Leave It to Me!
Encyclopedia
Leave It to Me! is a musical
with music and lyrics by Cole Porter
. The "book" was a collaborative effort by Samuel and Bella Spewack
, who also directed the Broadway production. The musical was based on the play Clear All Wires (1932) by the Spewacks. Mary Martin
made her Broadway
debut in this musical, which introduced the songs "Get Out of Town
" and "My Heart Belongs to Daddy
."
, New Haven, starting on October 13, 1938 and then at the Shubert Theatre, Boston
, starting on October 17, 1938.
It opened on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre on November 9, 1938 and closed on July 15, 1939 after 291 performances. It reopened on September 4, 1939 and closed September 16, 1939 for another 16 performances. The choreography was by Robert Alton
, costumes by Raoul Pene du Bois
and the set was by Albert Johnson. The cast featured William Gaxton
, Victor Moore
, Sophie Tucker
, Mary Martin, Tamara Drasin
, and Alexander Asro. In his first Broadway show, Gene Kelly
had a role as a dancer and Secretary to Mr. Goodhue.
The Equity Library Theater, New York City, presented a revival of the show (the first time it was revived in America) in March 1988. The "Musicals Tonight!" series, New York City, held a staged concert in March 2001. 42nd Street Moon Theatre Company, San Francisco, presented the musical in November-December 2001.
, which he was talked into taking by his social-climbing wife, Mrs. Leora Goodhue . However, "Stinky" is longing for the pleasures of his home in Topeka, Kansas, especially banana splits.
As he plots to get recalled he becomes embroiled in international incidents, only to be hailed for solving the problems. An ambitious newspaper reporter, Buckley J. "Buck" Thomas, chronicles these incidents because he is working for a publisher who wants to be the Ambassador. At a railroad station in Siberia
, Dolly Winslow slowly takes off her furs as she relates that "My Heart Belongs to Daddy". As the Ambassador then resolves to try to promote good relations between the United States and the Soviet Union, everything goes wrong and he finally gets his wish to be recalled back to Topeka.
Act 2
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
with music and lyrics by Cole Porter
Cole Porter
Cole Albert Porter was an American composer and songwriter. Born to a wealthy family in Indiana, he defied the wishes of his domineering grandfather and took up music as a profession. Classically trained, he was drawn towards musical theatre...
. The "book" was a collaborative effort by Samuel and Bella Spewack
Samuel and Bella Spewack
Samuel and Bella Spewack were a husband-and-wife writing team.Samuel, who also directed many of their plays, was born in the Ukraine...
, who also directed the Broadway production. The musical was based on the play Clear All Wires (1932) by the Spewacks. Mary Martin
Mary Martin
Mary Virginia Martin was an American actress and singer. She originated many roles over her career including Nellie Forbush in South Pacific and Maria in The Sound of Music. She was named a Kennedy Center Honoree in 1989...
made her 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...
debut in this musical, which introduced the songs "Get Out of Town
Get Out of Town
"Get Out of Town" is a 1938 popular song written by Cole Porter, for his musical Leave It to Me!, where it was introduced by Tamara Drasin.-Notable recordings:*Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook...
" and "My Heart Belongs to Daddy
My Heart Belongs to Daddy
"My Heart Belongs to Daddy" is a song written by Cole Porter, for the 1938 musical Leave It to Me! which premiered on Nov 9, 1938. It was performed by Mary Martin who played Dolly Winslow, the young protégée of an elderly ambassador, Alonzo P. Goodhue...
."
Productions
The musical had pre-Broadway tryouts at the Shubert TheatreShubert Theatre (New Haven)
The Shubert Theatre is a 1600-seat theatre located at 247 College Street in New Haven, Connecticut. Originally opened in 1914, it was designed by Albert Swazey, a New York architect and built by the H.E. Murdock Construction Company...
, New Haven, starting on October 13, 1938 and then at the Shubert Theatre, Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, starting on October 17, 1938.
It opened on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre on November 9, 1938 and closed on July 15, 1939 after 291 performances. It reopened on September 4, 1939 and closed September 16, 1939 for another 16 performances. The choreography was by Robert Alton
Robert Alton
Robert Alton was an American dancer and choreographer, a major figure in dance choreography of Broadway and Hollywood musicals from the 1930s through to the early 1950s...
