conceived, choreographed and directed by MICHAEL BENNET
book by JAMES KIRKWOOD and NICHOLAS DANTE
music by MARVIN HAMLISCH
lyrics by EDWARD KLEBAN

FOLLOWS " And "

SHEILA (speaks)
Well, let's face it May family scene was not good
(sings)
Daddy always thought that he married beneath him
That's what he said, that's what he said
When he proposed he informed my mother
he was probably her very last chance
And though she was twenty-two, though she was twenty-two,
though she was twenty-two -
She married him

Life with my Dad wasn't ever a picnic
More like a "Come as you are"
When I was five I remember my mother
dug earrings out of the car
I knew that they weren't hers, but it wasn't
something you'd want to discuss
He wasn't warm
Well, not to her
Well, not to us

But ev'rything was beautiful at the ballet
Graceful men lift lovely girls in white
Yes, ev'rything was beautiful at the ballet
Hey!
I was happy at the ballet
(speaks)
That's when I started class
(sings)
Up a steep and very narrow stairway

SHEILA, BEBE
To the voice like a metronome
Up a steep and very narrow stairway

SHEILA
It wasn't paradise,

BEBE
It wasn't paradise,

SHEILA, BEBE
It wasn't paradise,

SHEILA
But it was home

BEBE
Mother always said I'd be very attractive
When I grew up, when I grew up
"Different," she said, "with a special something
and a very, very personal flair"
And though I was eight or nine, though I was eight or nine,
Though I was eight or nine, I hated her

(Now) "Different" is nice, but it sure isn't pretty

"Pretty" is what it's about
I never met anyone who was "different"
Who couldn't figure that out
So beautiful I'd never live to see
But it was clear, if not to her,
Well, then to me that

BEBE, MAGGIE
Everyone is beautiful at the ballet
Ev'ry prince has got to have his swan
Yes, ev'ryone is beautiful at the ballet

MAGGIE
Hey!

BEBE
I was pretty

SHEILA
At the ballet

MAGGIE, BEBE, SHEILA
Up a steep and very narrow stairway
To the voice like a metronome
Up a steep and very narrow stairway

MAGGIE
It wasn't paradise,

BEBE
It wasn't paradise,

SHEILA
It wasn't paradise,

TRIO
But it was home

MAGGIE (speaks)
I don't know what they were for or against really except each other I mean, I was born to save their marriage But when my father came to pick my mother up at the hospital, he said, "well, I thought this was going to help out, but I guess it's not" Anyway, I did have a fantastic fantasy life I used to dance around the living room with my hand up like this My fantasy was that it was an Indian Chief and he'd say to me, "Maggie, do you wanna dance " And I'd say, "Daddy, I would love to dance"

(Other 2 girls sing "Do, do, do")

BEBE
But it was clear

SHEILA
When he proposed

MAGGIE
That I was born to help their marriage and when

SHEILA
That's what he said

BEBE
That's what she said

MAGGIE
I used to dance around the living room

SHEILA
He wasn't warm

BEBE
Not to her

MAGGIE
It was an Indian chief and he'd say: "Maggie, do you wanna dance "
And I'd say, "Daddy, I would love to "
Ev'rything was beautiful at the ballet
Raise your arms and someone's always there
Yes, ev'rything was beautiful at the ballet,
At the ballet, at the ballet!!!

TRIO
Yes, ev'rything was beautiful at the ballet

MAGGIE
Hey!

BEBE
I was pretty

SHEILA
I was happy

MAGGIE
I would love to

TRIO
At the ballet