My Sister Eileen (play)
Encyclopedia
My Sister Eileen is an American
comedy stage production, written by Joseph A. Fields and Jerome Chodorov
, based on autobiographical
short stories by Ruth McKenney
. The stories were originally published in The New Yorker
and then collected and published as the book My Sister Eileen (1938).
The plot focuses on Ruth and Eileen Sherwood, sisters from Ohio who relocate to New York City
in search of fame and fortune. Witty Ruth aspires to be a published writer, while pretty Eileen dreams of success as an actress. Their financial circumstances force them to rent a dingy basement studio apartment in a Greenwich Village
building owned by Mr. Appolpolous, one of many colorful characters who cross their path.
The Broadway production
, produced by Max Gordon
and directed by George S. Kaufman
, opened 26 December 1940 at the Biltmore Theatre. It transferred three times during its run of 864 performances: to the Martin Beck Theatre
, opening 4 August 1942; to the Ritz Theatre
, opening 23 November 1942; and to The Broadway Theatre
, opening 13 December 1942.
The original cast included Shirley Booth
as Ruth Sherwood, Jo Ann Sayers
as Eileen Sherwood, Morris Carnovsky
as Mr. Appolpolous, and Richard Quine
as Frank Lippencott, a drugstore soda jerk
with an eye for Eileen. Peggy Knudsen
replaced Sayers in June 1942 (when she left to be married), and Quine was replaced by Henry Jones
, who in turn was replaced by Max Showalter
.
Eileen McKenney
, an executive assistant to Walt Disney
and the inspiration for the play's title character, and her husband, novelist and screenwriter Nathanael West
, were killed in an automobile accident in El Centro, California
four days before the Broadway opening (they were driving to the Los Angeles Airport to board a plane for New York, to attend the play's premiere). Her sister Ruth consequently did not attend the premiere and never saw the play.
Fields and Chodorov adapted their play for the 1942 film
that opened while the play still was running on Broadway, as well as the 1953 musical
Wonderful Town
. It also served as the basis for the 1960 television sitcom of the same title
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
comedy stage production, written by Joseph A. Fields and Jerome Chodorov
Jerome Chodorov
Jerome Chodorov was an American playwright and librettist.-Biography:He was born in New York City, and entered journalism in the 1930s. He is best known for his 1940 play My Sister Eileen, its 1942 screen adaptation, and the musical Wonderful Town, which based on his play. Joseph A. Fields was...
, based on autobiographical
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
short stories by Ruth McKenney
Ruth McKenney
Ruth McKenney was an American author and journalist, best remembered for My Sister Eileen, a memoir of her experiences growing up in Ohio and moving to Greenwich Village with her sister Eileen McKenney. This was later adapted as the musical Wonderful Town by Leonard Bernstein.-Early life:McKenney...
. The stories were originally published in The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
and then collected and published as the book My Sister Eileen (1938).
The plot focuses on Ruth and Eileen Sherwood, sisters from Ohio who relocate to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in search of fame and fortune. Witty Ruth aspires to be a published writer, while pretty Eileen dreams of success as an actress. Their financial circumstances force them to rent a dingy basement studio apartment in a Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
building owned by Mr. Appolpolous, one of many colorful characters who cross their path.
The Broadway production
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...
, produced by Max Gordon
Max Gordon (producer)
Max Gordon was an American theatre and film producer. His credits included My Sister Eileen, which he produced both on stage and on film.-Biography:...
and directed by George S. Kaufman
George S. Kaufman
George Simon Kaufman was an American playwright, theatre director and producer, humorist, and drama critic. In addition to comedies and political satire, he wrote several musicals, notably for the Marx Brothers...
, opened 26 December 1940 at the Biltmore Theatre. It transferred three times during its run of 864 performances: to the Martin Beck Theatre
Al Hirschfeld Theatre
The Al Hirschfeld Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 302 West 45th Street in midtown-Manhattan.Designed by architect G. Albert Lansburgh for vaudeville promoter Martin Beck, the theatre opened as the Martin Beck Theatre with a production of Madame Pompadour on November 11, 1924. It...
, opening 4 August 1942; to the Ritz Theatre
Walter Kerr Theatre
The Walter Kerr Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre. Located at 219 West 48th Street, it is owned and operated by Jujamcyn Theaters. One of the smaller auditoriums in the theatre district, it seats 975....
