 As they cast the musical, Rodgers, Hart and O'Hara knew that they wanted Joey to be primarily a dancer, not a singer, and the actor who played Joey would have to be likeable in spite of Joey's unpleasant character.They chose Gene Kelly, who was at the time playing a dancing role, Harry the Hoofer, in the play "The Time of Your Life".Kelly had made his Broadway debut in 1938 in the chorus of Cole Porter's "Leave It to Me!