A CONCORD THEATRICALS TITLE

Golden Boy

Full-Length Musical, Drama  /  4w, 17m

Book by William Gibson and Clifford Odets
Music by Charles Strouse
Lyrics by Lee Adams

Adapted from Clifford Odets' classic drama, Golden Boy is the tale of Joe Wellington, a young black man from Harlem trying to rise up out of the ghetto to fame in the brutal world of boxing.

Golden Boy

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    4w, 17m
  • Duration
    Duration
    120 minutes (2 hours)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Adaptations (Stage & Screen)
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult
Accolades
Accolades
  • Nominee: Four 1965 Tony Awards, including Best Musical

Details

Summary
A rousing musical play adapted from Clifford Odets' classic drama, beginning and ending with the rhythmic, breathing exhaust of the prizefight ring. Sammy Davis had the lead role of Joe Wellington, a young black man from Harlem trying to rise up out of the ghetto to fame in the brutal world of boxing. But he makes one mistake: falling in love with his manager's girl, Lorna, a seen-it-all white woman whom he loves not wisely but all too well. Songs in this outstanding score include "I Wanna Be With You," "This Is the Life," "Night Song" and "Colorful."
History
Golden Boy premiered on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre on October 20, 1964. Directed by Arthur Penn, the production starred Sammy Davis, Jr. and featured Paula Wayne and Billy Daniels.
Keywords
Performing Groups

JOE
LORNA MOON 
TOM MOODY
ROXY GOTTLIEB
TOKIO
RONNIE
WELLINGTON
ANNA
FRANK
EDDIE SATIN 
LOPEZ

  • Time Period 1960s
  • Setting New York City. 1960-1964.
  • Features Period Costumes
  • Duration 120 minutes (2 hours)
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

“A knockout, not only for the whirling excitement of its action but for the powerful punch in its comment.” – The New York Times

“Mr. Strouse's music is still in your head when you wake up the next morning, and you feel the urgent need to go buy a recording of Golden Boy. Musical aficionados are always looking to fall in love with an unfamiliar show; this production provides a genuinely golden opportunity to fall hard.” – The New York Times, Read More

“From the dazzling opening, ‘Workout,’ to the acerbic ‘Don't Forget 127th Street,’ the tour de force ‘Can't You See It?,’ and the haunting ‘I Want to Be With You,’ the Charles Strouse music and Lee Adams lyrics packed a punch.” – Backstage

Videos

  • Sammy discusses GOLDEN BOY Overture youtube thumbnail

    Sammy discusses GOLDEN BOY Overture

  • Sammy Davis and Charles Strouse- "Stick Around" youtube thumbnail

    Sammy Davis and Charles Strouse- "Stick Around"

  • I Want to Be With You/ Lorna's Here Jazz@LCT youtube thumbnail

    I Want to Be With You/ Lorna's Here Jazz@LCT

  • Alan H. Green - "Night Song" youtube thumbnail

    Alan H. Green - "Night Song"

  • Charles Strouse discusses GOLDEN BOY youtube thumbnail

    Charles Strouse discusses GOLDEN BOY

More videos +

Music

Song Samples

Workout
Night Song
Everything's Great
Gimme Some
Stick Around
Don't Forget 127th Street
Lorna's Here
This is the Life
Golden Boy
While the City Sleeps
Colorful
I Want to be With You
Can't You See It?
No More
Finale / The Fight
  • Musical Style Classic Broadway
  • Orchestra Size Large

Licensing & Materials

  • Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.

Music Rentals

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1 Piano-Conductor
21 Vocal Books

1 Reed 1
1 Reed 2
1 Reed 3
1 Reed 4
1 Trumpet 1 & 2
1 Trumpet 3
1 Trombone 1
1 Trombone 2
1 Percussion
Drums
3 Violin ABC
1 Viola
1 Cello
1 Bass
1 Piano-Conductor
21 Vocal Books
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Authors

Author

William Gibson

Charles Strouse

Charles Strouse

Charles Strouse is one of America's most successful musical theatre composers. His first Broadway musical, Bye Bye Birdie (1960), written with his long-time collaborator Lee Adams, won him a Tony Award and the London Critics Best Foreign Musical Award. In 1970, Applause, star ...

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Clifford Odets

Clifford Odets

Clifford Odets (1906-63) was born in Philadelphia and reared in New York City. In 1931 he was a founder of the Group Theatre in New York City. Most of his plays were produced by the Group Theatre, including Waiting For Lefty (1935), a one-act play that established his fame; A ...

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Lee Adams

Lee Adams

Lee Adams began his professional career as a journalist, working as a newspaper reporter, magazine writer and editor, and radio writer and interviewer. But his life took a sudden turn when his “hobby” of lyric writing led to Bye, Bye Birdie in 1960. This unheralded little Bro ...

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