Le monde des musicals

Version 1

Lady be good (1924-12-Liberty Theatre-Broadway)

Type de série: Original
Théâtre: Opera Comique (Londres - Angleterre)
Durée : 9 mois 2 semaines
Nombre : 330 représentations
Première Preview : Monday 01 December 1924
Première : Monday 01 December 1924
Dernière : Saturday 12 September 1925
Mise en scène : Felix Edwardes •
Chorégraphie : Sammy Lee •
Producteur :
Avec : Fred Astaire (Dick Trevor), Adele Astaire (Susie Trevor), Alan Edwards (Jack Robinson), Jayne Auburn (Josephine Vanderwater), Patricia Clark (Daisy Parke), Gerald Oliver Smith (Bertie Bassett), Walter Catlett (J. Watterson, aka Watty, Watkins), Kathlene Martyn (Shirley Vernon), Cliff Edwards (Jeff), Bryan Lycan (Manuel Estrada), Edward Jephson (Flunkey); Pianists: Victor Arden and Phil Ohman; James Bradbury (Rufus Parke); Ladies of the Ensemble: Mary Hutchison, Lillian Michell, Esther Morris, Tony Otto, Peggy Hart, Dorothy Hollis, Paulette Winston, Sylvia Shawn, Gertrude Livingstone, Janearl Johnson, Jessie Payne, Edna Farrell, Dorothy Hughes, Madeline Janis, Mildred Stevens, Dorothy Donovan, Frances Lindell, Peggy Pitiou, Doris Waldron, Peggy Quinn, Ethel Lind, Elmira Lahmann, Irene Wiley, Grace Jones, Maxine Henry; Gentlemen of the Ensemble: Dan Sparks, Richard Devonshire, Alfred Hale, Jack Fraley, Harry Howell, Charles Bannister, Lionel Maclyn, Richard Renaud, Hal Crusius, Ward Arnold, Francis Murphy, Charles LaValle

Version 2

No, No, Nanette (1925-09-Lunt Fontanne Theatre-Broadway)

Type de série: Original Broadway
Théâtre: Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (Broadway - Etats-Unis)
Durée : 9 mois
Nombre : 321 représentations
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première : Wednesday 16 September 1925
Dernière : Saturday 19 June 1926
Mise en scène : H. H. Frazee •
Chorégraphie : Sammy Lee •
Producteur :
Avec : Georgia O’Ramey (Pauline), Eleanor Dawn (Sue Smith), Wellington Cross (Billy Early), Josephine Whittell (Lucille), Louise Groody (Nanette), Jack Barker (Tom Trainor), Charles Winninger (Jimmy Smith), Beatrice Lee (Betty from Boston), Mary Lawlor (Winnie from Washington), Edna Whistler (Flora from ’Frisco); The Maids: Helen Keyes (Helen), Ethel Gibson (Ethel), Beatrice Wilson (Beatrice), Eva Vincent (Eva), Beth Milton (Beth), Margery Bailey (Margery), Hazel Pando (Hazel), Ruth Kent (Ruth), Bonnie Bland (Bonnie), Lucille Moore (Lucille); The Marrieds: Lillian MacKenzie (Mrs. Holmes-Gore), Veeda Burgett (Mrs. Smythe-Smith), Winefride Verina (Mrs. Townley-Morgan), Adele Ormiston (Mrs. Brown-Maddox), Aline Martin (Mrs. Ormesby-Willard), Ellen O’Brien (Mrs. Webster-Wylie), Peggy Johnstone (Mrs. Parker-Lyne), Eleanor Rowe (Mrs. Codman-Russell), May Sullivan (Mrs. Whitney-Cabot), Jane Hurd (Mrs. Lane-Gardner); The Bachelors: Edward Nell Jr. (Edward), Jerome Kirkland (Jerome), Alfred Milano (Alfred), William Bailey (William), Stanley Lipton (Stanley), Douglas Keaton (Douglas), Ray Moore (Ray), Frank Parker (Frank), Edouard Lefebvre (Edouard), Robert Spencer (Robert)
Commentaires : Avec Rose-Marie (), No, No, Nanette serait le musical le plus rentable des années '20. The Student Prince () a peut-être duré plus longtemps, mais Rose-Marie () et No, No, Nanette ont connu des succès sans précédent en Try-Out, en tournée et ont également connu des succès internationaux (vingt-sept pays dont la Russie, l’Allemagne, l’Égypte, la Palestine, l’Inde, la Chine et le Japon). La série de No, No, Nanette à Broadway est quelque peu trompeuse: les 321 représentations ont été un vrai succès pour l’époque mais avec la réputation du musical et ses chansons populaires Tea for Two et I Want to Be Happy, on aurait pu supposer que le spectacle aurait dépassé les 500 ou 600 représentations.

