One & One (musical comedy)

One & One
a musical comedy
One & One playbill
Music	Dianne Adams Richard O'Donnell
Lyrics	Dianne Adams Richard O'Donnell
Book	Fred Bennett Richard O'Donnell
Productions	off-Broadway, NYC, 1978
Awards	3 ASCAP awards 1978-79

One & One is an American 1970s award-winning original off-Broadway musical comedy by Dianne Adams (music and lyrics), Fred Bennett (book), and Richard O'Donnell (book, music and lyrics).

Produced by the Broadway-times Theatre Co., and directed by Jim Payne, One & One opened November 15, 1978 at The Carter Theatre, 250 West 43rd Street in the heart of Times Square.

One & One tells the story of a fading song and dance team Majeski & O’Reily that are forced to take on a woman partner to boost their notoriety. An old childhood friend, Julie Allyn, has blossomed into a talented beauty; they both fall in love with her with disastrous results. Through the decline of Vaudeville to the rise of the big Hollywood musicals, One & One is an homage to American entertainment with “...as good a score as any on Broadway today.”

In 1976, while attending Mansfield University, Dianne Adams (music and lyrics), Fred Bennett (book), and Richard O’Donnell (book, music, and lyrics) met, all sharing their adoration for the bygone years of Vaudeville, Burlesque, and the great MGM musicals. Two years later their musical comedy One & One was produced off-Broadway by the Broadway-times Theatre Co., and went on to receive two ASCAP Special Awards in 1978 and one in 1979, all under the category of musical theater.

One & One previewed in New York City at the Carter Theatre (formally the Bert Wheeler Theatre), off the lobby of the Carter Hotel, 250 West 43rd Street for over six months, before officially opening November 15, 1978. On opening night Dianne Adams was 19, Richard O’Donnell was 22, and Fred Bennett was 24 years old. After a brief but successful run, the show was slated for Broadway, produced by Duff Boardman & Associates, Theatre Now, general managers; and budgeted at one million dollars. For the Broadway backers audition then unknown actor Nathan Lane recorded the role of Jeff O’Riely. Tap legend Miriam Nelson was signed to direct and choreograph. Due to costs, the show never hit the Great White Way.