Most Happy Fella, The
Classification added April 24, 2019Premiered May 3, 1956
New York, New York. Imperial Theater
Composer:
Frank Loesser
Original Language:
English and Italian
Librettist:
Frank Loesser
Description:
Musical in Three Acts
Notes:
Based on Sidney Howard’s 1924 play, They Knew What They Wanted
Time Period:
1920s
Place:
northern California
Classification key
- L – Leading
- F – Featured
- S – Supporting
- B – Solo Bit
- CB – Chorus Bit
- MB – Mute Bit
| Role | Voice Part | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Rosabella | Soprano | L |
| Cleo | Mezzo Soprano | L |
| Tony | Baritone | L |
| Herman | Tenor | F |
| Joe | Baritone | F |
| Marie | Soprano | S |
| Doctor | Tenor | S |
| Giuseppe | Tenor | S |
| Ciccio | Tenor | S |
| Pasquale | Baritone | S |
| Jake | Tenor | S |
| Clem | Baritone | S |
| Al | Bass | S |
| Postman | Baritone | B* |
| Cashier | Spoken | B* |
| Priest | Spoken | B |
| Little Girl | Spoken | B |
| Country Girl | Spoken | B |
| City Boy | Spoken | B |
| Mezzo Solo Voice | Mezzo Soprano | CB |
| Woman’s Scream | Female Voice | CB |
| Hoedown Caller | Male Voice | CB |
| Female Chorus Bit Roles ** | All of these are individual CB roles. All are spoken roles. | |
| Woman 1 | ||
| Woman 2 | ||
| Woman 3 | ||
| Woman 4 | ||
| Young Lady | ||
| Mother | ||
| Waitress 1 | ||
| Waitress 2 | ||
| Waitress 3 | ||
| Waitress 4 | ||
| Girl Dancer 1 | ||
| Girl Dancer 2 | ||
| Girl Dancer 3 | ||
| Biddy 1 | ||
| Biddy 2 | ||
| Biddy 3 | ||
| Male Chorus Bit Roles ** | All of these are individual CB roles. All are spoken roles. | |
| Young Man | ||
| Farmer | ||
| Farnsworth | ||
| Johnson | ||
| Sullivan | ||
| Green | ||
| Max | ||
| Truck Driver 1 | ||
| Truck Driver 2 | ||
| Sheriff | ||
| Bus Driver | ||
| Electrician | ||
| Brakeman | ||
| Worker 1 | ||
| Worker 2 | ||
| Worker 3 | ||
| Worker 4 | ||
| Man 1 | ||
| Man 2 | ||
| Man 3 | ||
| Man 4 | ||
| Man 5 | ||
| Man 6 | ||
| Man 7 | ||
| Man 8 | ||
| Another Man | ||
| Man’s Voice | ||
| * If combined, as in the World Premiere, the Postman and Cashier = S | ||
| ** As noted above, all of these are individual CB roles; all are spoken roles. In addition, there are places in the score where individual members of the crowd are to speak or shout words or short phrases. Not assigned in the libretto to any particular person, each of these is also to be classified as a Chorus Bit. |
Minimum Chorus: 32
Divisi: SATB