Nul doute que le succès sans précédent du musical en tournée (en Try-Out) est en partie responsable de la «courte» série à Broadway. Au moment de l’ouverture de Broadway, No, No, Nanette se jouait en tournée depuis environ 18 mois. La première mondiale a eu lieu à Detroit le 20 avril 1924, et de là le spectacle a déménagé à Chicago, où il s’est joué 44 semaines, puis à Boston. Une autre compagnie a joué six mois à Philadelphie, une troisième compagnie est parti en US Tour pour des engagements plus courts, et Londres a vu le musical six mois avant l’ouverture de Broadway (voir ci-dessous). En conséquence, de nombreux touristes étrangers avaient probablement vu le spectacle dans leurs propres villes, et certains ont peut-être vu le musical à Londres, et quand ils ont visité New York, ils ont opté pour un autre musical.

En outre, la saison à Broadway a été riche en nouveaux succès, et en fait l’ouverture de No, No, Nanette a fait partie d’une semaine historique de Broadway. Nous sommes au début de la saison 1926-27 et dans la semaine de la Première de No, No, Nanette, trois autres gros succès ont été créés: Dearest Enemy () de Richard Rodgers et Lorenz Hart, The Vagabond King () de Rudolf Friml et Sunny () de Jerome Kern. Jamais auparavant et jamais plus – du moins jusqu’à aujourd’hui – quatre musicals à succès ne s’ouvriront la même semaine à Broadway. Très vite un certain nombre de Revues à succès et de nouveaux spectacles se sont rajoutés en début de saison: The City Chap () de Jerome Kern, Princess Flavia () de Sigmund Romberg, The Cocoanuts () d’Irving Berlin, Tip-Toes () des Gershwins, The Song of the Flame () de George Gershwin (et Herbert Stothart), et The Girl Friend () de Rodgers et Hart. Sans oublier quelques gros succès de la saison précédente qui se jouaient encore comme Rose-Marie (), The Student Prince () et Louie the 14th ().

Version 3

Rio Rita (1927-02-Ziegfield Theatre-Broadway)

