Mr. Wonderful (musical)

Updated on Dec 11, 2023

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Productions 1956 Broadway

Lyrics Jerry Bock Larry Holofcener George David Weiss Book Joseph Stein Will Glickman Composers Jerry Bock, George David Weiss Playwrights Joseph Stein, Will Glickman Lyricists Jerry Bock, George David Weiss Similar Joseph Stein plays, Musicals

Mr. Wonderful is a musical with a book by Joseph Stein and Will Glickman, and music and lyrics by Jerry Bock, Larry Holofcener, and George David Weiss.

Written specifically to showcase the talents of Sammy Davis, Jr., the thin plot, focusing on entertainer Charlie Welch's show business struggles, primarily served as a springboard for an extended version of Davis's Las Vegas nightclub act.

The Broadway production, staged by Jack Donohue, opened on March 22, 1956 at The Broadway Theatre, where it ran for 383 performances. In addition to Davis, the cast included his father Sammy Sr. and uncle Will (who together with Davis had performed as the Will Mastin Trio), Jack Carter, Chita Rivera, Malcolm Lee Beggs, and Marilyn Cooper.

Song list

Act I

1617 Broadway - Rita Romano, Hal and Ensemble

Without You, I'm Nothing - Fred Campbell and Lil Campbell

Jaques D'Iraq - Charlie Welch, Uncle, Dad and Ensemble

Ethel, Baby - Ethel Pearson and Charlie Welch

Mr. Wonderful - Ethel Pearson

Charlie Welch - Fred Campbell

Big Time (Added after opening) - Charlie Welch

Charlie Welch (Reprise) - Fred Campbell and Ensemble

Talk to Him - Lil Campbell and Ethel Pearson

Too Close for Comfort - Charlie Welch

Without You, I'm Nothing (Reprise) - Fred Campbell and Charlie Welch

Sing, You Sinners (From Honey film)

Lyrics By W. Franke Harling and Music By Sam Coslow

Daddy, Uncle, and Me

Music and Lyrics By Sid Kuller and Lyn Murray

Because of You

Lyrics By Arthur Hammerstein and Music By Dudley Wilkinson

That Old Black Magic (From Star Spangled Rhythm film)

Lyrics By Johnny Mercer and Music By Harold Arlen

The Birth of the Blues (From George White's Scandals of 1926)

Lyrics By Buddy DeSylva and Lew Brown with Music By Ray Henderson

It's All Right with Me (From Can-Can)

Music and Lyrics By Cole Porter

Act II

I'm Available - Rita's Audition

There - Charlie Welch

Miami - Lil Campbell and Ensemble

I've Been Too Busy - Ethel Pearson, Fred Campbell, Lil Campbell and Charlie Welch

Mr. Wonderful (Reprise) - Ethel Pearson

Sing, You Sinners

Daddy, Uncle and Me

Because of You

That Old Black Magic

Birth of the Blues

It's All Right With Me

Dearest (You're the Nearest to My Heart)

Lyrics By Benny Davis and Music By Harry Akst)

Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away) (From Show Girl)

Lyrics By Ira Gershwin and Gus Kahn with Music By George Gershwin

Finale: Mr. Wonderful - Entire Company

References

Mr. Wonderful (musical) Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA