Who is Jimmy Pants?

An entertaining spoof of bio-jukebox musical, a genre that could use some taking down.

Posted on March 28, 2025 by Victor Gluck, Editor-in-Chief in Musicals, Off-Broadway

John Wascavage, Michael Notardonato, Steven Booth and Aaron Arnell Harrington in a scene from The York Theatre’s production of the new musical “Who Is Jimmy Pants?” at the Theatre at St. Jean’s (Photo credit: Carol Rosegg)

The second in the York Theatre’s New2NY spring series is Who Is Jimmy Pants?, an entertaining spoof of bio-jukebox musicals, a genre that could use some taking down. Presented concert-style with book-in-hand, as were the York’s Mufti Series, the high-powered cast of nine directed by Stephen Nachamie (Ken Ludwig’s Dear Jack, Dear Louise) make the rather clichéd material seem better than it is.

With a book by Jeff Bienstock, Who Is Jimmy Pants? covers five decades of the music industry in which the characters do not get any older, narrated by Manhattanite Jimmy Pants himself (played by amiable and sincere Steven Booth) relating his life story as a dense and simple but talented singer whose career is one long series of ups and downs. The musical is cast in the form of a television tribute show to oldies singer Jimmy Pants, long out of the public eye, as a way of reviving his song catalogue for a trendy jukebox musical. Told by Jimmy who is locked in the bathroom at the studio, we follow his life and career from 1960 – 2010 as the show mimics the musical styles of those decades.

Avery Elledge, Kirsten Scott and Charlotte Odusanya in a scene from The York Theatre’s production of the new musical “Who Is Jimmy Pants?” at the Theatre at St. Jean’s (Photo credit: Carol Rosegg)

The story begins with a local group of friends, Italian American tenor Tony (Michel Notardonato), African American bass Nicky (Aaron Arnell Harrington) and Icelandic baritone Bjørgvïn (John Wascavage) forming a close harmony quartet called The Commodes. They are taken up by slick promoter Burt Grompsky (Broadway veteran David Garrison) who immediately changes their name to The Corduroys, their look and the spelling of Jimmy’s name from Pantz to Pants. Sent out on the road, they exhaustively travel the country trying to get that number one song on the charts. Eventually Jimmy is offered a contract alone in reaction to the racism of his Icelandic partner and he loses track of his friends.

Along the way, Jimmy meets high powered singer Dora Dell (Kirsten Scott) who fronts “Dora Dell and the Ding Dongs,” shades of the Supremes and other girl groups. Instantly attracted to each other, they have an on again/off again romance which leads to several marriages and divorces over the years. Ambitious Dora gets them a TV gig together (think The Sonny and Cher Show) which is almost ruined by Jimmy’s involvement with drugs. When Jimmy hits rock bottom, Dora finds him again and introduces him to their son Timmy who needs a father. When Dora becomes governor of Vermont, she drops Jimmy once again. However, they are reunited at the TV tribute where she has once again reinvented herself, and where we find all of Jimmy’s former bandmates.

Steven Booth and David Garrison in a scene from The York Theatre’s production of the new musical “Who Is Jimmy Pants?” at the Theatre at St. Jean’s (Photo credit: Carol Rosegg)

The catchy score with music by Joseph Church and lyrics by Church and Bienstock runs the gamut from pop to rock to doo wop to disco, mentioning rap and hip-hop along the way. The clever lyrics not only parody pop songs (“Snappin’ for You,” “Shruggin’” for You,” “Shavin’ for You,”) but also comment on the events of Jimmy’s life: “Do You Remember Nostalgia?” “Tight White Suit,” “Travellin’ Song,” “Doin’ It,” “Perfect Harmony,” “Sue, Sue, Sue,” and “Number Two.”

Scott as Dora Dell exudes tremendous energy as well as leads a terriffic trio along with Avery Elledge as Dina and Charlotte Odusanya as Donna in “Number One” and “I Can Do Better (Than That”). Among the male singers, Harrington impresses with his luminous bass. As the sly and deceitful music manager, Garrison is wry, slick and compassionate all at the same time. Wascavage is hilariously incoherent speaking fake and incomprehensible Icelandic.

Steven Booth (center) and the cast of The York Theatre’s production of the new musical “Who Is Jimmy Pants?” at the Theatre at St. Jean’s (Photo credit: Carol Rosegg)

Performed before a backdrop which changes color in Ryan Marsh’s lighting design, the projection design by Evan Frank adds to the minimal scenery. The simplified but uncredited costumes are appropriate for each era depicted. While the book’s spoofing is rather tame and predictable but entertaining, Nachamie’s direction keeps the plot bubbling along as Jimmy’s career rises and falls and Dora’s remarkably continues to soar. Who Is Jimmy Pants? is a clever spoof without being original or ground-breaking but enjoyable nevertheless for all of its 90 minutes.

Who Is Jimmy Pants? (March 22 – 30, 2025)

Theatre at St Jean’s, 150 E. 76^th Street off of Lexington Avenue, in Manhattan

For tickets, call 212-935-5820 or visit http://www.yorktheatre.org/buy-tickets

Running time: 90 minutes without an intermission

About Victor Gluck, Editor-in-Chief (1065 Articles)

Victor Gluck was a drama critic and arts journalist with Back Stage from 1980 – 2006. He started reviewing for TheaterScene.net in 2006, where he was also Associate Editor from 2011-2013, and has been Editor-in-Chief since 2014. He is a voting member of The Drama Desk, the Outer Critics Circle, the American Theatre Critics Association, and the Dramatists Guild of America. His plays have been performed at the Quaigh Theatre, Ryan Repertory Company, St. Clements Church, Nuyorican Poets Café and The Gene Frankel Playwrights/Directors Lab.