''My Romance'' is a musical comedy in three acts with book and lyrics by

Rowland Leigh Rowland Leigh (1902 – 1963) was an aristocratic Anglo-American lyricist, screenwriter, and librettist, who worked with many famous actors and musicians during his career on Broadway and in Hollywood. Family His mother, Hon Mrs Leigh, was t ...

, and music by

Sigmund Romberg Sigmund Romberg (July 29, 1887 – November 9, 1951) was a Hungarian-born American composer. He is best known for his Musical theatre, musicals and operettas, particularly ''The Student Prince'' (1924), ''The Desert Song'' (1926) and ''The New Moo ...

. It was produced 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 Stre ...

in 1948.

Production

This show originally started out with music by Denes Agay and lyrics by

. After try-outs in Boston, in Philadelphia at the

Forrest Theatre The Forrest Theatre is a live theatre venue at 1114 Walnut Street in the Center City area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It has a seating capacity of 1,851 and is managed by The Shubert Organization.

, and elsewhere, the show folded. It was revived with a new score by the famous

, and with

Lawrence Brooks Lawrence Brooks (born Huard, August 7, 1912April 15, 1994) He was an American singer and actor. Biography Brooks was born in Westbrook, Maine, the son of Emile and Anna Huard. He participated in musical and dramatic productions at Westbrook H ...

replacing

Charles Fredericks Charles Fredericks (born Fred Cockerham; or Crockenham; September 5, 1918 – May 14, 1970) was an American actor of stage, television, and film. Early years Fredericks was born Fred Cockerham (or Crockenham) the son of a Presbyterian min ...

. ''My Romance'' premiered on

at the Shubert Theatre on October 19, 1948, and then transferred to the

Adelphi Theatre The Adelphi Theatre is a West End theatre, located on the Strand in the City of Westminster, central London. The present building is the fourth on the site. The theatre has specialised in comedy and musical theatre, and today it is a receiv ...

, closing on January 8, 1949, for a total run of 95 performances.''My Romance''
Internet Broadway Database, accessed April 16, 2023 It was produced by Messrs. Lee and J. J. Shubert. The show was based on “Romance,” the 1913 play by

Edward Sheldon Edward Brewster Sheldon (February 4, 1886, in Chicago, Illinois – April 1, 1946, in New York City) was an American dramatist. His plays include ''Salvation Nell'' (1908) and '' Romance'' (1913), which was made into a motion picture with Greta ...

. It was staged by Mr. Leigh and choreographed by Fredric N. Kelly. The scenic design was by Watson Barratt and the costume design was by Lou Eisle. The music by orchestrated by Don Walker and the musical director was Roland Fiore. The cast starred

Anne Jeffreys Anne Jeffreys (born Annie Jeffreys Carmichael; January 26, 1923 – September 27, 2017) was an American actress and singer. She was the female lead in the 1950s TV series '' Topper''. Career Jeffreys was born Annie Jeffreys Carmichael on Janu ...

as Mme. Marguerita Cavallini, and

as Bishop Armstrong,

Synopsis

“My Romance” told the story of a minister who fell in love with an opera diva. Edward Brewster Sheldon, who died in 1946 at the age of 60, wrote this sentimental drama in 1913 and it made the actress

Doris Keane Doris Keane (December 12, 1881 – November 25, 1945) was an American actress, primarily in live theatre. Early life and family Keane was born in Michigan to Joseph Keane and Florence Winter. She was educated privately in Chicago, New York, Pa ...

a memorable figure in American theatre.

Songs

;Act 1 * “Souvenir” * “1898” * “Debutante” * “Written in Your Hand” * “Millefleurs” * “Love and Laughter” * “From Now Onward” * “Little Emmaline” ;Act 2 * “Desire” * “Polka” * “If Only” * “Bella Donna” * “Paradise Stolen” * “In Love with Romance” * “Finaletto” ;Act 3 * “Waltz Interlude” * “Musical Scene” * “Prayer” * “Finale”

Reception

Brooks Atkinson Justin Brooks Atkinson (November 28, 1894 – January 14, 1984) was an American theater critic. He worked for ''The New York Times'' from 1922 to 1960. In his obituary, the ''Times'' called him "the theater's most influential reviewer of his ...

of ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'' called it “pretentious fiddle-faddle,” while John Chapman of the

New York Daily News The ''Daily News'' is an American newspaper based in Jersey City, New Jersey. It was founded in 1919 by Joseph Medill Patterson in New York City as the ''Illustrated Daily News''. It was the first U.S. daily printed in Tabloid (newspaper format ...

said that the “lovely” Jeffreys made for an “enchanting operetta heroine” who sang Romberg's songs “as though they meant something.” Dietz, Dan, ''The Complete Book of 1940s Broadway Musicals, '' Rowman & Littlefield, New York, 2015, pp. 462-464.

References

Sources

* Mantle, Burns (ed.) ''The Best Plays of 1948–1949'', Dodd, Mead and Company, New York, 1949, pp. 390–391. *Dietz, Dan, ''The Complete Book of 1940s Broadway Musicals, '' Rowman & Littlefield, New York, 2015, pp. 462–464. *Stubblebine, Daniel J., ''Broadway Sheet Music, '' McFarland & Company, Jefferson, NC 1996, #1595, p. 196. *Bordman, Gerald, “Ámerican Musical Theatre,” Oxford University Press, New York, 1978, p. 564.

External links

* * {{Playbill production, my-romance-shubert-theatre-vault-0000010518 My Romance My Romance Broadway musicals