''Dear Ruth'' is a successful 1944 Broadway play written by Norman Krasna. It ran for 680 performances.

History

Krasna wrote a serious play, ''

The Man with Blond Hair ''The Man With Blond Hair'' is a play by Norman Krasna based on a true story. Although Krasna became better known for comedy this was a drama; the writer later said that he "really wrote" the play "to win the Nobel Peace Prize". The play only ran ...

'', which received a tepid response. He said that Moss Hart suggested he write a commercial comedy instead along the lines of '' Junior Miss''. Krasna based the family in the play on that of

Groucho Marx Julius Henry "Groucho" Marx (; October 2, 1890 – August 19, 1977) was an American comedian, actor, writer, stage, film, radio, singer, television star and vaudeville performer. He is generally considered to have been a master of quick wit an ...

, who was a good friend and occasional collaborator.*McGilligan, Patrick, "Norman Krasna: The Woolworth's Touch", ''Backstory: Interviews with Screenwriters of Hollywood's Golden Age'', University of California Press, 1986. pp. 218, 226 The play was named in honor of Krasna's first wife, Ruth. The original production of the play was directed by Moss Hart and starred John Dall. It was a big success, running for 680 performances. Film rights were sold for a reported $450,000 with the proviso that a movie not be made until the play finished a two-year run. The film, also titled '' Dear Ruth'', premiered on June 10, 1947. ''Dear Ruth'' was also published as an Armed Services Edition, distributed to American servicemen during World War II.

References

External links

*
Review of Broadway production
at Variety {{Norman Krasna 1944 plays Plays by Norman Krasna Broadway plays American plays adapted into films Plays set in New York (state)