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The Ritz

Full-Length Play, Comedy  /  3w, 12m

Terrence McNally

Set in a gay bathhouse in the mid-1970s, Terrence McNally's door-slamming farce features hilarious misunderstandings and mishaps among towel-clad men, bumbling detectives and Googie Gomez, an over-the-top, would-be Bette Midler looking for her big break.

The Ritz

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    3w, 12m
  • Duration
    Duration
    120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Farce
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult
Accolades
Accolades
  • Nominee: Two 1975 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding New American Play
    Winner! 1975 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play (Rita Moreno)

Details

Summary
Terrence McNally’s hilarious farce is set in a gay bathhouse in the mid-1970s. When Gaetano Proclo, a hapless, middle-aged, overweight, very married man takes it on the lam from his mafioso brother-in-law, Carmine Vespucci, he ducks into “The Ritz” – the last place anyone would look for him. What he encounters there sets the scene for an old-fashioned, door-slamming farce, albeit with towel-clad men, bumbling detectives and Googie Gomez, an over-the-top, would-be Bette Midler looking for her big break.
History
The Ritz premiered on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre on January 20, 1975. Directed by Robert Drivas, the production featured F. Murray Abraham, Rita Moreno, Jerry Stiller and Jack Weston. Moreno won the 1975 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play. On October 11, 2007, The Ritz returned to Broadway. Directed by Joe Mantello, the revival production featured Kevin Chamberlin, Rosie Perez and Brooks Ashmanskas.
Keywords
Performing Groups

GAETANO PROCLO – Early 40s, balding and stout.
CHRIS – Early 30s with a big, open face and features.
MICHAEL BRICK – Mid-20s, very rugged and very handsome.
CARMINE VESPUCCI – 40s, balding and stout.
CLAUDE PERKINS – 40s and quite lean.
TIGER – Early 20s, wiry and has lots of curly hair.
DUFF – Early 20s, wiry and has lots of curly hair. In fact, he looks a lot like Tiger.
ABE – 50s and stocky.

GOOGIE GOMEZ – 30s and has a sensational figure.
VIVIAN PROCLO – Early 40s and stout.
MAURINE – Mid-40s and very thin.

THE PATRONS – They come in all sizes, shapes and ages.

  • Time Period 1970s
  • Setting A men's bathhouse in NYC. 1975.
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“I laughed a lot... who should ask for anything more?” – The New York Times

“First-rate farce... perfect Broadway entertainment.” – Women's Wear Daily

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: $110 per performance

Scripts

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Authors

Terrence McNally

Terrence McNally

Terrence McNally (1938-2020) was the recipient of the 2019 Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement, the 2019 Dramatist Guild Lifetime Achievement Award, and the 2019 Lucille Lortel Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2018, he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Letters. ...

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