On The Town, the first Broadway musical written by Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, with original choreography by Jerome Robbins, will open the 2008-2009 Encores! season as part of the city-wide Leonard Bernstein 90th Birthday Celebration sponsored by Carnegie Hall and the New York Philharmonic from September through December 2008. As part of the Bernstein Festival, the Encores! Season will begin in the fall, with On the Town running November 19 – 23, 2008. The season will continue with Music in the Air, a rarely seen 1932 Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein II musical, and conclude with Finian's Rainbow, with music by Burton Lane and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg.
On The Town, with music by Leonard Bernstein and book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, based on a concept by Jerome Robbins, was inspired by Robbins' 1944 ballet, "Fancy Free." Set in wartime 1944, On The Town is the story of three sailors' adventurous 24-hour leave in New York City. Their fabulous day-long journey is spurred by a search for sailor Gabey's dream girl, "Miss Turnstiles." Along the way, each sailor falls in love with a woman, and with New York City itself. New York City center Encore’s tickets is the gift that keeps on giving.
