Nancy Brown is a musical in two acts with music by Henry Kimball Hadley and both book and lyrics by George Broadhurst and Frederic Ranken. The musical also used several songs written by the African-American songwriting team of Robert Cole, J. Rosamond Johnson, and James Weldon Johnson. Set in the royal palace of the fictional kingdom of Ballyhoo, the show was about the matchmaker Nancy Brown's attempt to wed the Ballyhooian royalty and nobilty to eight wealthy American heiresses in order to save the financially bankrupt kingdom.
Nancy Brown was created as a starring vehicle for Marie Cahill who portrayed the title role. The name of the character was taken from the song "Nancy Brown" which Cahill sang in the musical The Wild Rose , and which was interpolated into this musical. Cahill also performed another interpolated song, the popular hit "Under the Bamboo Tree" by Robert Cole, J. Rosamond Johnson, and James Weldon Johnson, which she had sung previously in Sally in Our Alley . A new song was written for her for this show by Cole, Johnson & Johnson which attempted to recapture a similar aesthetic to the prior tune, "The Congo Love Song". The show's new hit song, "Two Eyes" also by Cole, Johnson, and Johnson, was sung by the actor Madison Smith (as Hullybaloo) who made his Broadway debut in this production. [1] Other song by this trio of songwriters in Nancy Brown included "Magdaline, My Southern Queen", "My Mississippi Belle", "Save It for Me", "Octette to Bacchus", and "The Soldier is the Idol of the Nation". These songs were published by Joseph W. Stern. [2]
Nancy Brown premiered on Broadway at the Bijou Theatre on February 16, 1903 where it ran for a total of 104 performances; [3] [1] [lower-alpha 1] closing on May 16, 1903. [1] The show then toured nationally, and returned to Broadway for 8 more performances at the Grand Opera House which began on October 26, 1903. [1] The production was directed by Frank Smithson and produced by Daniel V. Arthur. [3] It used sets designed by Gates and Morange and costumes by Caroline Seidle. [1]
In addition to Cahill and Madison Smith, the cast also included Edwin Stevens as Muley Mustapha, a.k.a "The Bey of Ballyhoo", Judith Berolde as The Princess Barboo, Albert Parr as Mara Mustapha, Harry Brown as Socrates Finis, Al Grant as Noah Little, Alfred Hickman as Venderhyphen Jenks, John Havens as Lord Worcestershire, George Beban as Count Fromage de Brie, Henry Vogel as Baron Sauerbraten, Frank Dearduff asThe Grand Duke of Drinkamutchsky, Jean Newcombe as Mrs. John Jenks, Edythe Moyer as Alice, Ruby Paine as Gracie, Maud Francis as Gwendolyn, Lita Castello as Zuzu, Grace Cameron as Muriel, Helen Curzon as Rena, Leslie Mayo as Sally, Helen Lathrop as Tulu, Alice Knowlton as Tutu, Aline Boyd as Nara, Adele Archer as Maud, and Maud Sloane as Sadie. [3]
Oliver! is a stage musical, with book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the 1838 novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1903.
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1901.
"Lift Every Voice and Sing" is a hymn with lyrics by James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938) and set to music by his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson (1873–1954). Written from the context of African Americans in the late 19th century, the hymn is a prayer of thanksgiving to God as well as a prayer for faithfulness and freedom, with imagery that evokes the biblical Exodus from slavery to the freedom of the "promised land."
Robert Allen Cole Jr. was an American composer, actor, and playwright who produced and directed stage shows. In collaboration with Billy Johnson, he wrote and produced A Trip to Coontown (1898), the first musical entirely created and owned by black showmen. The popular song La Hoola Boola (1898) was a result of their collaboration. Cole later partnered with brothers J. Rosamond Johnson, a pianist and singer, and James Weldon Johnson, a pianist, guitarist and lawyer, creating more than 200 songs.
John Rosamond Johnson was an American composer and singer during the Harlem Renaissance. Born in Jacksonville, Florida, he had much of his career in New York City. Johnson is noted as the composer of the tune for the hymn "Lift Every Voice and Sing”. It was first performed live by 500 Black American students from the segregated Florida Baptist Academy, Jacksonville, Florida, in 1900. The song was published by Joseph W. Stern & Co., Manhattan, New York.
