sailors is that most of them are frothy comedies, except for South Pacific."
Yes, Jule Styne (music) and Bob Merrill (lyrics) adapted the film as SUGAR in 1971 or so. But I wouldn't call the Joe E. Brown role (Cyril Ritchard in the musical) a "sailor". He's a millionaire with his own boat, so I think he's more of "yachtsman".
AHLiebross, a random tidbit if you're interested: Pasek and Paul have said they wanted 'Dogfight' to be sort of the anti-'On The Town', and for the opening number to be a twisted take on frothy sailor fun; they talk about it a little at 1:09 of this video.
To actually answer the thread question, probably 'Anything Goes' or, yes, 'On The Town'. I also listen to 'Walk Like A Sailor' from 'Ankles Aweigh' a fair bit :)