On The Twentieth Century The Musical

Music by Cy Coleman
Book and Lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green

Recommended Resources

Plot Summary & Audition Tip

List of Characters in On The 20th Century

On The 20th Century 1978 Original Broadway Cast Recording

Based on plays by Ben Hecht, Charles MacArthur and Bruce Millholland.

Be careful choosing a song from this show as an audition piece for another of Coleman's shows - the music in On The Twentieth Century has a very different feel from his other compositions and is closer to operetta than jazz. It is, however, often considered to be one of his finest works.

Audition Preparation Suggestions for
On The Twentieth Century

On The Twentieth Century requires four male singers who can also tap dance.

Owen O'Malley (Baritone)

the show's fast-talking, hard drinking, press agent

Letitia Primrose (Mezzo)

a wealthy and frequent rider on the train, a well-meaning, highly religious woman with some strong ideas about how people should behave. Passes bad checks and her mental health is suspect.

Oliver Wells (Baritone)

easily angered, overweight business manager

Bruce Granit (Tenor)

Lily's current boyfriend - an actor

Oscar Jaffee (Baritone)

egotistical producer/director that has dropped into obscurity and desperately needs a new hit

Lily Garland/Mildred (Soprano)

famous tempermental Hollywood star - Oscar's former lover and protegee

Max Jacobs (Non-Singing)

a film producer and suitor of Lily

Agnes

Lily's sturdy maid

Medium-size chorus:

all must sing well, four men should tap dance

On The 20th Century Related Websites

Audition Preparation Materials

List of Songs in On The 20th Century

• Improve your tap dance skills

• I Rise Again
• Veronique
• On The Twentieth Century
• Our Private World
• Repent (Letitia Primrose)
• We've Got It
• She's A Nut
• Legacy
• Never
• Life Is Like A Train
• Together
• Stranded Again
• Mine