Character guide
Abner Dillon
from 42nd Street
Abner Dillon is the wealthy backer bankrolling "Pretty Lady" in "42nd Street," a comic figure whose money keeps the show, and its leading lady, afloat.
- Show
- 42nd Street
- Premiered
- 1980
- Role
- Supporting
- Composer
- Harry Warren
Who is Abner Dillon?
Abner is the show's financier, a well-heeled older gentleman whose investment in "Pretty Lady" comes with strings attached, chiefly his devotion to the production's temperamental star. He is a classic type from the golden age of Broadway storytelling: the moneyed patron whose personal interests keep bumping up against the practical needs of putting on a show.
Abner's presence raises the stakes for everyone around him, since the fate of the production is tied as much to his goodwill as to the talent on stage.
Abner's role in 42nd Street
Abner is a supporting role built for comedy, played for laughs as a slightly foolish, easily flattered man of means. The part calls for confident comic acting more than vocal fireworks, with a performer who can be blustery and a little ridiculous without tipping into caricature that undercuts the story's stakes.
He is a fun character-actor role in a show full of big personalities, giving audiences someone to laugh at even as the backstage tension mounts.
Frequently asked
What show is Abner Dillon from?
Abner Dillon appears in "42nd Street," the 1980 Broadway musical.
Is Abner Dillon a lead or supporting role?
Abner Dillon is a supporting, comic role as the show's wealthy backer.
What kind of music does 42nd Street feature?
The score, by Harry Warren, is built around classic, tap-driven Broadway and Hollywood era songs.
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