thoroughly modern millie is a 2002 musical, with lyrics by dick scanlan and music by jeanine tesori. it is based on the 1967 movie of the same name. it is about a girl from kansas, millie dillmount, who comes to new york city in the 1920s to marry for money rather than love. millie begins to soon take delight in the flapper lifestyle. however, problems arise when she checks into a hotel owned by a the leader of a white slavery ring in china.