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Can-Can
Broadway
Original
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Can-Can Playbill - May 1953
Can-Can
Broadway
Original
Sam S. Shubert Theatre
225 W. 44th St., New York, NY
SYNOPSIS:
lyrics:
Cole Porter
music:
Cole Porter
book:
Abe Burrows
People (79)
Lilo
La Mome Pistache
(Original)
Peter Cookson
Judge Aristide Forestier
(Original)
Norwood Smith
Judge Aristide Forestier
(Replacement)
Hans Conried
Boris Adzinidzinadze
(Original)
Gwen Verdon
Claudine
(Original)
Eve
(Original)
Erik Rhodes
Hilaire Jussac
(Original)
Phil Leeds
Theophile
(Original)
Robert Penn
Hercule
(Original)
Richard Purdy
Etienne
(Original)
C. K. Alexander
Judge Paul Barriere
(Original)
George S. Irving
Boris Adzinidzinadze
(Replacement)
Sheila Arnold
Customer
(Original)
Meredith Baylis
Dancer
(Original)
Ralph Beaumont
Dancer
(Original)
Leopard
(Original)
Policeman
(Original)
Socrates Birsky
Dancer
(Original)
Inchworm
(Original)
Policeman
(Original)
Michael Cavallaro
Doctor
(Original)
Registrar
(Original)
Mary Ann Cohan
Gabrielle
(Original)
David Collyer
Bailiff
(Original)
Joe Cusanelli
Cafe Customer
(Original)
Policeman
(Original)
Michael De Marco
Dancer
(Original)
Policeman
(Original)
Shelah Hackett
Dancer
(Original)
Flamingo
(Original)
Ina Hahn
Dancer
(Original)
Inchworm
(Original)
Ferdinand Hilt
Customer
(Original)
Prosecutor
(Original)
Second Waiter
(Original)
Clarence Hoffman
Waiter
(Original)
Jean Kraemer
Celestine
(Original)
Dania Krupska
Dancer
(Original)
Mimi
(Original)
Al Lanti
Dancer
(Original)
Frog
(Original)
Vera Lee
Dancer
(Original)
Frog
(Original)
Bert May
Dancer
(Original)
Snake
(Original)
Tom Panko
Dancer
(Original)
Sea Horse
(Original)
Arthur Partington
Dancer
(Original)
Flamingo
(Original)
Eddie Phillips
Dancer
(Original)
Penguin
(Original)
Beverly Purvin
Marie
(Original)
Arthur Rubin
Policeman
(Original)
Second
(Original)
Michael Scrittorale
Dancer
(Original)
Kangaroo
(Original)
Jon Silo
Cafe Waiter
(Original)
Policeman
(Original)
Beverly Tassoni
Dancer
(Original)
Kangaroo
(Original)
Customer
(Replacement)
David Thomas
Court President
(Original)
Customer
(Original)
Pat Turner
Dancer
(Original)
Leopard
(Original)
Model
(Original)
Ruth Vernon
Dancer
(Original)
Sea Horse
(Original)
Deedee Wood
Dancer
(Original)
Jailer
(Original)
Penguin
(Original)
Joan Holloway
Performer
(Replacement)
Chita Rivera
Dancer
(Replacement)
Ronnie Landry
Dancer
(Replacement)
Flamingo
(Replacement)
Ann Sparkman
Dancer
(Replacement)
Leopard
(Replacement)
Mimi
(Replacement)
Lynn Bernay
Dancer
(Replacement)
Inchworm
(Replacement)
Julie Marlowe
Dancer
(Replacement)
Mary Jane Doerr
Dancer
(Replacement)
Flamingo
(Replacement)
Marcella Dodge
Dancer
(Replacement)
Model
(Replacement)
Sea Horse
(Replacement)
Phyllis Dorne
Dancer
(Replacement)
Janyce Ann Wagner
Dancer
(Replacement)
Joe Milan
Dancer
(Replacement)
Leopard
(Replacement)
Policeman
(Replacement)
Eleonore Treiber
Dancer
(Replacement)
Frog
(Replacement)
Carol Stevens
Ensemble
(Replacement)
Gail Adams
Gabrielle
(Replacement)
Deborah Remsen
Marie
(Replacement)
Basha Regis
Marie
(Replacement)
View All Current Cast
Lilo
La Mome Pistache
(Original)
Peter Cookson
Judge Aristide Forestier
(Original)
Hans Conried
Boris Adzinidzinadze
(Original)
Gwen Verdon
Claudine
(Original)
Eve
(Original)
