On the Twentieth Century

Cast Highlights

Act One

Act Two

Additional Musical Numbers Lists

Madeline Kahn left the show early in the run after having missed 10 performances in two months. She was replaced by her understudy, Judy Kaye. At the time, it was reported that the role was too vocally demanding for her to perform eight times a week, and that she had proposed having Judy Kaye play matinees. Judy Kaye took over full time on April 24, 1978. The notes in the booklet for the CD issue of the cast recording give that as the date of Madeline Kahn's last performance, but her last performance was on April 22.

Hal Prince stated in later interviews that she was having trouble commanding the energy to play physical comedy eight times a week, and his statements suggest that he and possibly the writers tried to persuade her to leave. At least a few critics, having attended critics' previews rather than opening night (when Prince says she was wonderful), did find her performance a bit lackluster, although most of her reviews were favorable.

Main Run

• St. James Theatre (New York, NY)
  2/19/1978 - 3/18/1979

Tryout Dates

• Colonial Theatre (Boston, MA)
  1/10/1978 - 2/4/1978 [Two previews: January 7 and 9.]

Commercial Recordings

• Original Broadway Cast (1978)

Private Recordings

• Original Cast w/ Judy Kaye as Lily (1978)
  Mel Johnson, Jr. , David Horwitz , Ken Hilliard , Ray Gill , Dean Dittman
• Original Cast (Pre-Broadway) (1/7/1978)
  Keith Davis (ii) , Rufus Smith , Stanley Simmonds , Charles Rule , Hal Norman
• Original Cast (Opening Night) (2/19/1978)
  Hal Norman , Sal Mistretta , Carol Lurie , Carol Lugenbeal , Judy Kaye