Where's Charley?

This hilarious musical farce of disguised chaperones and young love features the music of the incomparable Frank Loesser.

What do you get when two musical theatre masters, Frank Loesser and George Abbott, adapt one of the most successful farces of all time? Where's Charley?, a tuneful comedy classic that earned lead actor Ray Bolger (of Wizard of Oz fame) a Tony Award and launched Loesser's career (Guys and Dolls)! George Abbot's book preserves all of the laughs from the record-breaking play, Charlie's Aunt, upon which the show is based.

Oxford University students Charley and Jack invite the young and winsome Kitty and Amy to lunch under the chaperoning eye of Donna Lucia, Charley's wealthy aunt (it is, after all, 1892). But when Donna Lucia doesn't show, a desperate Charley disguises himself as his aunt so that the young ladies can visit. Charley is unaware that they've brought a chaperone of their own: Amy's stuffy uncle, who promptly falls for Charley's aunt-like charms! When the real aunt shows up, it's all downhill from there: quick changes, fast-talking, marriage proposals, compromising situations and rowdy hilarity.

Where's Charley? offers a star turn for a talented leading man amongst a medium-sized cast. Featuring Loesser's critically acclaimed, but fairly obscure, score, Where's Charley? is a chance to introduce audiences to a classic Golden Age musical that they'll love, but that they probably haven't already heard, while keeping the interest of die-hard fans.

Full Synopsis Materials and Orchestration

Concert Selections for Where's Charley?

Concert Selections are original Broadway orchestrations and exciting new symphonic arrangements of select songs for use in concert performances. Concert Selections are the perfect way to give audiences a taste of the musical theatre experience without the sets, props and costumes.

MAKE A MIRACLE

From
WHERE'S CHARLEY?

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Type
SHOW EXTRACTION

Estimated duration
0 sec

Music by
Frank Loesser

Lyrics by
Frank Loesser

Instrumentation
1 Flute, 2 Clarinets, 1 Bassoon, 2 Horns, 3 Trumpets, 1 Trombone, (3) Percussion, (5) Violin A, (5) Violin B, (5) Violin C, (7) Viola, (6) Cello, (5) Bass, 3 Piano-Conductor Scores.
MY DARLING, MY DARLING

From
WHERE'S CHARLEY?

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Type
SHOW EXTRACTION

Arranged for
1 FEMALE VOICE, 1 MALE VOICE

Starting Key
Bb

Estimated duration
6 min 47 sec

Music by
LOESSER, FRANK

Lyrics by
LOESSER, FRANK

Orchestrated by
TED ROYAL, HANS SPIALEK & PHIL LANG

Instrumentation
1 Reed 1, 1 Reed 2, 1 Alt.Reed 2, 1 Reed 3, 1 Reed 4, 1 Reed 5, 1 Horn, 2 Trumpet 1&2, 1 Trumpet 3, 1 Trombone, 6 Violin A, 6 Violin B, 6 Violin C, 7 Viola, 6 Cello, 5 Bass, 3 Drum, 2 Piano Conductor, 25 Chorus books
NEW ASHMOLEAN MARCHING SOCIETY

From
WHERE'S CHARLEY?

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Type
SHOW EXTRACTION

Arranged for
2 FEMALE VOICE, 1 MALE VOICE, CHORUS

Starting Key
A

Estimated duration
3 min 30 sec

Music by
LOESSER, FRANK

Lyrics by
LOESSER, FRANK

Orchestrated by
TED ROYAL, HANS SPIALEK & PHIL LANG

Instrumentation
1 Reed 1(Piccolo), 1 Reed 2(Oboe), 1 Reed 2(Alternate Clarinet), 1 Reed 3(Clarinet), 1 Reed 4(Clarinet), 1 Reed 5(Bassoon), 1 Horn, 2 Trumpet 1&2, 1 Trumpet 3, 1 Trombone, 6 Violin A, 6 Violin B, 5 Violin C, 7 Viola, 6 Cello, 5 Bass, 3 Drum, 2 Piano Conductor, 25 Chorus books
ONCE IN LOVE WITH AMY

From
WHERE'S CHARLEY?

