''Barbary Coast'' is a

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...

that opened at the Orpheum Theatre in San Francisco on February 28, 1978.

Background

William Penzner was looking for a Broadway transfer, and had put somewhere between $700,000 to one million of his own money producing the show. The show opened on February 28, 1978 at the Orpheum Theatre and closed on March 11, 1978. It was later staged in Detroit in 1983.

Plot

The story follows

pugilist Boxing (also known as "Western boxing" or "pugilism") is a combat sport in which two people, usually wearing protective gloves and other protective equipment such as hand wraps and mouthguards, throw punches at each other for a predetermined ...

and saloon owner James J. Corbett and his romance with

Nob Hill Nob Hill is a neighborhood of San Francisco, California, United States that is known for its numerous luxury hotels and historic mansions. Nob Hill has historically served as a center of San Francisco's upper class. Nob Hill is among the highes ...

debutante Cynthia Carter. The story takes place from 1897 to 1906 in San Francisco, and featured a moving cable car on stage, a ballet battle of the

Tong Wars The Tong Wars were a series of violent disputes beginning in the late 19th century among rival Chinese Tong factions centered in the Chinatowns of various American cities, in particular San Francisco. Tong wars could be triggered by a variety o ...

, and the

1906 San Francisco earthquake At 05:12 Pacific Standard Time on Wednesday, April 18, 1906, the coast of Northern California was struck by a major earthquake with an estimated moment magnitude of 7.9 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of XI (''Extreme''). High-intensity sha ...

Cast and crew

The show was directed by Jack Bunch, choreography Ed Nolfi, set design William Morris, costume design Madeline Graneto, lighting design

Martin Aronstein Martin Aronstein (November 2, 1936 – May 3, 2002) was an American lighting designer whose Broadway career spanned thirty-six years. Born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Aronstein attended Queens College in Flushing, New York. In 1957, following a ...

, and musical direction Joseph Stecko. The cast featured Jerry Lanning (

James J. Corbett James John "Jim" Corbett (September 1, 1866 – February 18, 1933) was an American professional boxer and a World Heavyweight Champion, best known as the only man who ever defeated the great John L. Sullivan (hence the " man who beat the man ...

Marcia Rodd Marcia Rodd is an American actress. She made her film debut playing a leading role in the 1971 film ''Little Murders'', and later had supporting roles in films and television series. In 1973, she acted on Broadway in ''Shelter''. Early years The ...

(Cynthia Carter), Ben Wrigley (Biff Mahoney), Lette Rehnolds (Princezz Zara), Gillian Scalici (Rita Lorraine), Philip Kenneally (Trainer, Officer Miority), Dan Ferrone (Rod Van de Vere),

Sab Shimono is a Japanese-American actor. He began his career on stage on Broadway and in regional theaters, starring in musicals like ''Mame'', ''Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen'', and ''Pacific Overtures''. He has appeared in dozens of movies and television ...

(Captain Chung), Michael Byers (Lee Matson), Lola Fisher (Mrs. Mary R. Carter),

Chao-Li Chi Chao-Li Chi (; April 5, 1927 – October 16, 2010) was a Chinese-born American actor and dancer who worked extensively in American television, including his best known role as Chao-Li, the faithful majordomo and chauffeur of Jane Wyman's char ...

(Bing Lu Lee), Timm Fujii (Kim), Jack Driscoll (

Joe Choynski Joseph Bartlett Choynski (; November 8, 1868 – January 24, 1943) was an American boxer who fought professionally from 1888 to 1904. Boxing career "Chrysanthemum Joe", the son of a Jewish Polish immigrant who settled in California in 1867, wei ...

), Marnie Mosiman (

Lillian Russell Lillian Russell (born Helen Louise Leonard; December 4, 1860 or 1861 – June 6, 1922), was an American actress and singer. She became one of the most famous actresses and singers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known for her beauty ...

, Ensemble), Michael Magnusen (Dispatcher, Reporter, Ensemble), Charles Spoerri (Referee, Ensemble), Roxann Pyle (

Carrie Nation Caroline Amelia Nation (November 25, 1846June 9, 1911), often referred to by Carrie, Carry Nation, Carrie A. Nation, or Hatchet Granny, was a radical member of the temperance movement, which opposed alcohol before the advent of Prohibition. Nat ...

