On the Twentieth Century Revival
Two hours and 30 minutes, with one intermission
On the Twentieth Century - 2015 Broadway History , Info & More
Todd Haimes Theatre (Broadway)
229 W. 42nd St. New York, NY
It's nonstop laughs aboard the Twentieth Century, a luxury train traveling from Chicago to New York City. Luck, love and mischief collide when the bankrupt theater producer Oscar Jaffee (Golden Globe winner Peter Gallagher) embarks on a madcap mission to cajole glamorous Hollywood starlet Lily Garland (Tony and Emmy Award winner Kristin Chenoweth) into playing the lead in his new, non-existent epic drama. But is the train ride long enough to reignite the spark between these former lovers, create a play from scratch, and find the money to get it all the way to Broadway?
On the Twentieth Century - 2015 - Broadway Cast
PREVIEW On the Twentieth Century - 2015 - Broadway
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FEATURED REVIEWS FOR On the Twentieth Century
'On the Twentieth Century' review: Revival glitters
9 / 10
Ellis actually has him pump iron with the tiny actress as a barbell. And, over and over, Carlyle turns the four train porters into a marvelous tap-happy quartet that recreates the sound -- and the almost preposterous pleasure -- of the long-lost cross-country carriage trade. Lovely, all lovely.
'On the Twentieth Century': Theater Review
7 / 10
Lily is a role that calls for a true coloratura, and Chenoweth's voice remains a rare instrument, effortlessly scaling the trilling peaks while the actress scampers mischievously through every bit of campy, self-worshipping comic business in the book. Gallagher proves to be almost her match by hamming up a storm as a character perhaps even more flamboyant than Lily, even if the supposedly deep-rooted connection between them is unconvincing. (There's no evidence of the recent vocal strain that caused him to miss a stretch of previews.) However, the performances remain wedded to a broad slap-shtick mode that gets very old very fast, much like the antique sight gag of a cartwheeling granny. And while both Lily's and Oscar's songs are virtuoso comedy turns, the problem is they're seldom fun; at least not for long.... People sitting near me were roaring with laughter, so the show's cornball humor was obviously working for some. But while I was as ready as the next guy to be taken on a delirious musical journey, the train never leaves the station.
Category
On the Twentieth Century FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Saddle Up the Horse
On the Twentieth Century
I Rise Again
Lily Garland [i]
Indian Maiden's Lament
Veronique
I Have Written a Play
Together
Never
Our Private World
Repent
Mine
I've Got It All
Entr'acte
Five Zeros
Sextet
She's a Nut
Max Jacobs
Babette
The Legacy
Lily, Oscar
This Is the Day
Grand Central Station
Lucky Lily
Happy Birthday, Oscar Jaffe
This Biz Is the Lowest Biz There Is
Dear John Ringling
Lily Garland [ii]
On the Twentieth Century History
Other Productions of On the Twentieth Century
| 1978 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
| 1979 | US Tour |
National Tour US Tour |
| 1980 | West End |
London Production West End |
| 1985 | Off-Off-Broadway |
Off-Off-Broadway Revival Off-Off-Broadway |
| 2005 | Broadway |
Actors’ Fund Concert Broadway |
| 2015 | Broadway |
Roundabout Theatre Broadway Revival Broadway |
On the Twentieth Century - 2015 Broadway Awards and Nominations
| Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Kristin Chenoweth |
| 2015 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Director of a Musical | Warren Carlyle |
| 2015 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Andy Karl |
| 2015 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | On the Twentieth Century |
| 2015 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Kristin Chenoweth |
| 2015 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Andy Karl |
| 2015 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical | On the Twentieth Century |
| 2015 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Peter Gallagher |
| 2015 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Kristin Chenoweth |
| 2015 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Choreography | Warren Carlyle |
| 2015 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Costume Design | William Ivey Long |
| 2015 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Director of a Musical | Scott Ellis |
| 2015 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Andy Karl |
| 2015 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Mary Louise Wilson |
| 2015 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | On the Twentieth Century |
| 2015 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Set Design | David Rockwell |
| 2015 | Tony Awards | Best Costume Design of a Musical | William Ivey Long |
| 2015 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical | Andy Karl |
| 2015 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical | Kristin Chenoweth |
| 2015 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Musical | On the Twentieth Century |
| 2015 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Musical | Roundabout Theatre Company |
| 2015 | Tony Awards | Best Scenic Design of a Musical | David Rockwell |
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