, opening 23 November 1942; and to The Broadway Theatre
The Broadway Theatre
The Broadway Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 1681 Broadway in midtown-Manhattan....
, opening 13 December 1942.
The original cast included Shirley Booth
Shirley Booth
Shirley Booth was an American actress.Primarily a theatre actress, Booth's Broadway career began in 1925. Her most significant success was as Lola Delaney, in the drama Come Back, Little Sheba, for which she received a Tony Award in 1950...
as Ruth Sherwood, Jo Ann Sayers
Jo Ann Sayers
Jo Ann Sayers is an American actress who was active in Broadway and in Hollywood films. Her film career spanned the 1930s through the 1950s.-Biography:...
as Eileen Sherwood, Morris Carnovsky
Morris Carnovsky
Morris Carnovsky was an American stage and film actor born in St. Louis, Missouri. He worked briefly in the Yiddish theatre before attending Washington University in St. Louis...
as Mr. Appolpolous, and Richard Quine
Richard Quine
Richard Quine was an American stage, film, and radio actor and film director.Quine was born in Detroit. He made his Broadway debut in the Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein II musical Very Warm for May in 1939 and appeared in My Sister Eileen the following year...
as Frank Lippencott, a drugstore soda jerk
Soda jerk
A soda jerk was a person — typically a youth — who operated the soda fountain in a drugstore, often for the purpose of preparing and serving ice cream soda. This was made by putting flavored syrup into a specially designed tall glass, adding carbonated water and, finally, one or two scoops of ice...
with an eye for Eileen. Peggy Knudsen
Peggy Knudsen
Peggy Knudsen was an American character actress.-Biography:Born Margaret Ann Knudsen in Duluth, Minnesota, she made her Broadway debut in My Sister Eileen. She began her film career in 1946 in A Stolen Life opposite Bette Davis...
replaced Sayers in June 1942 (when she left to be married), and Quine was replaced by Henry Jones
Henry Jones (actor)
Henry Burk Jones was an American actor of stage, film and television.Jones was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Helen and John Francis Xavier Jones. He was the grandson of Pennsylvania Representative Henry Burk...
, who in turn was replaced by Max Showalter
Max Showalter
Max Showalter was an American film, television, and stage actor, as well as a composer, pianist, and singer. One of Showalter's most memorable roles was as Jean Peters' character's husband in the 1953 film Niagara...
.
Eileen McKenney
Eileen McKenney
Eileen McKenney was the sister of the writer Ruth McKenney and the inspiration for Ruth's book My Sister Eileen . It was adapted as a Broadway play in 1940, filmed in 1942 and 1955 by Columbia Pictures, and adapted into the Broadway musical Wonderful Town...
, an executive assistant to Walt Disney
Walt Disney
Walter Elias "Walt" Disney was an American film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, animator, entrepreneur, entertainer, international icon, and philanthropist, well-known for his influence in the field of entertainment during the 20th century. Along with his brother Roy O...
and the inspiration for the play's title character, and her husband, novelist and screenwriter Nathanael West
Nathanael West
Nathanael West was a US author, screenwriter and satirist.- Early life :...
, were killed in an automobile accident in El Centro, California
El Centro, California
El Centro is a city in and county seat of Imperial County, the largest city in the Imperial Valley and the east anchor of the Southern California Border Region, and the core urban area and principal city of the El Centro metropolitan area which encompasses all of Imperial County. El Centro is also...
four days before the Broadway opening (they were driving to the Los Angeles Airport to board a plane for New York, to attend the play's premiere). Her sister Ruth consequently did not attend the premiere and never saw the play.
Fields and Chodorov adapted their play for the 1942 film
My Sister Eileen (1942 film)
My Sister Eileen is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Alexander Hall. The screenplay by Joseph A. Fields and Jerome Chodorov is based on their 1940 play of the same title, which was inspired by a series of autobiographical short stories by Ruth McKenney originally published in The New...
that opened while the play still was running on Broadway, as well as the 1953 musical
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...
Wonderful Town
Wonderful Town
Wonderful Town is a musical with a book written by Joseph A. Fields and Jerome Chodorov, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green and music by Leonard Bernstein...
. It also served as the basis for the 1960 television sitcom of the same title
My Sister Eileen (TV series)
My Sister Eileen is an American situation comedy based on a series of autobiographical short stories by Ruth McKenney originally published in The New Yorker, as well as the 1940 play and 1942 and 1955 film adaptations they inspired....
.