, Cabaret Girl, Ensemble), M.G. Hawkins (C. Barrington Fairchild, Reporter, Cabaret Girl, Ensemble), Richard Laster (Organ Grinder, Ensemble), Helena Andreyko (Cabaret Girl, Ensemble), Cynthia DeVore (Cabaret Girl, Ensemble), Mary Ann Dunroe (Cabaret Girl, Ensemble), Spence Ford (Cabaret Girl, Ensemble),

Alyson Reed Alyson Reed is an American dancer and actress. Life and career Alyson Reed was born in Fullerton and grew up in Anaheim, California. She began ballet at age 4, started performing in musicals at age 7, and was working professionally by age 12. R ...

(Cabaret Girl, Ensemble), Lynne Savage (Cabaret Girl, Ensemble), Jeffrey Reynolds (Reporter, Ensemble), James Whitson (Reporter, Ensemble). The ensemble featured James D Armstrong, Eileen Duffy, Catherine Fiasca, Terry Iten, Carla Manning,

Brad Maule George Bradley Maule (born October 11, 1951) is an American actor best known for his role as Tony Jones on the American television serial General Hospital. He played the role from 1984 until February 2006. Acting RolesREDEARTH88(Gregory Atkin ...

, Brian Taylor, Leslie Tinnaro, Kathy Vestuto, John Addis, Ron Cisneros,

Denny Martin Flinn Denny Martin Flinn (December 21, 1947 – August 24, 2007) was an American writer, choreographer, stage director and actor with numerous Broadway credits. He co-wrote the screenplay for '' Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country'' (1991). Biograp ...

, Shuan Soo Lee, Ricky Schussel, Wilfredo Suarez, and a monkey named Charlie.

Songs

;Act I * Overture – Orchestra * "You're on the Barbary Coast" – Biff, Ensemble * "The Fight" – Jim, Joe, Fans * "Everybody Loves A Winner" – Fans * "They Struck Her Name from the Blue Book Set 'Cause She Made Headlines in the Pink Police Gazette" – Cynthia, Ensemble * "Love, Love, Love" – Rita, Cabaret Girls * "Pink Police Gazette" – Cynthia, Lillian, Rita, Ensemble * "The Count of Ten" – Jim * "Love is Everything" – Biff, Zara, Lee, Rita, Ensemble * "There's Nothing Stranger Than Love" – Jim, Cynthia * "Love is Everything (reprise)" – Jim, Cynthia, Ensemble * "Monkey Dance" – Biff, Charlie * "Happy Time Rag" – Dancers, Ensemble * "Is It Love or Fascination" – Zara, Jim, Cynthia, Ensemble * "Without You There Is No Me" – Cynthia * "The Count of Ten (reprise)" – Jim, Reporters, Trainer * "When Miss Park Avenue Does the Bumps" – Cynthia, Bing ;Act II * Entr'acte – Orchestra * "The Tong War" – Cynthia, Jim, Biff, Kim, Officer Miority, Captain Chung, Chinese Tongs * "There's Nothing Stranger Than Love (reprise)" - Jim, Cynthia * "I Can See It All" – Zara, Rod, Biff * "Gentleman Jim" – Biff, Trainer, Bing, Zara, Cabaret Girls, Ensemble * "When You Dance With The One You Love (reprise)" – Jim, Cynthia, Ensemble * "How Long Can A Heart Go On Loving" – Cynthia * "Barbary Coast" – Biff, Carrie * "Searching" – Jim * "Ride, Ride, Ride" – Cabaret Girls * "Go, Don't Want To Love You No More" – Rita, Bing, Cabaret Girls * "You're On The Barbary Coast (reprise)" – Rita, Cabaret Girls * "Searching (reprise)" – Jim, Cynthia * "Love Is Everything (reprise)" – Company

Notes

{{reflist 1978 musicals Musicals inspired by real-life events Plays set in the 19th century Plays set in the 1900s Plays set in California San Francisco in fiction