The cast consisted mostly of unknowns, though Isabel Bigley, who had just originated Sister Sarah Brown in "Guys and Dolls", was given the leading role of chorus girl Jeanie. For Larry, the assistant stage manager who falls in love with Jeanie, they cast Bill Hayes, a well-known stage and television actor. William Tabbert, the original Lt. Joe Cable in "South Pacific" was considered for the part of Larry, but lost out because he was thought to be too tall to be afraid of Mark Dawson, hired as the towering bully Bob.