Holiday Inn (musical) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Holiday Inn
Original Broadway poster
Music	Irving Berlin
Lyrics	Irving Berlin
Book	Gordon Greenberg Chad Hodge
Basis	Holiday Inn by Irving Berlin
Productions	2014 Connecticut 2015 St. Louis 2016 Broadway

Holiday Inn is a fun musical. It is based on a famous 1942 movie with the same name. The music and songs are by Irving Berlin. The story was written by Gordon Greenberg and Chad Hodge. This musical first opened on Broadway in 2016. It had its first show at the Goodspeed Opera House in 2014.

How the Show Was Made

Chris Herzberger from Universal Stage Productions helped create Holiday Inn. He looked for stories that would make people laugh or cry. He also wanted stories that would be special to see live on stage. Many songs from the original movie were kept. Some songs were left out. The creators also added other songs by Irving Berlin.

Early Performances

The musical first showed at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut. This was from September to December 2014. Gordon Greenberg directed the show. Denis Jones created the dances. The cast included Noah Racey and Gavin Lee as Ted. Patti Murin played Linda.

Next, the musical went to The Muny in St. Louis. This was in July 2015. Gordon Greenberg directed again. Patti Murin, Noah Racey, and Danny Rutigliano returned to their roles. Nancy Opel joined as Louise. Patti Murin said the Goodspeed stage was very small. The Muny stage was much bigger.

Broadway Debut

The musical opened on Broadway at Studio 54. This was on October 6, 2016. The Roundabout Theatre Company produced it. The show closed on January 15, 2017. Gordon Greenberg directed the Broadway show. Denis Jones did the choreography. Many talented people worked on the sets, costumes, and lighting.

Main Characters and Cast

Here are the main characters and the actors who played them. This table shows the cast for the different productions.

Story of Holiday Inn

The musical tells the story of a singer who wants to leave show business. He finds a new way to perform.

Act One

In 1946, Jim Hardy, Ted Hanover, and Lila Dixon are a singing and dancing group. Jim asks Lila to marry him. He wants them to leave show business. He bought a farm in Connecticut. Lila agrees but decides to go on tour with Ted instead. Jim moves to the farm alone. He sings about his hopes for a quiet life.

Jim finds the farm is falling apart. He meets Linda Mason, a former performer who is now a teacher. Linda used to live on the farm. Jim and Linda feel a connection. Linda introduces Jim to Louise Badger, a helpful farmhand. Jim and Louise try to fix up the farm.

Lila visits Jim but breaks off their engagement. She wants to keep performing with Ted. By Thanksgiving, Jim, Louise, and Linda are all alone. On Christmas Eve, Jim and Louise decorate the farm. Jim's old friends visit, and they have a party. Jim realizes he misses performing.

Jim and Louise decide to turn the farm into an inn. It will only open on holidays. This way, Jim can perform sometimes. He will write songs for each holiday. Linda and his friends will perform too. The first show is on New Year's Eve. Jim sings a Christmas song he wrote for Linda.

The "Holiday Inn" opens for New Year's Eve. Linda sings for the first time in years. Ted, who is a bit tipsy, crashes the party. He starts dancing with Linda. Jim gets jealous and punches Ted. Linda gets upset and leaves.

Act Two

Ted wakes up with a headache. Lila has left him to marry a rich man. Ted cannot remember who he danced with. He decides he needs a new dance partner. Jim pretends not to know who it was. Ted tries to dance with every woman to find her. Linda is upset by Jim and Ted. Jim apologizes to Linda. They decide to try again. They start a relationship.

By the Valentine's Day show, Jim loves Linda. He writes a song for her. While he sings, Ted walks in. Ted realizes Linda is the girl he danced with. Jim does not want Ted to take Linda. But Ted and Linda perform together. Jim tries to mess up their dance. He changes the music speed.

Jim apologizes for messing up the show. But he does it again at the Easter show. Ted's manager, Danny, tells Ted that Hollywood producers want to make a movie. They want Ted and Lila to star in it. Louise hears this. She calls Lila and asks her to come to the Inn.

Linda gets ready for the Independence Day show. Louise locks Linda in the barn. She wants to stop the producers from seeing Linda. With Linda gone, Ted performs a solo tap number. Lila comes to the barn. She tells Linda that her new husband lost his money. Linda thinks Jim locked her in. Linda locks Lila in the barn. She goes back to the Inn to join Ted.

Linda confronts Jim. He does not know about the producers or Lila. Louise admits she locked Linda up. Linda forgives Jim. Danny says the producers want to make a movie about Holiday Inn. Ted and Linda will star. Jim will be a songwriter. But Jim wants to stay at the Inn. Linda is sad and leaves with Ted for Hollywood.

Jim and Louise spend another Thanksgiving alone. They cancel the shows. Jim decides to find Linda in Hollywood. Linda is having trouble with the movie. She does not like how they changed the story. As she sings "White Christmas," Jim comes into the studio. He sings with her. Jim proposes to Linda. She says yes. She quits the movie to be with him. Ted lets her go. Lila replaces Linda in the movie. Later, Ted and Lila get back together. Linda and Jim get married at the farm. They promise to keep performing at the Inn.

Songs in the Show

Here is a list of the songs performed in Holiday Inn.

Awards and Recognition

Holiday Inn received one nomination for a Tony Award in 2017. This was for Best Choreography for Denis Jones. The musical was also nominated for a Drama Desk Award in 2017. This was for Outstanding Choreography.