sentences:  The book itself mixed jazz and blues rhythms with more traditional musical theater, including comedy numbers written for Zero Mostel, making his Broadway debut as Peachum.The Broadway production, directed by Nicholas Ray and choreographed by Valerie Bettis, opened on December 26, 1946 at The Broadway Theatre, where it ran for 111 performances.The cast included Alfred Drake, Zero Mostel, Bernice Parks, Jet MacDonald, Dorothy Johnson, Mildred Joanne Smith, Marie Bryant, Avon Long, William Dillard, Rollin Smith, Thomas Gomez, and Herbert Ross.