''Show Girl'' is a

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), charac ...

with music by

George Gershwin George Gershwin (; born Jacob Gershwine; September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) was an American composer and pianist whose compositions spanned jazz, popular music, popular and classical music. Among his best-known works are the songs "Swan ...

, lyrics by

Ira Gershwin Ira Gershwin (born Israel Gershovitz; December 6, 1896 – August 17, 1983) was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs in the English language of the ...

and Gus Kahn, and a book William Anthony McGuire. It ran at Broadway's Ziegfeld Theatre from Jul 2, 1929 to Oct 5, 1929. A backstage musical, much of the action of the musical's story takes place at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City. Other scenes take place in

Trenton, New Jersey Trenton is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County, New Jersey, Mercer County. It was the federal capital, capital of the United States from November 1 until D ...

;

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

; and at a Penthouse apartment in New York City. The show tells the story of aspiring showgirl Dixie Dugan (played by Ruby Keeler) as she is pursued by four suitors (played by Eddie Foy, Jr., Joseph Macauley, Austin Fairman, and Frank McHugh). The character of Dixie Dugan was created by J. P. McEvoy and was first introduced in ''

Liberty Liberty is the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views. The concept of liberty can vary depending on perspective and context. In the Constitutional ...

'' before McEvoy published his 1928 novel ''Show Girl'' (on which the musical was loosely based). The Broadway production was produced by Florenz Ziegfeld, directed by McGuire, and choreographed by Bobby Connolly, with

ballet Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form of ...

sequences—including one set to '' An American in Paris—''by Albertina Rasch.

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American Jazz piano, jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous Big band, jazz orchestra from 1924 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D ...

conducted the orchestra. The show opened on July 2, 1929 at the Ziegfeld Theatre and ran for 111 performances. The cast included Ruby Keeler as Dixie (replaced by Dorothy Stone a few weeks into the run,

Jimmy Durante James Francis Durante ( , ; February 10, 1893 – January 29, 1980) was an American comedian, actor, singer, and pianist. His distinctive gravelly speech, Lower East Side New York accent, accent, comic language-butchery, jazz-influenced son ...

, Eddie Foy, Jr., Frank McHugh, and Nick Lucas. Keeler's husband, Al Jolson, frequently sat in the audience and serenaded her with the show's closing number, " Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away)", from his seat. The song was featured in the 1946 biopic '' The Jolson Story''. Ruby Keeler appeared for only the first few weeks of the New York run. By the end of July, she had to withdraw due to illness—receiving necessary surgery—and Dorothy Stone took over the role, actually appearing for about twice as many performances as Keeler. Warner Brothers had already filmed the McEvoy story as '' Show Girl'' (1928), (1928 film) with Alice White as Dixie Dugan; a

sequel A sequel is a work of literature, film, theatre, television, music, or video game that continues the story of, or expands upon, some earlier work. In the common context of a narrative work of fiction, a sequel portrays events set in the same ...

, '' Show Girl in Hollywood'' (1930) was made with White again starring as Dixie.

Cast

*Doris Carson - Raquel * Lew Clayton - Gypsy *Sadie Duff - Mrs. Dugan *Austin Fairman - John Milton * Eddie Foy, Jr. - Denny Kerrigan * Noel Francis - Peggy Ritz *Kathryn Hereford - Bobby * Ruby Keeler - Dixie Dugan * Nick Lucas - Rudy * Joseph Macauley - Alvarez Romano * Frank McHugh - Jimmy Doyle *Howard Morgan - Matt Brown * Barbara Newberry - "Sunshine' and "Virginia Witherby" *Matthew Smith - Captain Robert Adams

Song list

Act One

*"Happy Birthday" *"My Sunday Fella" *"How Could I Forget?" *"Can Broadway Do Without Me?" (music and lyrics by Jimmy Durante) *"Lolita (My Love)" *"Do What You Do" *"Spain" *"One Man" *"So Are You" *"I Must Be Home by Twelve O'Clock" *"Because They All Love You" (Lyrics by Thomas Malie, music by J. Little) *"Who Will be With You When I Am Far Away?" (Music and lyrics By W. H. Farrell) *"Black and White" *"Jimmie, the Well-Dressed Man" (music and lyrics by Jimmy Durante) *"Harlem Serenade"

Act Two

*"An American in Paris" *"Home Blues" *"Broadway, My Street" (lyrics by Sidney Skolsky, music by Jimmy Durante) *"(So) I Ups to Him" (music and lyrics by Jimmy Durante) *"Follow the Minstrel Band" *" Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away)"

References

External links

* {{Gershwins 1929 musicals Broadway musicals Musicals by George and Ira Gershwin Musicals based on novels Musicals set in New York City Musicals set in New Jersey Backstage musicals