, costumes by Raoul Pene du Bois
Raoul Pene Du Bois
Raoul Pene Du Bois was an American costume designer and scenic designer for the stage and film. He was nominated for two Academy Awards in the category Best Art Direction.-Career:...
and the set was by Albert Johnson. The cast featured William Gaxton
William Gaxton
William Gaxton was a star of vaudeville, film, and theatre.Born as Arturo Antonio Gaxiola in San Francisco, he appeared on film and onstage. He debuted on Broadway in the Music Box Revue on October 23, 1922...
, Victor Moore
Victor Moore
Victor Frederick Moore was an American actor of stage and screen, as well as a comedian, writer, and director.-Personal life:...
, Sophie Tucker
Sophie Tucker
Sophie Tucker was a Russian/Ukrainian-born American singer and actress. Known for her stentorian delivery of comical and risqué songs, she was one of the most popular entertainers in America during the first half of the 20th century...
, Mary Martin, Tamara Drasin
Tamara Drasin
Tamara Drasin , often credited as simply Tamara, was a singer and actress who introduced the song Smoke Gets in Your Eyes in the 1933 Broadway musical Roberta.-Early life:...
, and Alexander Asro. In his first Broadway show, Gene Kelly
Gene Kelly
Eugene Curran "Gene" Kelly was an American dancer, actor, singer, film director and producer, and choreographer...
had a role as a dancer and Secretary to Mr. Goodhue.
The Equity Library Theater, New York City, presented a revival of the show (the first time it was revived in America) in March 1988. The "Musicals Tonight!" series, New York City, held a staged concert in March 2001. 42nd Street Moon Theatre Company, San Francisco, presented the musical in November-December 2001.
Plot
Alonzo "Stinky" Goodhue is the American ambassador to the Soviet UnionSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
, which he was talked into taking by his social-climbing wife, Mrs. Leora Goodhue . However, "Stinky" is longing for the pleasures of his home in Topeka, Kansas, especially banana splits.
As he plots to get recalled he becomes embroiled in international incidents, only to be hailed for solving the problems. An ambitious newspaper reporter, Buckley J. "Buck" Thomas, chronicles these incidents because he is working for a publisher who wants to be the Ambassador. At a railroad station in Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, Dolly Winslow slowly takes off her furs as she relates that "My Heart Belongs to Daddy". As the Ambassador then resolves to try to promote good relations between the United States and the Soviet Union, everything goes wrong and he finally gets his wish to be recalled back to Topeka.
Original cast and characters
- Buckley J. "Buck" Thomas - William Gaxton
- Alonzo "Stinky" Goodhue - Victor Moore
- Mrs. Leora Goodhue - Sophie Tucker
- Colette - Tamara Drasin
- Dolly Winslow - Mary Martin
Musical numbers
Act 1- "How Do You Spell Ambassador?" - Reporters
- "We Drink to You, J.H. Hardy" - Buckley Joyce Thomas and Guests
- "Vite, Vite, Vite" - Porters and Girls
- "I'm Taking the Steps to Russia" - Mrs. Goodhue, Mrs. Goodhue's Daughters, Secretaries to Mr. Goodhue and Les Girls
- "Get Out of TownGet Out of Town"Get Out of Town" is a 1938 popular song written by Cole Porter, for his musical Leave It to Me!, where it was introduced by Tamara Drasin.-Notable recordings:*Ella Fitzgerald - Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Songbook...
" - Colette - "When It's All Said and Done" - Buckley Joyce Thomas, Dolly Winslow and Les Girls
- "Most Gentlemen Don't Like Love" - Mrs. Goodhue, Mrs. Goodhue's Daughters and Secretaries to Mr. Goodhue
- "Comrade Alonzo" - Ensemble
Act 2
- "From Now On" - Buckley Joyce Thomas and Colette
- "I Want to Go Home" - Alonzo P. Goodhue
- "My Heart Belongs to DaddyMy Heart Belongs to Daddy"My Heart Belongs to Daddy" is a song written by Cole Porter, for the 1938 musical Leave It to Me! which premiered on Nov 9, 1938. It was performed by Mary Martin who played Dolly Winslow, the young protégée of an elderly ambassador, Alonzo P. Goodhue...
" - Dolly Winslow - "Tomorrow" - Mrs. Goodhue and Ensemble
- "Far, Far Away" - Buckley Joyce Thomas and Colette
- "From the U.S.A. to the U.S.S.R." - Alonzo P. Goodhue, Mrs. Goodhue and Mrs. Goodhue's Daughters