The Dirty Details Music written by Frank Loesser--this was his biggest success Book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows Based on two short stories by Damon Runyon Takes place in NYC and Cuba Premiered in 1950, ran for 1,200 performances Won Tony Award for Best Musical plus 4 others Tense production—Loesser became upset at Isabel Bigley (Miss Sarah Brown) over not being able to sing her songs the way he wanted her to.

The Characters… Nathan Detroit-charming but financially strapped manager of the floating crap game. He has trouble with commitment (has been engaged to Adelaide for 14 years.) Sky Masterson-A handsome, wealthy gambler, falls in love with Sarah Brown. Sarah Brown-A beautiful, but innocent, missionary. Miss Adelaide-A simple-minded dancer with a perpetual psychosomatic cold. Engaged to Nathan Detroit for 14 years and desperately wants to get married. Nicely-Nicely Johnson-a gambler who eventually seeks redemption Arvide Abernathy-Sarah’s wise grandfather Lt. Brannigan-A New York policeman trying to stop the floating crap games.

The Plot… Three gamblers (Nicely-Nicely and two others) are confronted by the Save-a-Soul Mission (think old Salvation Army) about the dangers of gambling After the missionaries leave, they are confronted by Lt. Brannigan who is trying to stop their crap games. Nathan Detroit comes in, and is able to get the Lt. to leave after insulting him. Nathan finds out that there is only one place for him to hold his illegal floating crap game—the Biltmore Hotel Garage. However, he does not have $1,000 for the deposit

The Plot Nathan sees Sky Masterson, a high-rolling gambler who can never back down from a challenge. Nathan bets Sky to ask any girl he picks on a date in Havana, Cuba. Sky agrees and Nathan picks Sarah Brown, one of the uptight missionaries at Save-a-Soul. Sarah flatly refuses, but her mission is in trouble for lack of people. Sky promises to fill her prayer meeting if she agrees on a date. She says yes.

The Plot… We meet Adelaide after her performance at the Hot-Box where she is a dancer. She is upset when she finds out that Nathan is running illegal craps games again. She exclaims that her constant psychosomatic cold is caused by her stress with Nathan’s lack of commitment. ERI ERI

The Plot Thickens… Sky takes Sarah to Havana, Cuba for dinner. He spikes her drink with plenty of rum, and she becomes rather tipsy. She is starting to fall for him, and surprisingly, vice versa. When they return to America, practically in love, their dreams are quickly crushed when they find many gamblers running out of the Save-a-Soul Mission when the cops find out they were running their illegal crap game there. Sarah is furious with Sky and believes the date was just to trick her.

The Second Act… Adelaide finally gets the courage put an ultimatum on Nathan and says we must elope. Her parents believe she is married with kids already! Sarah confides in Arvide, her grandfather who also founded Save-a-Soul. He believes that Sky has inherent good in him and encourages her to follow her heart. To prove his love for Sarah, Sky goes to the floating crap game (now in the sewers), lies to Nathan about the bet and pays him the $1,000. He then bets on a single roll of dice. If he loses, he will pay everyone in the sewers $1,000 each. If he wins, they all must attend the prayer meeting. He wins!

Almost There… Nathan tells Adelaide that he can’t get eloped that night because he must attend a prayer meeting. Adelaide doesn’t believes him and walks out on him, ending the relationship, devastating Nathan. Will Sky’s plan win back Sarah’s heart? Will Adelaide finally believe Nathan?

Results of the Show Won 5 Tony’s including Best Musical 1953 London Production 1955 Film starring Frank Sinatra 1976 All Black Cast 1992 Broadway Revival 2008-Melbourne Production 2009-Another Broadway revival! Every major production has resulted in multiple awards.