Erik Rhodes
Hilaire Jussac
(Original)
Phil Leeds
Theophile
(Original)
Robert Penn
Hercule
(Original)
Richard Purdy
Etienne
(Original)
C. K. Alexander
Judge Paul Barriere
(Original)
Sheila Arnold
Customer
(Original)
Meredith Baylis
Dancer
(Original)
Ralph Beaumont
Dancer
(Original)
Leopard
(Original)
Policeman
(Original)
Socrates Birsky
Dancer
(Original)
Inchworm
(Original)
Policeman
(Original)
Michael Cavallaro
Doctor
(Original)
Registrar
(Original)
Mary Ann Cohan
Gabrielle
(Original)
David Collyer
Bailiff
(Original)
Joe Cusanelli
Cafe Customer
(Original)
Policeman
(Original)
Michael De Marco
Dancer
(Original)
Policeman
(Original)
Shelah Hackett
Dancer
(Original)
Flamingo
(Original)
Ina Hahn
Dancer
(Original)
Inchworm
(Original)
Ferdinand Hilt
Customer
(Original)
Prosecutor
(Original)
Second Waiter
(Original)
Clarence Hoffman
Waiter
(Original)
Jean Kraemer
Celestine
(Original)
Dania Krupska
Dancer
(Original)
Mimi
(Original)
Al Lanti
Dancer
(Original)
Frog
(Original)
Vera Lee
Dancer
(Original)
Frog
(Original)
Bert May
Dancer
(Original)
Snake
(Original)
Tom Panko
Dancer
(Original)
Sea Horse
(Original)
Arthur Partington
Dancer
(Original)
Flamingo
(Original)
Eddie Phillips
Dancer
(Original)
Penguin
(Original)
Beverly Purvin
Marie
(Original)
Arthur Rubin
Policeman
(Original)
Second
(Original)
Michael Scrittorale
Dancer
(Original)
Kangaroo
(Original)
Jon Silo
Cafe Waiter
(Original)
Policeman
(Original)
Beverly Tassoni
Dancer
(Original)
Kangaroo
(Original)
David Thomas
Court President
(Original)
Customer
(Original)
Pat Turner
Dancer
(Original)
Leopard
(Original)
Model
(Original)
Ruth Vernon
Dancer
(Original)
Sea Horse
(Original)
Deedee Wood
Dancer
(Original)
Jailer
(Original)
Penguin
(Original)
View All Cast
Abe Burrows
Book
Director
Cole Porter
Music
Lyrics
Michael Kidd
Dance and Musical Numbers Staged by
Jo Mielziner
Scenic Design
Lighting Design
Motley
Costume Design
Ronald De Mann
Hair and Wig Design
John Harvey
Assistant Designer to Mr. Mielziner
Philip J. Lang
Orchestrations
Robert Noeltner
Additional Orchestrations
Genevieve Pitot
Dance Music Arrangements
Henri Caubisens
Production Stage Manager
Herman Magidson
Stage Manager
David Collyer
Assistant Stage Manager
Ira Bernstein
Casting
Joseph Harris
Company Manager
Karl N. Bernstein
General Press Representative
Harvey B. Sabinson
Press Representative
Feuer & Martin
Producer
Monty Shaff
Managing Executive
View All Production Team
Pro Info
Opening Date
May
7
1953
Closing Date
Jun
25
1955
Performances
892
as of Nov 28, 2025
Inside The Playbill
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Can-Can - Opening Night
Can-Can - Opening Night
Can-Can - Opening Night
Can-Can - Opening Night
Can-Can - Opening Night
Can-Can - Opening Night
Can-Can - Opening Night
Can-Can - Opening Night
Can-Can - Opening Night
Can-Can - Opening Night
Can-Can - Opening Night
Can-Can - Opening Night
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Awards
Theatre World Awards
1953
Theatre World Award
Gwen Verdon
Winner
Tony Award
1954
Best Choreography
Michael Kidd
Winner
1954
Best Featured Actress in a Musical
Gwen Verdon
Winner
Other Broadway Productions
Can-Can
- Apr 30, 1981
Minskoff Theatre (Revival)
Shows That Opened That Season: 1953–1954
The Merchant of Venice
Misalliance
Porgy and Bess
My 3 Angels
Camino Real
View All