70, Girls, 70

Music by John Kander

Lyrics by Fred Ebb

Book by Fred Ebb and Norman L. Martin

Based on the play Breath of Spring by Peter Coke



Opened April 15, 1971

Closed May 15, 1971 (35 performances)



Cast: Hans Conried (Harry), Mildred Natwick (Ida Dodd), Lillian Roth (Gert), Joey Faye (Detective Callahan), Dorothea Freitag (Lorraine), Lillian Hayman (Melba), Henrietta Jacobson (Grandmother), Gil Lamb (Walter), Lucie Lancaster (Eunice), Goldye Shaw (Fritzi), and Coley Worth (Officer Kowalski); Directed by Paul Aaron; Choreographed by Onna White; Musical Direction by Oscar Kosarin; Scenic Design and Lighting Design by Robert Randolph; Costume Design by Jane Greenwood; Produced by Arthur Whitelaw; Played at the Broadhurst Theatre


Songs include: "Old Folks," "Home," "Broadway My Street," "The Caper," "Coffee in a Cardboard Cup," "You and I, Love," "Do We?," "Hit It, Lorraine," "See the Light," "Boom Ditty Boom," "Believe," "Go Visit Your Grandmother," "70, Girls, 70," "The Elephant Song," "Say Yes," and "Finale."

70, Girls, 70 is an interesting failure from the team of John Kander and Fred Ebb, the musicians behind Cabaret and Chicago. It tells the story of a group of elderly friends who decide to turn to a life of crime so they can buy their retirement community, saving it from demolition. The show only lasted a month on Broadway, and except for a London run in the early 90s and an Encores concert in 2006, it has been largely forgotten. Part of this is probably because of the age requirements of the cast. A lot of musicals stay fresh in people's memories because of the countless productions that end up in schools and community theatres after its professional run ends. The need for an elderly cast makes the school productions impossible and the community theatre productions unlikely. The music from the show is good, though. "Coffee in a Cardboard Cup" has become a moderately recognizable standard, and other songs from the show give a demographic that does not often get a chance to shine on the musical stage the chance to show their energy. Perhaps the most notable distinction the show has is a dubious one. David Burns, the popular character actor who had played key roles in the original casts of shows such as The Music Man, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Hello, Dolly! was originally starring in the show. However, at a preview performance in Boston, Burns collapsed on stage and died soon after, ending one of the most prolific musical stage careers of all time. A quick entry this time. The next show I discuss will be the first one I post on here that I have seen a Broadway production of; 9 to 5.