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The Threepenny Opera

The Threepenny Opera

by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht

Based on an Opera
Classic
Critically-Acclaimed
Drama
Flop

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The Threepenny Opera

The Threepenny Opera





A classic musical adapted from an 18th-century English ballad opera, "The Beggar's Opera" by John Gay.


Story:

Mack the Knife secretly marries, but is betrayed by his in-laws and sent to prison. After being freed, he is again betrayed - this time by a prostitute - and is sentenced to death, only to be saved at the last moment.


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Composer

Composer
Kurt Weill

Lyricist

Lyricist and Librettist
Bertolt Brecht



Broadway Premiere

Theatre
Empire Theatre
Opening Night
Apr 13, 1933
Total Performances
12
Original Cast
Gus Alexander, Corine Anderson, Lillian Ardell, Harry Bellaver, Richard Bengali, Evelyn Beresford, Anthony Blair, Arthur Brady, Lotta Burnell, Jack Carstairs, Robert Chisholm, John Connolly, Jean De Koven, Marjorie Dille, H.L. Donsu, Steffi Duna, Rex Evans, Louis Halperin, Gerald Hamer, James Clarence, Mary Heberden, George Heller, Harry Hornick, Josephine Huston, Harold Imber, Francis Kennelly, Hilda Kosta, Larry Larkin, Ellen Love, Geraldine Lunby, Burgess Meredith, Tom Morgan, Thomas Murphy, Lillian Okun, Eugene Reed, Herbert Rudley, Ruth Thomas, Clyde Turner, Morton Ulman, Rex Weber, Barbara Winchester
Director
Francesco Von Mendelssohn
Producer
John Krimsky and Gifford Cochran
Musical Director
Macklin Marrow
Orchestrations
Kurt Weill
Scenic Design
Cleon Throckmorton

1954 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Theatre de Lys
Opening Night
Mar 10, 1954
Total Performances
96
Original Cast
Beatrice Arthur,Lotte Lenya, Scott Merrill, Gerald Price, Charlotte Rae, Jo Sullivan, George Tyne, Martin Wolfson, John Astin, Joseph Beruh, Paul Dooley, William Duell, Marcella Markham, Marion Selee, Bernard Bogin, Miles Dickson, Donald Elson, Gerrianne Raphael, Stan Schneider, Rome Smith, Gloria Sokol
Director
Carmen Capalbo
Producer
Carmen Capalbo and Stanley Chase
Musical Director
Samuel Matlovsky
Orchestrations
Kurt Weill
Scenic Design
William Pitkin
Costume Design
Bolasni

1955 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Theatre de Lys
Opening Night
Sep 20, 1955
Total Performances
2,611
Original Cast
Tige Andrews, Beatrice Arthur, Jane Connell, Frederic Downs, Lotte Lenya, Scott Merrill, Jo Sullivan, Richard Verney, John Astin, Joan Coburn, William Duell, Eddie Lawrence, Marion Selee, Bea Barrett, Joseph Elic, Bernie Fein, Irene Kane, Steve Palmer, Carroll Saint, Rome Smith, Albert Valentine
Director
Carmen Capalbo
Producer
Carmen Capalbo and Stanley Chase
Musical Director
Samuel Matlovsky
Orchestrations
Kurt Weill
Scenic Design
William Pitkin
Lighting Design
Peggy Clark

1966 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Billy Rose Theatre
Opening Night
Oct 27, 1966
Total Performances
13
Original Cast
Jan Blomberg, Helena Brodin, Göran Graffman, Arne Hogsander, Ulf Hakan Jansson, Zanza Lidums, Ellika Linden, Michael Meschke, Per Nielsen, Haken Sarner, Ulla Sjoblom, Heinz Spira, Folke Tragardh, Lydia de Lind van Winjngaarden, Meta Velander
Director
Michael Meschke
Choreographer
Holger Rosenquist
Producer
Jay K. Hoffman
Scenic Design
Franciszka Themerson
Lighting Design
Jules Fisher

