''First Lady'' is a play by

George S. Kaufman George Simon Kaufman (November 16, 1889June 2, 1961) was an American playwright, theater director and producer, humorist, and drama critic. In addition to comedies and political satire, he wrote several musicals for the Marx Brothers and other ...

and Katharine Dayton. It premiered on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

at the

Music Box Theatre The Music Box Theatre is a Broadway theater at 239 West 45th Street ( George Abbott Way) in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1921, the Music Box Theatre was designed by C. Howard Crane in a Palladian-inspir ...

on November 26, 1935, closing in June 1936 after 246 performances. A hit with the public, the play was made into a film of the same name in 1937. The original Broadway production was directed by Kaufman and used sets by

Donald Oenslager Donald Oenslager (March 7, 1902 – June 11, 1975) was an American scenic designer who won the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design. Biography Oenslager was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and attended Harvard University, graduating in 1923. He beca ...

and costumes by John Hambleton. The cast included

Jane Cowl Jane Cowl (December 14, 1883 – June 22, 1950) was an American film and stage actress and playwright "notorious for playing lachrymose parts". Actress Jane Russell was named in Cowl's honor. Biography Cowl was born Jane Bailey in Boston, Mas ...

as Lucy Chase Wayne,

Stanley Ridges Stanley Charles Ridges (17 July 1890 – 22 April 1951) was an English-born, American actor who made more than 100 appearances in theatre and movies from 1917 to 1951. After his American film debut in ''Success'' (1923), he appeared in films s ...

as Stephen Wayne, Oswald Yorke as Carter Hibbard, and

Lily Cahill Lily Cahill (July 17, 1888 – July 20, 1955) was an American stage and screen actress. Early life Lily Cahill was born July 17, 1888 in San Antonio, Texas. She was the granddaughter of Confederate Army Colonel John Jacob Myers. Career She bega ...

as Irene Hibbard.

External links

* Plays by George S. Kaufman Broadway plays 1935 plays American plays adapted into films {{1930s-play-stub