42nd Street
42nd Street: Book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Al Dubin. This long running hit follows Peggy Sawyer, fresh from depression era Pennsylvania, as she rises to stardom in Julian Marsh's musical extravaganza Pretty Lady. Pictured below are our costume rentals: Female and male chorus members in the musical number “We're in the Money.”
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Sample Photos of Our Rental Costumes for 42nd Street
Pictures are representative of our rental collection, costumes may vary due to size and availability.
Rental Costumes for 42nd Street
What do you get when you request a FREE costume plot from The Costumer? We will send you the listing and costume description for the entire show, organized by act and scene for your convenience. The Costumer is proud to provide quality Adult and Children’s rental costumes for productions of 42nd Street! Group costume rentals for 42nd Street cover the entire cast including leads like Peggy Sawyer, Billy Lawlor, Dorothy Brock, Julian Marsh, Maggie Jones, and Abner Dillon, as well as ensemble members such as thugs and chorus dancers!
42nd Street has established itself as a Broadway classic and has experienced enduring popularity since its inception. Based on the 1933 novel by Bradford Ropes and the subsequent 1933 Hollywood film adaptation by the same name, 42nd Street opened on Broadway on August 25th, 1980 at the Winter Garden Theatre. With music by Harry Warren, lyrics by Al Dubin and Johnny Mercer, and book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, the musical won the Tony Award for Best Musical and became a long-running hit. The show has experienced international success as well, and also spawned a 2001 Broadway revival which won the Tony Award for Best Revival.
Set in 1933 New York and Philadelphia during the height of the Great Depression, 42nd Street is the quintessential backstage show. The story centers around renowned dictatorial Great White Way director Julian Marsh’s efforts to produce Pretty Lady, a Broadway musical extravaganza. From auditions to opening night, the musical focuses on the cast and creative team navigating around the backstage drama of trying to mount a Broadway success.
The play begins as Peggy Sawyer, a nervous but enthusiastic aspiring dancer from Allentown, Pennsylvania, gets off the bus in New York City to audition to be a chorus girl in Julian Marsh’s new musical, Pretty Lady. However, Peggy arrives just as auditions are wrapping up. Luckily for her, her tardy abrupt entrance catches the eye of the handsome young leading man, Billy Lawlor. Charmed by the young lady and hoping to court her, Billy promises to help her score an audition through the number, “Young and Healthy.” Unfortunately for Peggy and her suitor, choreographer Andy Lee has no time for latecomers, nor does Julian Marsh, and Peggy is ordered to leave the theatre. Embarrassed and flustered, the young woman runs off.
From the very start of the show, The Costumer’s 42nd Street rental costumes will ensure that your audience is transported back to 1930’s Broadway, New York! Peggy Sawyer will delight right from the moment she steps off the bus from Allentown, Pennsylvania. Dressed in a colorful period-appropriate jacket and matching skirt, and adorned with her trusted purse and lucky yellow scarf, Peggy will look like the quintessential bright-eyed aspiring starlet. Billy will resemble the classic young leading man in a stylish casual jacket, button down shirt and bowtie, complete with a simple yet fashionable sweater. Additionally, Mr. Julian Marsh will command the attention of his cast and crew while decked out in a fashionable dark three-piece suit, clean white shirt and tie. The Costumer will also create the exciting and electric atmosphere of the rehearsal space through rental costumes for male and female chorus dancers! With women in rehearsal leotards and tights, and men in period appropriate vibrant sweater vests, your audience will feel like they just stepped back in time and walked into a 1930’s musical rehearsal!
Shortly after Peggy leaves, the show’s leading lady, one-time star Dorothy Brock, arrives at the theatre with her sugar daddy, Abner Dillon. Dorothy is indignant at being asked to audition for a role, however she is reassured by Co-writer of the show Bert Barry through the number “Shadow Waltz” that the audition was merely to ensure that the songs are in her range. Despite the fact that Marsh feels that Dorothy is past her prime as well as a raging diva, he agrees to cast her as the lead in order to secure financial backing from her beau, Abner. Outside the rehearsal space, Co-writer of Pretty Lady Maggie Jones, and experienced chorus girls Anytime Annie, Phyllis, and Lorraine feel bad for Peggy, and invite the young lady to join them for lunch at the Gypsy Teakettle. After being encouraged by the girls to show off her dancing skills, Peggy is noticed by Marsh who is consequently so impressed, he casts her on the spot (“Go Into Your Dance”). Thus, Peggy begins her Broadway journey full of twists, turns, and barrels of backstage drama.
As more characters are introduced, The Costumer will outfit each exquisitely! Dorothy will embody the Golden Age Broadway diva in a stylish dress with flowy sleeves, and accessorized with a lavish fur stole and chic clutch purse. Abner will exemplify the eccentric tycoon in a western suit, matching string tie, and cowboy hat. The rest of the cast will be costumed with just as much character with our unique and reliable rental costumes!
This is only a mere glimpse at what The Costumer has to offer for 42nd Street! With the help of our rental costumes, let your artistic vision come to life onstage and transport your audience to the musical and striking world of 42nd Street! Request your free plot today!
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