- For the 1934 film of the same name, see Twentieth Century.
Twentieth Century is a play by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur.
Based on an earlier, unproduced play by Charles B. Milholland, inspired by his experience working for David Belasco, the comedy is set in the observation car of the Twentieth Century Limited, enroute to Grand Central Station in New York City from Chicago. Aboard the luxury train are egomaniacal theatre producer Oscar Jaffe, desperately in need of a hit, and his former paramour and protégé, temperamental actress Lily Garland (born Mildred Plotka), who abandoned him for a Hollywood career. Oscar is determined to sign her for his new show, and Lily is just as determined to ignore his advances, both professional and personal. The first Broadway production, directed by George Abbott, opened on December 29, 1932 at the Broadhurst Theatre, where it ran for 152 performances. It was adapted for a critically acclaimed film adaptation of the same name two years later. The play has been revived on Broadway twice. The first, directed by José Ferrer, opened on December 24, 1950 at the ANTA Plahouse, where it ran for 233 performances. The cast included Ferrer as Oscar and Gloria Swanson as Lily. After twenty-seven previews, the second revival, an adaptation by Ken Ludwig directed by Walter Bobbie, opened on March 25, 2004 at the American Airlines Theatre, where it ran for 84 performances. Alec Baldwin and Anne Heche headed a cast that included Dan Butler and Tom Aldredge. Tony Award nominations went to Heche and Aldredge, and the production earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Set Design of a Play. Betty Comden, Adolph Green, and Cy Coleman were the creative team behind the 1978 musical adaptation of the play entitled On the Twentieth Century.
