“A very happy musical show, immensely likeable, swift and insane”

–The New York Times, reviewing the 1947 Broadway premiere

Follow the misad­ventures of two charismatic conmen—Harrison Floy (Michael Urie) and Mr. Pontdue (Kevin Chamberlin)—as they proceed to bamboozle Sara Longstreet (Betsy Wolfe) and her family—inciting a chase from New Brunswick, down the Jersey Shore, to Atlantic City.The cast also features Aidan Alberto (Stevie), Jennifer Allen (Shirley Simpkins), Carla Duren (Fran), Chester Gregory (Papa Longstreet), Mylinda Hull (Nancy), Marc Koeck (Oggle), Matt Loehr (Uncle Willy),and Wayne Pretlow (Elmer Simpkins).

High Button Shoes was Jule Styne’s first Broadway hit and won Jerome Robbins his first Tony Award for choreography years before West Side Story and Gypsy (another Styne-Robbins collaboration). City Center’s stage has seen other iconic musicals by Jule Styne including Bells Are Ringing, Do Re Mi, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and, yes, Gypsy. The rarely-seen High Button Shoes, with lyrics by Sammy Cahn, blazed a path for them all and you don’t want to miss the final Encores! production of City Center’s 75th Anniversary Season.

Directed by John Rando with music direction by Encores! Music Director Rob Berman and choreography by Sarah O’Gleby, High Button Shoes features hits like “Papa, Won’t You Dance with Me” and “On a Sunday by the Sea.” Two numbers—the dazzlingly comedic 10-minute ensemble piece, “Bathing Beauty Ballet,” and “I Still Get Jealous”—will use Jerome Robbins’s original choreography staged by Sarah O’Gleby. The 27-piece Encores! Orchestra performs Jule Styne’s original 1947 score, conducted by Encores! Music Director Rob Berman.

Visit the blog to indulge in the rich history behind this rollicking musical and to read an exclusive interview with original High Button Shoes cast member, Helen Gallagher.

High Button Shoes is part of the 2019 Encores! season along with Call Me Madam and Rodger’s & Hart’s I Married an Angel.

Join the conversation #HighButtonShoesNYCC.

Music by Jule Styne
Lyrics by Sammy Cahn
Book by Stephen Longstreet
Original Choreography by Jerome Robbins
Featuring The Encores! Orchestra
Choreographed by Sarah O’Gleby
Encores! Artistic Director Jack Viertel
Encores! Music Director Rob Berman
Directed by John Rando

Starring Aidan Alberto, Jennifer Allen, Kevin Chamberlin, Carla Duren, Chester Gregory, Mylinda Hull, Marc Koeck, Matt Loehr, Wayne Pretlow, Michael Urie, and Betsy Wolfe.

With Ward Billeisen, Sam Bolen, Colin Cunliffe, Nicholas Cunningham, Taeler Elyse Cyrus, Christine DiGiallonardo, Michael Everett, Ta’Nika Gibson, Berklea Going, Marc A. Heitzman, Leah Horowitz, Cajai  Fellows Johnson, Robin Masella, Skye Mattox, Kaitlin Mesh, Justin Packard, Nathan Andrew Riley, Blakely Slaybaugh, George Slotin, Madison Stratton, and Shaun-Avery Williams.

High Button Shoes is part of the 2019 Encores! season along with Call Me Madam and Rodger’s & Hart’s I Married an Angel.

Learn about all the extraordinary programming and ancillary events we have lined up for our 75th Anniversary Season.

75th Anniversary Season Sponsors
Stacey and Eric Mindich

Major Support for Encores! is provided by
Stacey and Eric Mindich Fund for Musical Theater

Season Sponsors
Roz and Jerry Meyer
The Shubert Foundation
Stephanie and Fred Shuman Fund for Encores!

Support for High Button Shoes is provided by
Joseph S. and Diane H. Steinberg Charitable Trust
Leo Shull Foundation for the Arts

Additional Support is provided by
The Frederick Loewe Foundation
The SHS Foundation
The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, Inc.