Of V We Sing

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Of V We Sing is a Broadway musical revue with lyrics by Alfred Hayes and a book by Mel Tolkin, Sam Locke, and Al Geto. [1] [2] It premiered at the Elysee Theatre on February 11, 1942, and ran for 76 performances before closing on April 25 that year. [1] [2] The show marked the Broadway debuts of both Betty Garrett and Phil Leeds. [3] [4]

Contents

Production

The show was originally put on by the American Youth Theatre under the name V For Victory in September 1941 at the Malin Studio Theater. [5] By October, it was running under the name Of V We Sing. [1] [6] [7]

The Broadway production was directed by Perry Bruskin and produced by Alexander H. Cohen. [8]

A condensed version of the show, with a cast of ten people, played at the La Conga Club in New York City for two weeks in September 1942. [9] [10] [11] Four members of the original cast performed in this version: Eleanor Bagley, Lee Barrie, Connie Baxter, and Adele Jerome. New cast members were Kay Dowd, Ty Kearney, Ray Long, Marty Ritt, and Shelley Winters. [10]

Synopsis

The show consisted of two acts of songs and sketches. [1] Some of the show's content addressed World War II, while other parts touched on topics closer to home, like unions, Mother's Day, and the Brooklyn Dodgers. [12]

Act I

Act II

Broadway cast

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Dietz, Dan (2 February 2015). The Complete Book of 1940s Broadway Musicals. pp. 99–100. ISBN   978-1-4422-4528-0. OCLC   903014625.
  2. 1 2 "Of V We Sing (Broadway, Elysee Theatre, 1942)". Playbill. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  3. ↑ Pesselnick, Jill (1998-08-21). "Phil Leeds". Variety. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  4. ↑ Carbone, Nick (2011-02-13). "Betty Garrett, Laverne and Shirley Actress and Broadway Star, Dies at 91". Time. ISSN   0040-781X . Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  5. ↑ "Of V We Sing' Ends Its Run Saturday; Topical Revue Is Closing at the Concert Theatre -- Gertrude Lawrence Year in Part; Pal Joey' in New Home; Begins in Brooklyn Tonight -- Sponsorship of 'Broken Journey' Is Arranged". The New York Times. 1942-04-21. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  6. ↑ L.C. (1941-10-26). "Of V We Sing' Offered; Musical Revue Is Presented by the American Youth Theatre". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-04-21.
  7. ↑ "'Of V We Sing' Makes Brooklyn Youngsters Pros on Wednesday". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. 8 February 1942. p. 36. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  8. ↑ McLaughlin, Robert L. (2021). Broadway Goes to War: American Theater During World War II. ISBN   978-0-8131-8094-6. OCLC   1190853602.
  9. ↑ "N.Y. Clubs Buy Lots of Talent For New Season". Billboard. 12 September 1942. p. 11.
  10. 1 2 Denis, Paul (19 September 1942). "LaConga, New York". Billboard. p. 12.
  11. ↑ "Better Comedy Floorshow Units Get Plenty of Bookings as the Quickies Drop Out; Philly Boom". Billboard. 31 October 1942. p. 11.
  12. ↑ Jones, John Bush (2003). Our Musicals, Ourselves: A Social History of the American Musical Theater. Hanover: Brandeis University Press, published by University Press of New England. p. 135. ISBN   978-1-61128-223-8. OCLC   654535012.
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