Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

History 2

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<h2><span class="btn-primary">On the Town</span></h2>
<p>From December 15-23, 1944, The new musical ON THE TOWN played at the Colonial for 10 days. The Colonial Theatre audiences were among some of the first to experience the now well-known song “New York, New York.” On the Town is a musical with music by Leonard Bernstein and a book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The musical was based in Jerome Robbins’ idea for his 1944 ballet Fancy Free which features Bernsteins music. The plot follows 3 fun-loving sailors on their 24-hour shore leave in New York City where they meet multiple ladies, and one of them falls in love.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Drama Critic from the Boston Herald, Elinor Hughes described the show as “A lively, entertaining and almost overpowering youthful and energetic affair, the average age of the performers being somewhere in the middle twenties…”</p>

<p>Images from The New York Public Library.</p>