Character guide
Polly Baker
from Crazy for You
Polly Baker is the spirited leading lady of Crazy for You, a small town theater owner's daughter who becomes the object of Bobby Child's affection and the heart of the show's central romance.
- Show
- Crazy for You
- Premiered
- 1992
- Role
- Lead
- Composer
- George Gershwin
Who is Polly Baker?
Polly is a capable, independent minded young woman running the local theater in a struggling desert town, determined to keep the place alive despite the odds. She is skeptical of outsiders, and especially skeptical of Bobby Child when he first arrives, which sets up the classic will they, won't they tension that drives Crazy for You's plot.
Her resourcefulness and directness make her more than just a romantic interest. Polly is the one who understands what the town and the theater actually need, and much of the show's comedy and warmth comes from watching her spar with, and eventually fall for, Bobby.
Polly Baker's role in Crazy for You
As a lead, Polly shares the vocal and comedic spotlight with Bobby throughout the show, singing several of Gershwin's most beloved numbers and anchoring the romantic through line of the musical. The role calls for a performer with strong comic instincts, genuine warmth, and the vocal range to handle a classic Gershwin songbook.
Polly resonates with audiences because she is spirited and self sufficient rather than a passive romantic prize, and her chemistry with Bobby gives Crazy for You its emotional center amid all the tap dancing and mistaken identity comedy.
Frequently asked
What show is Polly Baker from?
Polly Baker is a lead character in Crazy for You, the 1992 musical featuring the music of George Gershwin.
Is Polly Baker a lead or supporting role?
Polly Baker is a leading role and Bobby Child's romantic counterpart.
Who wrote the music for Crazy for You?
George Gershwin wrote the music, with the show built around his classic songs.
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