America’s Sweetheart is a musical comedy with music by Richard Rodgers

Richard Rodgers

Richard Charles Rodgers was an American composer of music for more than 900 songs and for 43 Broadway musicals. He also composed music for films and television. He is best known for his songwriting partnerships with the lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein II...

, lyrics by Lorenz Hart

Lorenz Hart

Lorenz "Larry" Milton Hart was the lyricist half of the famed Broadway songwriting team Rodgers and Hart...

 and book by Herbert Fields

Herbert Fields

Herbert Fields was an American librettist and screenwriter.Born in New York City, Fields began his career as an actor, then graduated to choreography and stage direction before turning to writing. From 1925 until his death, he contributed to the libretti of many Broadway musicals...

.

Production

America's Sweetheart premiered on Broadway

Broadway theatre

Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...

 at the Broadhurst Theatre

Broadhurst Theatre

The Broadhurst Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 235 West 44th Street in midtown Manhattan.It was designed by architect Herbert J. Krapp, a well-known theatre designer who had been working directly with the Shubert brothers; the Broadhurst opened 27 September 1917...

 on February 10, 1931 and closed on June 6, 1931 after 135 performances. It was produced by Laurence Schwab and Frank Mandel, directed by Monty Woolley

Monty Woolley

Monty Woolley was an American stage, film, radio, and television actor. At the age of 50, he achieved a measure of stardom for his best-known role in the stage play and 1942 film The Man Who Came to Dinner...

, with choreography and production supervision by Bobby Connolly, with set design by Donald Oenslager

Donald Oenslager

Donald Oenslager was a celebrated American scenic designer who won the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design.-Biography:Oenslager was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and became interested in design while studying in Europe...

 and costume design by Charles Le Maire. The show starred Jack Whiting

Jack Whiting

John George Benjamin 'Jack' Whiting was an English cricketer. Whiting's batting style is unknown, but he was a right-arm fast bowler. He was born in Stoke Goldington, Buckinghamshire....

, Ann Sothern

Ann Sothern

Ann Sothern was an American film and television actress whose career spanned six decades.-Early life and career:...

 (under the name of Harriet Lake), Inez Courtney

Inez Courtney

Inez Courtney was an actress on the Broadway stage and in films. Born in Amsterdam, New York, she came from a large Irish-American family. Her father died when she was fifteen so she decided to go onto the stage...

, and Virginia Bruce

Virginia Bruce

Virginia Bruce was an American actress and singer.-Career:Born Helen Virginia Briggs in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she went with her family to Los Angeles intending to enroll in the University of California when a friendly wager sent her seeking film work. She got it as an extra in Why Bring That...

.

The show is a Hollywood satire. Two young lovers hitchhike to Hollywood to make their fortune. The girl hits it big and she loses interest in her boyfriend, who hasn’t done well. As the result of talking pictures, the tables are reversed, and the boy is a big star and the girl is down, but they make up.

Songs

Act 1

• Mr. Dolan Is Passing Through - S. A. Dolan, Executives and Ensemble
• In Califor-n-i-a - Dorith, Paula and Movie Actresses
• My Sweet - Madge Farrell and Larry Pitkin
• I've Got Five Dollars - Geraldine March and Michael Perry
• I've Got Five Dollars (Reprise) - Geraldine March and Michael Perry
• Sweet Geraldine - Georgia, Georgiana and Georgette
• There So Much More - Denise Torel and Larry Pitkin
• We'll Be the Same - Geraldine March, Michael Perry and Ensemble
• We'll Be the Same (Reprise) - Michael Perry and Larry Pitkin
• How About It - Madge Farrell and Michael Perry
• Innocent Chorus Girls of Yesterday - Movie Stars
• A Lady Must Live - Denise Torel

Act 2

• You Ain't Got No Savoir Faire - Madge Farrell and Larry Pitkin
• Two Unfortunate Orphans - Paula, Dorith and Ensemble
• I Want a Man - Denise Torel
• Tennessee Dan - Georgia, Georgiana and Georgette
• How About It (Reprise) - Denise Torel, Michael Perry, Larry Pitkin and Ensemble

External links

• Internet Broadway Database listing
• Overview of show