High Spirits

Cast Highlights

Act One

Act Two

Additional Musical Numbers Lists

When plans for the musical were first announced in April 1960, it was reported in the New York Times that the male lead (Charles Condomine) was "being shaped for Laurence Olivier," and that the production would open on Broadway in the fall of 1961. Also reported was that everyone involved was hoping that Jerome Robbins would direct and choreograph.

Once Noël Coward took charge as director, he hoped (according to Graham Payn's book My Life With Noël Coward) to cast the leading roles with Keith Michell (as Charles Condomine), Gwen Verdon (as Elvira), Celeste Holm (as Ruth), and Kay Thompson (as Madame Arcati). None of them ended up in the production.

Gower Champion's aid was enlisted to help improve the show during the somewhat troubled (but far from disastrous) pre-Broadway tyrout. Among Champion's contributions was the choreographing of the scene changes so as to eliminate the blackouts between scenes and to give the show a more fluid feel.

The opening had been scheduled for March 31, 1964, but a postponement to April 7 was announced just before New York previews were to start.

Main Run

• Alvin Theatre (New York, NY)
  4/7/1964 - 2/27/1965

Tryout Dates

• Shubert Theatre (New Haven, CT)
  2/3/1964 - 2/8/1964 [Preview on February 1.]
• Colonial Theatre (Boston, MA)
  2/11/1964 - 2/29/1964 [Preview on February 10.]
• S
  Shubert Theatre (Philadelphia, PA)
  3/4/1964 - 3/21/1964 [Preview on March 3]

Commercial Recordings

• Original Broadway Cast (1964)

Private Recordings

• Original Broadway Cast (1964)
  Beth Howland , Robert Lenn , Anne Wallace , Tom Thornton , Sybil Scotford