Type de série: Original
Théâtre: Ziegfield Theatre (Broadway - Etats-Unis)
Gros succès
Durée : 1 an 2 mois
Nombre : 494 représentations
Première Preview : Wednesday 02 February 1927
Première : Wednesday 02 February 1927
Dernière : Saturday 07 April 1928
Mise en scène : John Harwood •
Chorégraphie : Sammy Lee • Albertina Rasch •
Producteur :
Avec : Juan Villasana (El Patron), Al Clair (Reporter), Walter Petrie (Roberto Ferguson, aka The Kinkajou), Helene C. Clive (Carmen), Robert Woolsey (Ed Lovett), Fred Dalton (Grim Gomez), Vincent Serrano (General Enrique Joselito Esteban), Gladys Glad (Raquel), Marion Benda (Conchita), Dorothy Wegman (Juanita), Peggy Blake (Lolita), Myrna Darby (Margarita), Kay English (Santiago), Ethelind Terry (Rio Rita), Bert Wheeler (Chick Bean), Ada-May (Dolly), J. Harold Murray (Jim), Harry Ratcliffe (Sergeant McGinn), Donald Douglas (Sergeant Wilkins), Alf P. James (Davalos), Pedro Rubin (Escamillo), Collette (the performer used one name) (Herminia), Noel Francis (Katie Bean), Katherine Burke (Montezuma’s Daughter); Aztec Goddesses: Marian Benda (Palomita), Gladys Glad (Mariposita), Myrna Darby (Margarita), Dorothy Wegman (Manzanita), Amy West (Zinzontle), Helene Gardner (Esperanza), Yvonne Hughes (Pepita), Agatha DeBussy (Marina); The Gringitas and The Cabaret Girls: Naomi Johnson, Peggy Cornell, Elsie Behrens, Nondas Wayne, Mable Baade, Virginia Biddle, Kay English, Marion Strasmick, Ivanelle Ladd; The Albertina Rasch Dancers: Mollie Peck, Florence Miller, Portia Grafton, Rita Pischel, Naomi de Musie, Josephine Hayes, Helen Derby, Betty McHugh, Franciska Mueller, Vivian Morgan, Jennie Dolova, Margaret Godsworthy, Gladys Murphy, Elma Bayer, Janet Flynn, Harriet Hughes; Ladies of the Ensemble: Marion Benda, Myrna Darby, Agatha DeBussy, Elaine Field, Yvonne Hughes, Helene Gardner, Gladys Glad, Camille (the performer used one name), Madeline Sheldon, Rosemary Wallace, Dorothy Wegman, Amy West, Peggy Udell, Martha Ann, Malba Alter, Jean Crittenden, Dorothy Dickerson, Theresa Hyle, Mary Alter, Valerie Lennox, Louise Richardson, Maxine Wells, Philomene Yvsocka, Avis Adaire, Mabel Baade, Elsie Behrens, Virginia Biddle, Peggy Cornell, Audrey Dale, Kay English, Ann Hardman, Mignon Hawkes, Ivanelle Ladd, Lavergne Lambert, Mildred Lunnay, Cookie Lunsford, Naomi Johnson, Lottie Marcy, Marjorie May Martin, Frances Mildern, Alma Moore, Margaret Purple, Marjorie Purple, Rosemary Ryder, Marion Strasmick, Lillian Shields, Norma Taylor, Florence Ware, Clarentine Wayne, Nondas Wayne, Marion Wilson, Jean Wayne, Bernice Varden, Dorothy Patterson, Pauline Bartlett, Ann Woods, Dorothy May, Margie Baily, Anita Banton, Suzanne Conroy, Carol Bergman; Gentlemen of the Ensemble: Earl Marvin, Lucien Farland, Jack Spinelly, Robert Mathews, Alfred Arnold, Charles A. McClelland, Joseph Rogers, Jack Phillips, Walter Palm, John Werner, Leo Nash, Morris Tepper, Charles Holly, Al Small, Edward Theopold, George Butler, M. Zaharia, Richard Vernon, Bill Otero, Raymond Toben, Rass Erikson, Douglas Steade, Frank Zolt, Jack Thomson, Owen Hervey, Henry Nelthropp, A. Safanow; The Original Central American Marimba Band: Carlos Estrada, Francisco Torres, Jose Betancourt, Victor Bragamonte, Gabriel Herrera, Antonio Arreola, Vincente Murtado; The South American Troubadours: Alcides Briseno, George Anez, Manuel Valdespino
Commentaires : Ziegfeld Theatre (2/2/1927 - 25/12/1927)
Lyric Theatre (26/12/1927 - 11/3/1928)
Majestic Theatre (12/3/1928 - 7/4/1928)

Version 4

Show Boat (1927-12-Ziegfield Theatre-Broadway)

Type de série: Original
Théâtre: Ziegfield Theatre (Broadway - Etats-Unis)
Durée : 1 an 1 mois 1 semaine
Nombre : 527 représentations
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première : Tuesday 27 December 1927
Dernière : Monday 04 February 1929
Mise en scène : Oscar Hammerstein II • Zeke Colvan •
Chorégraphie : Sammy Lee •
Producteur :
Avec : Windy ... Allan Campbell
Steve ... Charles Ellis
Pete ... Bert Chapman
Queenie ... Aunt Jemima
Parthy Ann Hawks ... Edna May Oliver
Cap'n Andy ... Charles Winninger
Ellie ... Eva Puck
Frank ... Sammy White
Rubber Face ... Francis X. Mahoney
Julie ... Helen Morgan
Commentaires longs: La création à Broadway a été précédée d'un Try Out Tour:
National Theatre [Washington, DC] 15/11/1927 - ?
Nixon Theatre [Philadelphia, PA] 21/11/1927 - ?
Ohio Theatre [Cleveland, OH] 28/11/1927 - ?
Erlanger Theatre [Philadelphia, PA] 5/12/1927 - 19/12/1927

The production was originally supposed to go into the Lyric Theatre but producer Florenz Ziegfeld deemed the stage too small. Rio Rita was originally supposed to be the first show at the new Ziegfeld Theatre. Because of the stage size, Ziegfeld shifted Rio Rita to the Lyric and Show Boat to the Ziegfeld.

