''The Gingerbread Man'' 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 ...

in two acts with music by

A. Baldwin Sloane Alfred Baldwin Sloane, often given as A. Baldwin Sloane, (28 August 1872, Baltimore – 21 February 1925, Red Bank, New Jersey) was the most prolific songwriter for Broadway musical comedies in the United States at the beginning of the 20th centur ...

and both book and lyrics by

Frederic Ranken Frederic G. Ranken (c. 1869 – October 19, 1905, in Manhattan) was an American librettist, lyricist, and playwright for light operas and musicals staged on Broadway from 1899 through 1907. His greatest success was the libretto for Reginald De Kove ...

. Described by the creators as a "Fanciful Fairyesque", the work was essentially a

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a Religion, religious and Culture, cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by coun ...

musical with

Santa Claus Santa Claus (also known as Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle or Santa) is a legendary figure originating in Western Christian culture who is said to bring gifts during the late evening and overnight hours on Chris ...

and

Mrs. Claus Mrs. Claus, (also known as Mrs. Santa Claus, Mrs. Santa, Mother Christmas, Mrs. Christmas or Mary Claus) is the wife of Santa Claus, the Christmas gift-bringer in Western Christmas tradition. Origins The wife of Santa Claus is first mentioned ...

serving as the heroes of the piece.

Plot

The King of Bon Bon Land, a.k.a. The Gingerbread Man, has been turned into gingerbread by the evil sorcerer Machevelius Fudge and lives in fear of being eaten. Santa Claus and his reindeer arrive to come to his aid. Further misadventures ensue when he is faced by a fiery dragon. All comes to a happy ending when Mrs. Claus arrives to save the day.

Performance history

''The Gingerbread Man'' premiered on November 15, 1905 at the Auditorium Theatre in

Malden, Massachusetts Malden is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. At the time of the 2020 United States census, 2020 U.S. Census, the population was 66,263 people. History Malden is a hilly woodland area no ...

. It then toured to the

Hyperion Theatre The Hyperion Theater is a theater located at Disney California Adventure in Hollywood Land. The theater can seat up to 1,984 people. The facade is modeled after that of the Los Angeles Theatre on LA's Broadway. History The Hyperion Theater op ...

in New Haven, Connecticut, the Wieting Opera House in

Syracuse, New York Syracuse ( ) is a City (New York), city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States. With a population of 148,620 and a Syracuse metropolitan area, metropolitan area of 662,057, it is the fifth-most populated city and 13 ...

, and the

Chestnut Street Opera House The Chestnut Street Opera House was a theatre located at 1021–1029 Chestnut Street (Philadelphia), Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Built by theatre impresario Robert Fox on the former site of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Ar ...

in Philadelphia. The tour reached

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 ...

where it opened at the

Liberty Theatre The Liberty Theatre is a former Broadway theatre, Broadway theater at 234 West 42nd Street in the Theater District, Manhattan, Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1904, the theater was designed by Herts & Tallant ...

Christmas Day Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A liturgical feast central to Christianity, Chri ...

1905.Bordman & Norton, p. 253 It ran at that theatre for a total of sixteen performances; closing on January 6, 1906.Dietz, p. 331-332 That same production returned to Broadway for sixteen further performances at the New York Theatre from May 14, 1906 - May 26, 1906. It also toured nationally for performances during the holiday season in 1906–1907. The production was directed by Louis F. Gottschalk and Charles Sinclair, and produced by Harry E. Converse and Mason Peters. The sets were designed by Ernest Albert, and the costumes by Archie Gunn, Will R. Barnes and J. Hegeman. The production starred Eddie Redway in the title role. ''The Gingerbread Man'' was revived in December 1912 - January 1913 at the

Castle Square Theatre The Castle Square Theatre (1894–1932) in Boston, Massachusetts, was located on Tremont Street in the South End. The building existed until its demolition in 1933. The theatre was the Boston home of Henry W. Savage's Castle Square Opera ...

in Boston with

Donald Meek Thomas Donald Meek (14 July 1878 – 18 November 1946) was a Scottish-American actor. He first performed publicly at the age of eight and began appearing on Broadway in 1903. Meek appeared in the films '' You Can't Take It with You'' (1938) a ...

in the title role and

Florence Shirley Florence Shirley, born Florence Isabell Splaine, (June 5, 1892 – May 12, 1967) was an American stage and film actress. She made her stage debut in 1906 at the age of 14 in small part in a Christmas pantomime at the Castle Square Theatre i ...

as Margery Daw.

References

Bibliography

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Gingerbread Man, The 1905 musicals Broadway musicals Christmas musicals Musicals by Alfred Baldwin Sloane Musicals by Frederic Ranken Santa Claus in fiction Gingerbread men