Character guide
Jimmy Smith
Jimmy Smith is the charming love interest in Thoroughly Modern Millie, a seemingly carefree young man who complicates Millie Dillmount's plan to marry for money instead of love.
- Show
- Thoroughly Modern Millie
- Broadway premiere
- 2002
- Role
- Lead
- Music by
- Jeanine Tesori
Jimmy Smith: from the film to Broadway
Broadway compared with the 1967 film
Gavin Creel originated Jimmy on Broadway in 2002; James Fox played him in the 1967 film. The twist is the same in both: the young man Millie meets is secretly rich. The film reveals him as James Van Hossmere, a millionaire whose stepmother Muzzy (Carol Channing) sent him into the world to find genuine love. The musical renames him Herbert J. van Hossmere III, Muzzy's stepson and one of the most eligible bachelors in the world.
On stage Jimmy also gets a song of his own, What Do I Need with Love?
Who is Jimmy Smith?
Jimmy meets Millie soon after she arrives in New York, and his easygoing, flirtatious manner immediately clashes with her practical scheme to marry a wealthy employer. As the story unfolds, he proves to have more depth and mystery than his breezy first impression suggests, and his growing bond with Millie becomes the show's central romance.
Jimmy's arc plays against Millie's own transformation, as both characters are forced to reconsider what they actually want out of love and ambition in the big city.
Playing Jimmy on stage
Jimmy is a lead role that calls for a charismatic leading man with strong comic instincts, easy stage presence, and a solid tenor voice suited to the show's period-flavored romantic numbers. The part requires chemistry with Millie above all, since their evolving relationship drives much of the plot's tension and payoff.
Performers enjoy Jimmy for his blend of charm and hidden layers, while audiences appreciate a leading man who is more playful than brooding, fitting the light, comic spirit of Thoroughly Modern Millie as a whole.
Jimmy Smith: frequently asked questions
What show is Jimmy Smith from?
Jimmy Smith is a character in Thoroughly Modern Millie, which opened on Broadway in 2002.
Is Jimmy Smith a lead or supporting role?
Jimmy is a lead role and serves as Millie's primary love interest throughout the show.
Who wrote the music for Thoroughly Modern Millie?
Jeanine Tesori composed the score.
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Thoroughly Modern Millie show guideMusical theatre characters A to Z