Lady Be Good (musical)
Encyclopedia
Lady, Be Good is a musical written by Guy Bolton
and Fred Thompson
with music by George
and lyrics by Ira Gershwin
. It was first presented on Broadway
in 1924; the West End
production followed in 1926. The story of the musical is about a brother and sister who are out of money; both are eager to sacrifice themselves to help the other. This was the first Broadway collaboration of the Gershwin brothers.
. It starred brother and sister performers Fred
and Adele Astaire
.
The musical opened in the West End
at the Empire Theatre on April 14, 1926, starring Fred and Adele Astaire. It played strongly there, running for 326 performances. The best-known songs from the score are "Oh, Lady be Good!
" and "Fascinating Rhythm
."
The 42nd Street Moon
, San Francisco, California, presented the musical in a staged concert format in March and April 2010, and also in November and December 1996. Another staged concert was presented by "Musicals Tonight", New York City, in May 2003, with a cast that featured Jeffry Denman
and Nancy Lemenager.
starring Eleanor Powell
. Neither film was adapted from the stage play, although the songs "Oh, Lady Be Good!" and "Fascinating Rhythm
" are performed in the Powell film.
Act II
B-24D Liberator bomber
which flew for the United States Army Air Forces
during World War II
out of north Africa
, disappeared on an April 4, 1943 raid on Naples
, Italy
and was found virtually intact in the Libyan
desert in 1958.
Guy Bolton
Guy Reginald Bolton was a British-American playwright and writer of musical comedies. Born in England and educated in France and the U.S., he trained as an architect but turned to writing. Bolton preferred working in collaboration with others, principally the English writers P. G...
and Fred Thompson
Fred Thompson (writer)
Frederick A. Thompson, usually credited as Fred Thompson was an English writer, best known as a librettist for about fifty British and American musical comedies from World War I to World War II. Among the writers with whom he collaborated were George Grossmith Jr., P. G. Wodehouse, Guy Bolton and...
with music by George
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
and lyrics by Ira Gershwin
Ira Gershwin
Ira Gershwin was an American lyricist who collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century....
. It was first presented 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...
in 1924; the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
production followed in 1926. The story of the musical is about a brother and sister who are out of money; both are eager to sacrifice themselves to help the other. This was the first Broadway collaboration of the Gershwin brothers.
Productions
Lady Be Good premièred on Broadway at the Liberty Theatre on December 1, 1924 and closed on September 12, 1925, after 330 performances. The musical was staged by Felix Edwardes with musical staging by Sammy Lee and scenic design by Norman Bel GeddesNorman Bel Geddes
Norman Melancton Bel Geddes was an American theatrical and industrial designer who focused on aerodynamics....
. It starred brother and sister performers Fred
Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute...
and Adele Astaire
Adele Astaire
Lady Charles Cavendish , better known as Adele Astaire, was an American dancer and entertainer. She was Fred Astaire's elder sister. Her birthdate was often given as 1897 or 1898, but the 1900 U.S...
.
The musical opened in the West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
at the Empire Theatre on April 14, 1926, starring Fred and Adele Astaire. It played strongly there, running for 326 performances. The best-known songs from the score are "Oh, Lady be Good!
Oh, Lady be Good!
"Oh, Lady be Good!" is a 1924 song by George and Ira Gershwin.The song was introduced by Walter Catlett in the Broadway show, Lady, Be Good!, written by Guy Bolton, Fred Thompson, and the Gershwin brothers, starring Fred Astaire and Adele Astaire. It ran for 330 performances in its original...
" and "Fascinating Rhythm
Fascinating Rhythm
"Fascinating Rhythm" is a popular song written by George Gershwin in 1924 with lyrics by Ira Gershwin.It was first introduced by Cliff Edwards, Fred Astaire and Adele Astaire in the Broadway musical Lady Be Good. The Astaires also recorded the song on April 19, 1926 in London with George Gershwin...
."
The 42nd Street Moon
42nd Street Moon
42nd Street Moon is a professional theatre company in San Francisco, California. The company specializes in the preservation and presentation of early and lesser-known works by Rodgers & Hammerstein, Rodgers & Hart, Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Kurt Weill, George and Ira Gershwin, Jerome Kern,...