1976 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Vivian Beaumont Theatre
Opening Night
May 1, 1976
Total Performances
307
Original Cast
C. K. Alexander, Tony Azito, Penelope Bodry, Roy Brocksmith, Blair Brown, Pendleton Brown, Nancy Campbell, Rik Colitti, Gretel Cummings, Brenda Currin, Ralph Drischell, William Duell, Ellen Greene, Max Gulack, M. Patrick Hughes, Raul Julia, Caroline Kava, Glenn Kezer, George McGrath, Rick Petrucelli, John Ridge, Craig Rupp, David Sabin, Robert Schlee, Armin Shimerman, Mimi Turque, Jack Eric Williams, Elizabeth Wilson, K. C. Wilson, Ray Xifo, Ed Zang
Director
Richard Foreman
Producer
The New York Shakespeare Festival
Musical Director
Stanley Silverman
Scenic Design
Douglas W. Schmidt
Costume Design
Theoni V. Aldredge
Lighting Design
Pat Collins
Sound Design
Roger Jay

1989 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
Opening Night
Nov 5, 1989
Total Performances
65
Original Cast
Georgia Brown, Alvin Epstein, Maureen McGovern, Kim Criswell, Suzzanne Douglas, Larry Marshall, Josh Mostel, Jeff Blumenkrantz, Philip Carroll, Teresa De Zarn, MacIntyre Dixon, Ethyl Eichelberger, Anne Kerry Ford, Mitchell Greenberg, Jan Horvath, Michael Piontek, David Pursley, Nancy Ringham, Tom Robbins, Alex Santoriello, David Schechter, K. T. Sullivan, Fiddle Viracola, Steven Major West, Sting
Director
John Dexter
Choreographer
Peter Gennaro
Producer
Jerome Hellman
Musical Director
Julius Rudel
Scenic Design
Jocelyn Herbert
Costume Design
Jocelyn Herbert
Lighting Design
Andy Phillips and Brian Nason
Sound Design
Peter Fitzgerald

2006 Broadway Revival

Theatre
Studio 54
Opening Night
Apr 20, 2006
Total Performances
77
Original Cast
Alan Cumming, Jim Dale, Ana Gasteyer, Cyndi Lauper, Nellie McKay, Adam Alexi-Malle, Terry Burrell, Brian Butterick, David Cale, Romain Frugé, John Herrera, Christopher Innvar, Christopher Kenney, Carlos Leon, Deborah Lew, Maureen Moore, Brooke Sunny Moriber, Kevin Rennard, Brian Charles Rooney, Lucas Steele
Director
Scott Elliott
Choreographer
Aszure Barton
Producer
Roundabout Theatre Company
Musical Director
Kevin Stites
Orchestrations
Kurt Weill
Scenic Design
Derek McLane
Costume Design
Isaac Mizrahi
Lighting Design
Jason Lyons
Sound Design
Ken Travis

1931 Film Version

Movie Name
The 3 Penny Opera
Type
Hollywood Musical
Director
G.W. Pabst
Screenplay
Béla Balázs, Léo Lania, Ladislaus Vajda
Starring
Rudolf Forster, Lotte Lenya, Carola Neher





CDs

CD
1954 New York Cast Album

CD
1994 London Cast Album

CD
German Cast Album


Sheetmusic

Sheetmusic
Vocal Selections


Videos

DVD
Original Hollywood Version DVD


Books

Book
The Play


Other

Merchandise




1956 Tony Award Nominations

Best Featured Actress in a Musical - Lotte Lenya
Special Award
Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Scott Merrill

1977 Tony Award Nominations

Best Actor in a Musical - Raul Julia
Best Featured Actress in a Musical - Ellen Greene
Best Costume Design
Best Lighting Design
Most Innovative Production of a Revival

1976 Drama Desk Award Nominations

Outstanding Actor in a Musical - Raul Julia
Outstanding Actress in a Musical - Elizabeth Wilson
Outstanding Director of a Musical
Unique Theatrical Experience

1990 Tony Award Nominations

Best Actress in a Musical - Georgia Brown
Best Revival of a Musical
Best Featured Actor in a Musical - Jim Dale

2006 Drama Desk Award Nominations

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical - Jim Dale

2006 Theatre World Award Nominations

Nellie McKay

2012 Drama Desk Award Nominations

Outstanding Revival of a Musical

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