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Type
SHOW EXTRACTION

Arranged for
1 MALE VOICE

Starting Key
E

Estimated duration
2 min 10 sec

Music by
LOESSER, FRANK

Lyrics by
LOESSER, FRANK

Orchestrated by
MARTIN, JACK

Instrumentation
1 Flute 1, 1 Flute 2, 2 Oboe 1&2, 1 Clarinet 1, 1 Clarinet 2, 1 Bassoon 1, 2 Horn 1&2, 2 Horn 3&4, 2 Trumpet 1, 2 Trumpet 2 &3, 2 Trombone 1 &2, 2 Trombone 3(Tuba), 9 Violin 1, 8 Violin 2, 7 Viola, 6 Cello, 5 Bass, 1Percussion 1, 1 Celeste, 1 Conductor Score, 1 Vocal
OVERTURE ("WHERE'S CHARLEY?")

From
WHERE'S CHARLEY?

First Performance Fee:
$175
Each Additional Performance:
$100

Type
SHOW EXTRACTION

Arranged for
INSTRUMENTAL

Starting Key
C

Estimated duration
8 min 45 sec

Music by
LOESSER, FRANK

Orchestrated by
TED ROYAL, HANS SPIAK, & PHIL LANG

Instrumentation
1 Reed 1, 1 Reed 2, 1 Reed 2(alternate), 1 Reed 3, 1 Reed 4, 1 Reed 5, 3 Trumpet 1&2, 1 Trumpet 3, 2 Horn, 2 Trombone, 9 Violin A, 8 Violin B, 7 Violin C, 6 Viola, 6 Cello, 5 Bass, 3 Drum, 2 Piano/Conductor

Show Essentials

Book by

George Abbott

Music and Lyrics by

Frank Loesser

Full Billing

Songs

Overture

Better Get Out Of Here

The New Ashmolean Marching Society And Students' Conservatory Band

My Darling, My Darling

Make A Miracle

Serenade With Asides

Lovelier Than Ever

The Woman In His Room

Pernambuco

Where's Charley?

Once In Love With Amy

The Gossips

At The Red Rose Cotillion

Finale

Full Song List

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Filichia Features

Filichia Features: WHERE’S CHARLEY? He’s Here!

The story behind a Frank Loesser treasure...

Like Mrs. Lovett, “Sometimes ideas just pop into me head.” Only mine are more benign than hers, thank the Lord.With Encores! announcing its 2012-2013 season this week – Fiorello followed by It’s a Bird …It’s a Plane … It’s Superman ...

There's exciting news for Frank Loesser fans! Encores!, the concert series that stages little known musicals at New York City Center, has included WHERE'S CHARLEY? in its upcoming season. The other two shows are BELLS ARE RINGIN' by Jule Style, ...

Tuesday, June 29 will mark the 100th birthday of composer and lyricist Frank Loesser. Over the course of his career, Loesser wrote over 700 songs and five Broadway musicals and contributed music and lyrics to dozens of Hollywood films. A number of ...

"Once In Love With Amy": From Coffee to Muppets

Before MRS. DOUBTFIRE, TOOTSIE, and SOME LIKE IT HOT, there was WHERE'S CHARLEY?, Frank Loesser and George Abbot's musical cross-dressing farce. Oxford University students Charley and Jack invite the young and winsome Kitty and Amy to lunch under ...

Where's Charley?

Concert Selections for Where's Charley?

Show Essentials

Songs

Overture

Better Get Out Of Here

The New Ashmolean Marching Society And Students' Conservatory Band

My Darling, My Darling

Make A Miracle

Serenade With Asides

Lovelier Than Ever

The Woman In His Room

Pernambuco

Where's Charley?

Once In Love With Amy

The Gossips

At The Red Rose Cotillion

Finale

Cost Estimator

Upcoming

Similar Shows

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Community Marketplace

Explore

Resources

Questions & Answers

Filichia Features: WHERE’S CHARLEY? He’s Here!

Filichia Features: Here's Charley!

Encores! to do WHERE'S CHARLEY? in 2011

Opera Omaha, the Kennedy Center, and Turner Classic Movies Honor Loesser Centennial

"Once In Love With Amy": From Coffee to Muppets