Ben Bagley was an American musical producer and record producer.
African-American musical theater includes late 19th and early 20th century musical theater productions by African Americans in New York City and Chicago. Actors from troupes such as the Lafayette Players also crossed over into film. The Pekin Theatre in Chicago was a popular and influential venue.
Born to Dance is a 1936 American musical film directed by Roy Del Ruth and starring Eleanor Powell, James Stewart and Virginia Bruce. It was produced and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The score was composed by Cole Porter.
Little Mary Sunshine is a musical that parodies old-fashioned operettas and musicals. The book, music, and lyrics are by Rick Besoyan. The original Off-Broadway production premiered November 18, 1959 at the Orpheum Theatre in New York City's East Village. Staying in the neighborhood, it moved to the Player's Theatre on June 21, 1961, then, finally, to the Cherry Lane Theatre on March 21, 1962. Closing was Sept. 2, 1962. Combined run was 1,143 performances. It was seen briefly in a West End production in 1962 and has become a popular show for amateur and semi-professional groups in the United States and elsewhere.
Pal Joey is a 1940 musical with a book by John O'Hara and music and lyrics by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. The musical is based on a character and situations O'Hara created in a series of short stories published in The New Yorker, which he later published in novel form. The title character, Joey Evans, is a manipulative small-time nightclub performer whose ambitions lead him into an affair with the wealthy, middle-aged and married Vera Simpson. It includes two songs that have become standards: "I Could Write a Book" and "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered".
Gentleman Joe, The Hansom Cabbie is a farcical musical comedy with music by Walter Slaughter and a libretto by Basil Hood.
The New Yorkers is a musical written by Cole Porter and Herbert Fields (book). Star Jimmy Durante also wrote the words and music for the songs in which his character was featured.
"Boys the Old Flag Never Touched The Ground" is a patriotic song that was sung at events about the Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. William H. Carney of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. The song was written by Bob Cole, James Weldon Johnson, and J. Rosamond Johnson and was sung in their Broadway musical "Shoo Fly Regiment." It was published in 1901. They dedicated the song to Carney.
The Hard Way is a 1943 Warner Bros. musical drama film starring Ida Lupino, Dennis Morgan, and Joan Leslie. Directed by Vincent Sherman, it is based on a story by Irwin Shaw which was reportedly based on Ginger Rogers' relationship with her first husband Jack Pepper and her mother Lela.
Marie Cahill was a Broadway stage actress and vocalist. Her parents were Irish immigrants Richard and Mary Cahill. She appeared in comic operas including Judy Forgot. She was also in films.
Under the Bamboo Tree is a song composed by Robert Cole, J. Rosamond Johnson, and James Weldon Johnson. J. W. Stern & Co. published it in 1902. A ragtime hit, it sold over 400,000 copies.
Sally in Our Alley was a 1902 Broadway musical comedy show. It helped Marie Cahill reach stardom and popularized songs. The title refers to the popular saying that developed from the British song "Sally in Our Alley". The show helped popularize the song "Under the Bamboo Tree". George V. Hobart wrote the musical and its song lyrics. Ludwig Engländer wrote the music for the show. Interpolations of songs by J. Rosamond Johnson, George Walker, and Bert Williams were included in the show.
The Bijou Theatre was a former Broadway theater in New York City that opened in 1878 as Theatre Brighton and was demolished in 1915. It also served as an opera house and silent movie venue throughout its history. Located at 1239 Broadway between 30th and 31st Streets, had been converted from a drinking and gambling establishment into a theatre for variety, and opened August 26, 1878, with Jerry Thomas as proprietor. The house had many changes and names until John A. McCaull, a Baltimore lawyer, and Charles E. Ford took charge of it. Considerable money was spent and when they reopened the house on March 31, 1880, as the Bijou Opera-house, it looked like a modern and well-regulated theatre. In 1881 and 1882, Lillian Russell appeared in three different operettas.
Andrew Tribble (1879–1935) was an African-American actor, comedian and female impersonator of the early 20th century who played a variety of women characters at Chicago's Pekin Theatre, on Broadway and in touring companies throughout the United States. He is best known for his characters Lily White, a washerwoman, and Ophelia Snow, from Cole and Johnson's production The Red Moon. He has been described as "a real genius" and "one of the greatest female impersonators".