George M!

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George M! Original Broadway Cast Album
George M! (musical)

Music	George M. Cohan
Lyrics	George M. Cohan
Book	Michael Stewart, John Pascal, and Francine Pascal
Productions	Palace Theatre--1968

George M! is a musical with music and lyrics by George M. Cohan and book by Michael Stewart, John Pascal, and Francine Pascal. The play tells the story of George M. Cohan's life in show business with his show-business family, and takes place from the late 1880's to 1937.

1 Synopsis
2 List of Characters
3 Productions
4 Awards and nominations
5 External links
6 See also

[edit] Synopsis

The story is that of George M. Cohan (played by Joel Grey), a singer-dancer and actor, from his early days until his latter years. Cohan also wrote countless songs, as well as musical plays, and was a theatrical producer. The story takes George from working with his parents (Jerry and Ethel) and sister (Josie) in vaudeville as The Four Cohans to his Broadway endeavors. The play contains 24 of Cohan's songs, and showcases Cohan's dancing abilities as well. These are songs such as Give My Regards To Broadway, You're A Grand Old Flag, and Yankee Doodle Dandy.

[edit] List of Characters

George M. Cohan -- Joel Grey
Jerry Cohan (George's father)-- Jerry Dodge
Ethel Levey (George's first wife)-- Jamie Donnelly
Nellie Cohan (George's mother)-- Betty Ann Grove
Agnes Nolan (George's second wife)-- Jill O'Hara
Josie Cohan (George's sister)-- Bernadette Peters
Fay Templeton -- Jacqueline Alloway
Sam Harris -- Harvey Evans

[edit] Productions

George M! opened on Broadway at the Palace Theatre, New York, New York, on April 10, 1968, and ran for 433 performances plus 8 previews, closing on April 26, 1969. Joe Layton was the director and choreographer.

A television special was made based on the musical, broadcast on NBC on September 12, 1970. The premise of the television show was that of having actors assemble for a reading or run-through of a musical based on George M. Cohan's life. They discuss his life and work, and sing some of his songs in rehearsal-style. Joel Grey and Bernadette Peters again played George M. Cohan and his sister, Josie. Jack Cassidy and Nanette Fabray played his parents, and Anita Gillette and Blythe Danner played his first and second wives.