Casting might-have-beens:
Florenz Ziegfeld originally wanted tenor Harry Fender as Ravenal. Fender had developed crippling stage fright and could not take the role.
Originally, Ziegfeld, Hammerstein and Kern wanted Paul Robeson to play Joe. But, when the production was delayed by a year, Robeson was unavailable.
Elizabeth Hines was announced as Magnoila (she announced this in her biography in the program for Rio Rita). When she was released from her contract, she sued Ziegfeld (see other note on this page).
Guy Robertson was announced as Ravenal.

Show Boat was originally intended to be produced around April 1927 with Elizabeth Hines, Guy Robertson and Paul Robeson. However, when the writing delayed the start of rehearsals, the performers were released.

Elizabeth Hines (who was announced for the role of Magnolia in early 1927) sued Ziegfeld for approximately $200,000 when he released her from her contract following the spring 1927 delay. She claimed that she signed a contract that if Show Boat was not produced in January 1927, Ziegfeld would find her another property. She lost the suit in the Supreme Court.

The world premiere at the National Theatre in Washington DC on November 15, 1927 became legendary for both its impact and its length. The first act curtain came down at 10:30 and the final curtain fell at 12:40am.

Following the premiere performance, drastic cuts were made.

Show Boat proved so popular that in February 1928, Ziegfeld announced that he would open a second New York company at another theatre to play simultaneously. Possible cast members mentioned were Raymond Hitchcock as Cap'n Andy, Paul Robeson as Joe and Libby Holman as Julie. It never happened though.

The Broadway cast took the show on the road following the Broadway closing.

Version 5

Show Boat (1932-05-Casino Theatre-Broadway)

Type de série: Revival
Théâtre: Casino Theatre (7Th Av) (Broadway - Etats-Unis)
Durée : 5 mois
Nombre : 180 représentations
Première Preview : Inconnu
Première : Thursday 19 May 1932
Dernière : Saturday 22 October 1932
Mise en scène : Oscar Hammerstein II •
Chorégraphie : Sammy Lee •
Producteur :
Avec : Windy ... Allan Campbell
Steve ... Charles Ellis
Pete ... James Swift
Queenie ... Tess Gardella
Parthy Ann Hawks ... Edna May Oliver
Cap'n Andy ... Charles Winninger
Ellie ... Eva Puck
Frank ... Sammy White
Rubber Face ... Francis X. Mahoney
Julie ... Helen Morgan
Commentaires longs: Commonly referred to as a return engagement, this production of Show Boat was actually a revival. Producer Florenz Ziegfeld had fallen on hard times after a string of six flops in three years (Show Girl, Bitter Sweet, Simple Simon, Smiles, Ziegfeld Follies of 1931, and Hot-Cha!), gambling debts, and the stock market crash. In need of cash, he revived one of his most successful shows.

Ziegfeld took advantage of the crash and it's hardship on actors and was able to round up many of the original principals from the original production.

He decided to use Paul Robeson for Joe instead of Jules Bledsoe (who originated the role). Robeson had been the original choice in 1927 but had been unavailable when rehearsals began. He played the role in the 1928 London production.

For Ravenal, he decided to use then-star Dennis King rather than the original Howard Marsh. Marsh had been criticized in reviews for his wooden acting. King had starred in several Broadway operettas. He was, however, a high baritone and not a tenor. His debonair image, however, was perfect for Ravenal.

Rehearsals began on April 18, 1932.

The top ticket price was $3. Some seats were as low as 50¢.

The production opened cold on Broadway without a tryout tour.
The principals' weekly salaries were:
Helen Morgan (Julie): $1250
Norma Terris (Magnolia): $500
Dennis King (Ravenal): $1000
Edna May Oliver (Parthy): $1000
Eva Puck (Ellie): $1250
Sammy White (Frank): $1250
Charles Winninger: $1000
Tess Gardella (Queenie): $500
Paul Robeson (Joe): $1500

Ziegfeld died on July 22, part way through the run. A.C. Blumenthal took over as producer.

Right after opening, the production was the highest grossing on Broadway at the time. During the summer months, however, business tapered off (as happens with many shows). To keep the show running, the cast agreed to take a salary cut. A few weeks later, they agreed to another cut which reduced their salaries to 50% of what they were at opening. It was clear that the principals agreed to the pay cuts to keep the chorus members employed, since the principals could all have easily gotten more work.

Charles Winninger (Cap'n Andy) planned to reduce his performances when he agreed to star as Captain Henry on the weekly NBC radio series Show Boat. William Kent was to take over Thursday nights but the radio show and Broadway schedule were too much for Winninger. On October 17, Kent took over the role entirely.