High Society

High Society is a musical comedy with a book by Arthur Kopit and music and lyrics by Cole Porter. Some updated or new lyrics were provided by Susan Birkenhead. The musical is based on Philip Barry's 1939 stage comedy The Philadelphia Story and the subsequent 1956 musical film adaptation, High Society, which features Porter's songs. The musical includes most of the music featured in the movie, along with several songs selected from other Porter musicals. It premiered on Broadway in 1998 and has since been revived. Another musical adaptation of the story had opened in London in 1987 with a different book by Richard Eyre.

Kendrick portrayed Dinah Lord, the sister of Tracy, in the musical.

## High Society

### Written by

Cole Porter (Lyrics), Susan Birkenhead (Lyrics) and Arthur Kopit (Book)

## Plot

### Act I

Glamorous but pretentious Oyster Bay, Long Island socialite Tracy Samantha Lord is planning a lavish June 1938 wedding to an equally pretentious executive, George Kittredge. Guests include her mother, grumpy little sister Dinah, and absent-minded Uncle Willy, who lives in a house near the Lord estate. Willy is hosting a party for the wedding guests that evening, the night before the wedding. Tracy's unwelcome ex-husband and neighbor, C.K. Dexter Haven, sails up to the estate in his yacht. Dexter informs Tracy and her family that tabloid reporters Mike Connor and Liz Imbrie will be covering the wedding for Spy while pretending to be guests. Dexter invited them to stop Spy from publishing an exposé of Tracy's father Seth, who is estranged from Tracy's mother because he is having an affair with a dancer, Tina Mara. Dexter tries to convince the suspicious Dinah of his good intentions.

When Mike and Liz arrive, Tracy and Dinah do not let on that they know of the reporters' charade. Tracy pretends that Uncle Willie is her father, but when her father arrives, she pretends that he is Uncle Willie. Dexter confronts Tracy about their relationship, leaving her confused; suddenly George seems so pompous. She also is finding Mike to be sweet and remembers some good times with Dexter on his yacht. She starts drinking champagne before the party at Uncle Willie's even begins.

### Act II

After the party, Tracy is still drinking champagne, and she misbehaves, dancing with the staff and Mike. George is angry and embarrassed. Dinah hurries to Dexter's house, finding him packing for a trip. She calls him a coward and informs him that Tracy is drinking champagne, which he knows makes her wild. After many farcical comings and goings back at the estate, George reminds Tracy of their wedding the next day, warns her about her behavior and stomps away. Mike tells Tracy that George is not good enough for her. He kisses her, and she tipsily invites him to go skinny dipping in the pool. Dexter and Dinah return to witness other romantic entanglements unfolding between Seth and his wife and Uncle Willy and Liz, who really loves Mike. As soon as Tracy gets in the water, the champagne catches up with her, and Mike puts her innocently in her bed.

In the morning, Tracy realizes that she was in the pool with Mike and, her memory hazy, fears that she made love to him, ruining her wedding and social standing. All works out in the end, however, with Tracy's parents reuniting, the blackmail threat quashed, Mike realizing that he is really in love with Liz, and Tracy reuniting with Dexter. Since the wedding is already scheduled and paid for, Dexter steps up and all ends happily.

## Original Broadway Cast

* Lisa Banes as Margaret Lord
* Stephen Bogardus as Mike Connor
* Melissa Errico as Tracy Samantha Lord
* Barry Finkel as Chest
* Daniel Gerroll as Seth Lord
* Randy Graff as Liz Imbrie
* Kisha Howard as Sunny
* Betsy Joslyn as Patsy
* Anna Kendrick as Dinah Lord
* Marc Kudish as George Kittredge
* Daniel McDonald as C. K. Dexter Haven
* John McMartin as Uncle Willie
* William Ryall as Edmund
* Jeff Skowron as Stanley
* Jeniffer Smith as Polly
* Dorothy Stanley as Peg
* Glenn Turner as Arthur

## Musical Numbers

### Act I

* 1. Overture – Orchestra
* 2. “High Society” / “Ridin' High” – Staff & Tracy
* 3. “Throwing A Ball Tonight” – Mother Lord, Tracy, Willie, Dinah & Staff
* 4. “Little One” – Dexter & Dinah
* 5. “The Train” – Staff
* 6. “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” – Liz & Mike
* 7. “I Love Paris” – Dinah, Tracy & Chester
* 7a. “Tennis” – Staff
* 8. “She’s Got That Thing” – Willie, Dexter, & Staff
* 9. “Finale Act One” – Tracy, Dexter & Staff

### Act II

* 12. Entr’acte – Orchestra
* 13. “Well, Did You Evah?” – Mike, Liz, Dexter & Chester
* 14. “Let’s Misbehave” – Tracy, Mike, Liz, Mother Lord, Seth, Willie & George
* 15. The Dance Band – Orchestra
* 15a. Let’s Misbehave Tag – Orchestra
* 16. “Just One Of Those Things” – Dexter
* 16a. Lantern Ballet (Scene Change) – Orchestra
* 17. “You’re Sensational” – Mike
* 17a. “Let’s Misbehave” Underscore – Staff, Dexter & Mother Lord
* 17b. “Say It With Gin” – Willie
* 17c. “Gin Transition & All Right Intro” – Mother Lord, Staff, Mike & Tracy
* 18. “It’s All Right With Me” – Tracy
* 18a. “Let’s Misbehave Crossover” – Staff
* 19. “He’s A Right Guy” – Liz
* 20. “Wedding Bells” – Staff
* 21. “Finale Act Two” – Company
* 22. Bows – Company
* 23. Exit Music – Orchestra