Gigi (1951 play)
Encyclopedia
Gigi was a popular Broadway
play based on Colette
's 1945
novel of the same name
, starring Audrey Hepburn
in the title role.
ian girl being groomed for a career as a courtesan
. Gigi lives with her mother and grandmother, and takes lessons at the home of her aunt. Her lessons include social manners, conversation, and personal relationships. The family has significant social connections, and have been great friends with the rich playboy Gaston. Gaston is bored with his life, and his only joy seems to be in the company of Gigi and her family.
Aunt Alicia decides that the time is right for Gigi's entry into society. After dressing her up, she is presented to Gaston as a young woman. He is, at first, dismayed at the change. Gradually he realizes that he is attracted to Gigi, and takes her out on the town. As the night progresses, Gaston sees the emptiness of his life and wants something more. He proposes marriage to Gigi, and she gladly accepts.
, Colette noticed Hepburn and reportedly said: "Voila! There's our Gigi!" Hepburn was reluctant at first to take the part. Due to her inexperience in acting, she did not feel prepared to suddenly take the lead in a major Broadway play. However, Colette convinced her that she was perfect for the part.
After previewing in Philadelphia at the Walnut Street Theatre
on November 8, 1951, the play opened on Broadway at the Fulton Theatre
on November 24, 1951. Hepburn was given star billing. Upon seeing her name for the first time in lights, Hepburn reportedly said, "Oh, dear. And I've still got to learn how to act."http://www.audrey1.com/articles/articles26.html
The play was a critical and financial success and Hepburn won the 1952 Theatre World Award
for it. In addition, her newfound stardom led to her being cast in Roman Holiday, for which she won the Academy Award.
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
play based on Colette
Colette
Colette was the surname of the French novelist and performer Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette . She is best known for her novel Gigi, upon which Lerner and Loewe based the stage and film musical comedies of the same title.-Early life and marriage:Colette was born to retired military officer Jules-Joseph...
's 1945
1945 in literature
The year 1945 in literature involved some significant events and new books.-Events:*November 1 - The magazine Ebony is published for the first time.*Noel Coward's short play, Still Life, is adapted to become the film, Brief Encounter....
novel of the same name
Gigi
Gigi is a 1944 novella by French writer Colette. The plot focuses on a young Parisian girl being groomed for a career as a courtesan and her relationship with the wealthy cultured man named Gaston who falls in love with her and eventually marries her....
, starring Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn
Audrey Hepburn was a British actress and humanitarian. Although modest about her acting ability, Hepburn remains one of the world's most famous actresses of all time, remembered as a film and fashion icon of the twentieth century...
in the title role.
Plot
The play's plot generally follows that of the original story, focusing on a young 19th century ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
ian girl being groomed for a career as a courtesan
Courtesan
A courtesan was originally a female courtier, which means a person who attends the court of a monarch or other powerful person.In feudal society, the court was the centre of government as well as the residence of the monarch, and social and political life were often completely mixed together...
. Gigi lives with her mother and grandmother, and takes lessons at the home of her aunt. Her lessons include social manners, conversation, and personal relationships. The family has significant social connections, and have been great friends with the rich playboy Gaston. Gaston is bored with his life, and his only joy seems to be in the company of Gigi and her family.
Aunt Alicia decides that the time is right for Gigi's entry into society. After dressing her up, she is presented to Gaston as a young woman. He is, at first, dismayed at the change. Gradually he realizes that he is attracted to Gigi, and takes her out on the town. As the night progresses, Gaston sees the emptiness of his life and wants something more. He proposes marriage to Gigi, and she gladly accepts.
Audrey Hepburn
During filming of Monte Carlo BabyMonte Carlo Baby
Monte Carlo Baby is a 1952 British-French comedy film co-directed by Jean Boyer and Lester Fuller. It featured an early performance by Audrey Hepburn playing a spoiled actress...
, Colette noticed Hepburn and reportedly said: "Voila! There's our Gigi!" Hepburn was reluctant at first to take the part. Due to her inexperience in acting, she did not feel prepared to suddenly take the lead in a major Broadway play. However, Colette convinced her that she was perfect for the part.
