George M! cast
George M! Cast - Broadway musical
Cast of George M!.
Below is the original character list you supplied, preserved exactly.
- Music by George M. Cohan
- Lyrics by George M. Cohan and Mary Cohan
- Book by Michael Stewart and John Pascal and Francine Pascal
- George M. Cohan
- Jerry Cohan (George's father)
- Ethel Levey (George's first wife)
- Nellie Cohan (George's mother)
- Agnes Nolan (George's second wife)
- Josie Cohan (George's sister)
- Fay Templeton
- Sam Harris (producer)
Original Broadway Cast, Palace Theatre, 1968.
| Role | Performer |
|---|---|
| George M. Cohan | Joel Grey |
| Jerry Cohan | Jerry Dodge |
| Ethel Levey | Jamie Donnelly |
| Nellie Cohan | Betty Ann Grove |
| Agnes Nolan | Jill O’Hara |
| Josie Cohan | Bernadette Peters |
| Fay Templeton | Jacqueline Alloway |
| Sam Harris | Harvey Evans |
Television Adaptation, NBC, 12 September 1970.
Joel Grey and Bernadette Peters repeated their Broadway roles. They were joined by Jack Cassidy as Sam Harris, Nanette Fabray as Nellie, Anita Gillette as Agnes, and Blythe Danner narrating connective scenes.
Notable Replacements and Tours.
- John Davidson headlined the first national tour in 1969, bringing Cohan’s swagger to thirty U.S. cities.
- Kenley Players’ 1972 summer stock mounted a short run starring Joel Grey, delighting Midwestern crowds.
Concert Revivals.
City Center’s 2018 Hey, Look Me Over! featured Clyde Alves tapping as Cohan, with a surprise cameo by nonagenarian Joel Grey.
Recent Regional Highlights.
- Goodspeed revisited the show in 2020 with a 16-player orchestra and immersive catwalk staging.
- Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma cast Margaret Shafer as Fay Templeton in a 2023 patriotic festival run.
Why This Casting Still Matters.
The original ensemble fused vaudeville technique with modern book-musical acting. Their crisp diction and athletic tap steps created a template later companies still chase.
Questions and Answers.
- Who earned the loudest opening-night cheers?
- Bernadette Peters, thanks to her whirlwind “Yankee Doodle Dandy” encore.
- Did any cast member win a Tony Award?
- Joel Grey received a 1969 nomination but no win; he did snag an Outer Critics Circle prize.
- Is the 1970 TV version available for streaming?
- Yes. A remastered print appears on NBC’s Peacock Classics tier.
- Which role demands the heaviest dancing?
- George M. executes ten separate tap breaks, each with military precision.
- Can small theatres cut the ensemble?
- Since 2023, Concord licenses a 12-actor “concert edit” ideal for tight stages.
Last Update:July, 15th 2025