In this Americanized musical stage version adapted from the 1997 British film of the same name, six unemployed Buffalo steelworkers, low on both cash and prospects, decide to present a strip act at a local club after seeing their wives' enthusiasm for a touring company of Chippendales.
In depressed Buffalo, New York, the once-successful steel mills have grown brown with rust, rolling equipment has been removed, and the lines are silent.
Elsewhere, Dave's wife Georgie and her friends are celebrating their newfound independence and wealth as the sole earners of their families by attending a Chippendales performance ("It's a Woman's World").
Jerry is convinced that his ship has finally come in: he decides to organize a similar act of his own, with the intent to earn enough money to pay for his child support obligations ("Man").
Next on Dave and Jerry's list is their former foreman, the middle-class aspirant Harold Nichols, who is taking a ballroom dance class with his immaculately groomed wife, Vicki.
Later, as the men are rehearsing at Harold's house, they undress in front of each other for the first time, and have nightmare visions that the women of the town will find them inadequate ("The Goods").
During a dress rehearsal, the boys get literally caught with their pants down wearing thongs, causing Jerry, Horse, Harold, Jeanette, and Nathan to be brought into a police station.
After Pam tearfully picks up Nathan ("Man (Reprise)"), the men are approached on the street by local women acquaintances who have heard of their show.
The opening night cast included Patrick Wilson as Jerry, John Ellison Conlee as Dave, Marcus Neville as Harold, Jason Danieley as Malcolm, André De Shields as Horse, Romain Frugé as Ethan, Lisa Datz as Pam, Annie Golden as Georgie, Emily Skinner as Vicki, and Kathleen Freeman as Jeanette.
[4] Directed by Mario Gas and translated to Catalan by Roser Batalla and Roger Peña, the cast included Marc Martínez as Jerry, Dani Claramunt as Dave, Xavier Mateu as Harold, Àngel Llàcer as Malcolm, Miquel Àngel Ripeu as Horse, Xavier Mestres as Ethan, Roser Batalla as Pam, Mercè Martínez as Georgie, Mone as Vicki, and Carme Contreras as Jeanette.
[5] In 2003, the musical was translated to Danish and played at the closed-down Tuborg Brewery bottling plant in Copenhagen, and the story was changed to the men being let off from Brewers.
[6] An Australian production opened at the State Theatre in Melbourne on 6 January 2004 (after previewing from 31 December 2003), featuring Matt Hetherington, David Harris, Paul Mercurio, Michael Veitch, Queenie van de Zandt and Val Jellay.
[13] A production directed by Thom Southerland ran at the Broadway Studio in Catford, South East London, in November 2009 and then transferred to the Off West End at the New Players Theatre from December 3, 2009, through January 2, 2010.
[15] A Philippine version was staged at the RCBC Plaza starring Mark Bautista, Arnel Ignacio, Marco Sison, OJ Mariano, and Jamie Wilson.
[17] The cast featured mostly local actors, as well as special guest appearances (during certain performances) from Australian Idol finalist Rob Mills, AFL footballer Brodie Holland, and radio presenter Anthony "Lehmo" Lehmann.
[17] A Spanish language production opened on October 27, 2021 at the Teatro Rialto in Madrid, with Samuel Gómez as Jerry, Falco Cabo as Dave, José Navar as Harold, Gustavo Rodríguez as Malcolm, Piñaki Gómez as Horse, Carlos Salgado as Ethan, Marta Arteta as Pam, Silvia Villaú as Georgie, Begoña Álvarez as Vicki, and Marta Malone as Jeanette.