After previewing in Philadelphia at the Walnut Street Theatre
Walnut Street Theatre
The Walnut Street Theatre , located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at 825 Walnut Street, is the oldest continuously operating theatre in the English-speaking world and the oldest in the United States...
on November 8, 1951, the play opened on Broadway at the Fulton Theatre
Fulton Theatre/Helen Hayes Theatre
The Fulton Theatre was a Broadway Theatre located at 210 West 46th Street in New York that was opened in 1911. It was re-named the Helen Hayes Theatre in 1955. The theatre was demolished in 1982...
on November 24, 1951. Hepburn was given star billing. Upon seeing her name for the first time in lights, Hepburn reportedly said, "Oh, dear. And I've still got to learn how to act."http://www.audrey1.com/articles/articles26.html
The play was a critical and financial success and Hepburn won the 1952 Theatre World Award
Theatre World Award
The Theatre World Award, first awarded for the 1945-46 season, is an American honor presented annually to actors and actresses in recognition of an outstanding New York City stage debut performance, either on Broadway or off-Broadway.-History:...
for it. In addition, her newfound stardom led to her being cast in Roman Holiday, for which she won the Academy Award.
Opening Night Production Credits
- Theatre Owned / Operated by City Playhouses, Inc. (Louis A. Lotito, President)
- Produced by Gilbert MillerGilbert MillerGilbert Heron Miller was an American theatrical producer.Born in New York City, he was the son of English-born theatrical producer Henry Miller and Bijou Heron, a former child actress. Raised and educated in Europe, he returned home to follow in his father's footsteps and became a highly...
- Written by Anita LoosAnita LoosAnita Loos was an American screenwriter, playwright and author.-Early life:Born Corinne Anita Loos in Sisson, California , where her father, R. Beers Loos, had opened a tabloid newspaper for which her mother, Minerva "Minnie" Smith did most of the work of a newspaper publisher...
; Adapted from the novel by ColetteColetteColette was the surname of the French novelist and performer Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette . She is best known for her novel Gigi, upon which Lerner and Loewe based the stage and film musical comedies of the same title.-Early life and marriage:Colette was born to retired military officer Jules-Joseph...
; Music selected by Alexander Haas - Directed by Raymond Rouleau
- Scenic Design by Raymond Sovey
- General Manager: Morton GottliebMorton GottliebMorton Edgar Gottlieb was an American producer of Broadway theatre whose play Sleuth won the Tony Award for Best Play in 1971, in addition to three of his other plays that were nominated for the same award....
- Company Manager: D'Arcy Miller
- Stage Manager: Richard Bender
- Assistant Stage Mgr: Ronald Telfer
- Technical Consultant to Mr. Rouleau: Lila de NobiliLila De NobiliLila De Nobili , an Italian fashion illustrator, stage designer, and costume designer. She was noted for her work at Vogue magazine and her collaborations with directors such as Luchino Visconti and Franco Zeffirelli....
- Press Representative: Richard Maney and Frank GoodmanFrank GoodmanFrank Goodman was an American Broadway theatre publicist.Goodman began in theatre during the Great Depression, when he worked for the Federal Theater Project under the Works Projects Administration. From 1939, when he started his career, to 1961, Mr. Goodman represented more than 50 Broadway...
- Special Promotion: Arthur CantorArthur CantorArthur Cantor was an American theatrical producer of over 100 plays in New York, London, and elsewhere. He was also the father of actor/journalist Max Cantor.-External links:...
Opening Night Cast
- Audrey HepburnAudrey HepburnAudrey Hepburn was a British actress and humanitarian. Although modest about her acting ability, Hepburn remains one of the world's most famous actresses of all time, remembered as a film and fashion icon of the twentieth century...
... Gigi - Cathleen NesbittCathleen NesbittCathleen Mary Nesbitt, CBE was an English stage and film actress.-Biography:Born in Cheshire, England in 1888, of Welsh and Irish descent, Nesbitt was educated in Lisieux, France, and at the Queen's University of Belfast and the Sorbonne...
... Alicia de St. Ephlam, Gigi's Aunt - Doris Patson ... Andree, Gigi's Mother
- Josephine Brown ... Madame Alvarez, Gigi's Grandmother
- Bertha BelmoreBertha Belmore-Early career:She was only eight when she made her first appearance on stage. She later toured the coast of America with Sir Philip Ben Greet's Shakespearean Players.-Selected filmography:* Happy * Keep It Quiet...
... Sidonie - Michael EvansMichael Evans (Broadway)Michael Evans was an English actor best known for starring in the original 1951 Broadway production of Gigi with Audrey Hepburn, and later as Colonel Douglas Austin on the American soap opera The Young and the Restless.-Biography:John Michael Evans was born July 27, 1920, in Sittingbourne, Kent;...
... Gaston Lachaille - Francis ComptonFrancis ComptonFrancis Compton D.C.L was an English lawyer and Conservative Party politician.Compton was the son of Henry Combe Compton M.P. of Minstead Manor House, Lyndhurst, Hants and his wife Charlotte Mills. He was educated at Merton College, Oxford and became a Fellow of All Souls. He was called to the...
... Victor