Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
Opening Night Crisis
The producer faces severe financial trouble and a demanding bill collector on opening night. Clary takes drastic action to buy time by locking the collector away.
Key Events
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Opening Night Crisis — Producer faces severe financial trouble on opening night. Location: Theater Backstage
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Texan's Arrival — Wealthy Texan arrives and offers conditional financial help. Location: Theater Lobby
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Conditional Investment — Texan demands high quality and commercial potential for funding. Location: Producer's Office
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Collector's Demand — Bill collector confronts producer, demanding immediate payment. Location: Theater Hallway
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Dressing Room Lock — Clary locks the bill collector inside to delay collection. Characters: Robert Clary
Location: Dressing Room
Conditional Investment
A wealthy Texan arrives with a strict investment offer tied to his daughter's career. The daughter prepares under immense pressure while the performance begins.
Key Events
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Dressing Room Lock — Clary locks the bill collector inside to delay collection. Characters: Robert Clary
Location: Dressing Room
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Daughter's Preparation — Texan's daughter prepares backstage under immense pressure. Location: Dressing Room
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Father's Ultimatum — Texan warns daughter she must return to Texas if unimpressed. Location: Theater Box
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Show Commences — The revue officially begins with high stakes for everyone. Location: Main Stage
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Song Cut Short — Daughter's signature song is repeatedly interrupted for act intros. Location: Main Stage
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Performance Struggle — Daughter struggles to introduce next acts while talent is undermined. Location: Main Stage
Stage Struggles
The Texan's daughter faces repeated interruptions during her act, hampering her ability to showcase her talent. Backstage tension peaks as the collector remains trapped.
Key Events
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Performance Struggle — Daughter struggles to introduce next acts while talent is undermined. Location: Main Stage
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Backstage Tension — Collector realizes he is locked in, increasing backstage anxiety. Characters: Robert Clary
Location: Dressing Room
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Midpoint Review — Texan closely evaluates the show's commercial viability. Location: Theater Box
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Act Continues — Revue acts proceed despite earlier interruptions and backstage chaos. Location: Main Stage
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Collector's Realization — Collector checks time, realizing the show is nearing its end. Location: Dressing Room
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Final Performance — Daughter delivers her final numbers with renewed determination. Location: Main Stage
Triumphant Resolution
The show concludes successfully, earning the Texan's approval and securing the investment. The daughter's career is validated, and she announces her engagement.
Key Events
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Final Performance — Daughter delivers her final numbers with renewed determination. Location: Main Stage
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Show Conclusion — The revue ends to applause, resolving the performance crisis. Location: Main Stage
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Texan's Approval — Texan expresses genuine impressment with the show's quality. Location: Theater Atrium
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Career Validated — Daughter's talent is officially recognized, securing her future. Location: Theater Stage
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Romantic Announcement — Daughter publicly announces her engagement to a fellow cast member. Location: Main Stage
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Financial Resolution — Producer settles debts with Texan's investment, freeing the collector. Location: Theater Lobby
New Faces was a musical revue with songs and comedy skits tied together by a quirky plot. It ran on Broadway for nearly a year in 1952 and was then made into a motion picture in 1954. It helped jump start the careers of several young performers including Paul Lynde, Alice Ghostley, Eartha Kitt, Carol Lawrence, performer/writer Mel Brooks (as Melvin Brooks), and lyricist Sheldon Harnick. The film was basically a reproduction of the stage revue with a thin plot added. The plot involved a producer and performer (Ronny Graham) in financial trouble and is trying to stave off an angry creditor long enough to open his show. A wealthy Texan offers to help out, on the condition that his daughter be in the show.