, San Francisco, California, presented the musical in a staged concert format in March and April 2010, and also in November and December 1996. Another staged concert was presented by "Musicals Tonight", New York City, in May 2003, with a cast that featured Jeffry Denman
Jeffry Denman
-Early life:Denman was born and raised in Buffalo, New York and graduated from the University of Buffalo as a Musical Theatre Dance major.-Career:He made his Broadway debut in the 1995 revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, played Munkustrap in the closing company of Cats and...
and Nancy Lemenager.
Films
Two films by this title were produced: a 1928 silent film and a 1941 filmLady Be Good (1941 film)
Lady Be Good is the title of an MGM musical film which was released in 1941.The film starred dancer Eleanor Powell along with Ann Sothern, Robert Young, Lionel Barrymore, and Red Skelton. It was directed by Norman Z. McLeod and produced by Arthur Freed...
starring Eleanor Powell
Eleanor Powell
Eleanor Torrey Powell was an American film actress and dancer of the 1930s and 1940s, known for her exuberant solo tap dancing.-Early life:...
. Neither film was adapted from the stage play, although the songs "Oh, Lady Be Good!" and "Fascinating Rhythm
Fascinating Rhythm
"Fascinating Rhythm" is a popular song written by George Gershwin in 1924 with lyrics by Ira Gershwin.It was first introduced by Cliff Edwards, Fred Astaire and Adele Astaire in the Broadway musical Lady Be Good. The Astaires also recorded the song on April 19, 1926 in London with George Gershwin...
" are performed in the Powell film.
Songs
Act I- Hang on to Me - Dick Trevor and Susie Trevor
- A Wonderful Party - Guests
- End of a String - Ensemble
- We're Here Because - Daisy Parke, Bertie Bassett and Guests
- Fascinating Rhythm - Susie Trevor, Dick Trevor and Jeff
- So Am I - Jack Robinson and Susie Trevor
- Oh, Lady be Good!Oh, Lady be Good!"Oh, Lady be Good!" is a 1924 song by George and Ira Gershwin.The song was introduced by Walter Catlett in the Broadway show, Lady, Be Good!, written by Guy Bolton, Fred Thompson, and the Gershwin brothers, starring Fred Astaire and Adele Astaire. It ran for 330 performances in its original...
- J. Watterson Watkins and Girls
Act II
- Weatherman/Rainy Afternoon Girls - Ensemble
- 'The Half of it, Dearie' Blues'The Half of it, Dearie' Blues"The Half of it, Dearie' Blues" is a song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin. It was introduced by Fred Astaire and Kathlene Martyn in the 1924 musical Lady be Good.- Notable recordings :...
- Shirley Vernon and Dick Trevor - Juanita - Susie Trevor and Boys
- Leave It to Love - Susie Trevor, Jack Robinson, Shirley Vernon and Dick Trevor
- Little Jazz Bird - Jeff
- Insufficient Sweetie (Music and Lyrics By Cliff Edwards and Gilbert Wells) - Jeff
- Who Takes Care of the Caretaker's Daughter? (Music and Lyrics By Chick Endor) -
- It's All the Same to Me (Music and Lyrics By Chick Endor) -
- Carnival Time - Ensemble
- Swiss Miss (Lyrics By Arthur Jackson and Ira Gershwin) - Susie Trevor and Dick Trevor
Legacy
The title was used on an AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
B-24D Liberator bomber
Bomber
A bomber is a military aircraft designed to attack ground and sea targets, by dropping bombs on them, or – in recent years – by launching cruise missiles at them.-Classifications of bombers:...
which flew for the United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
out of north Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, disappeared on an April 4, 1943 raid on Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and was found virtually intact in the Libyan
Libyan
A Libyan is a person or thing of, from, or related to Libya in North Africa.The term Libyan may also refer to:* A person from Libya, or of Libyan descent. For information about the Libyan people, see Demographics of Libya and Culture of Libya. For specific persons, see List of Libyans.* Libyan...
desert in 1958.