''Mary Jane McKane'' is a musical comedy in three acts with book and lyrics by

William Cary Duncan William Cary Duncan, sometimes given as William Carey Duncan, (6 February 1874, North Brookfield, Massachusetts – 21 November 1945, North Brookfield, Massachusetts) was an American playwright, lyricist, editor, writer, and educator. He is best rem ...

and

Oscar Hammerstein, II Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II (; July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was an American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer, and (usually uncredited) director in the musical theater for almost 40 years. He won eight To ...

and music by

Herbert Stothart Herbert Pope Stothart (September 11, 1885February 1, 1949) was an American songwriter, arranger, conductor, and composer. He was also nominated for twelve Academy Awards, winning Best Original Score for '' The Wizard of Oz''. Stothart was widel ...

and

Vincent Youmans Vincent Millie Youmans (September 27, 1898 – April 5, 1946) was an American Broadway composer and producer. A leading Broadway composer of his day, Youmans collaborated with virtually all the greatest lyricists on Broadway: Ira Gershwin, Ot ...

. The show was produced by

Arthur Hammerstein Arthur Hammerstein (December 21, 1872 – October 12, 1955) was an American songwriter, dramatist, playwright and theater manager. Biography Born and educated to a Jewish family in New York City, Hammerstein was the son of the theater impresari ...

at the

Imperial Theatre The Imperial Theatre is a Broadway theater at 249 West 45th Street (George Abbott Way) in the Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1923, the Imperial Theatre was designed by Herbert J. Krapp and was constructed fo ...

, and opened December 25, 1923.Mantle, Burns, Editor, "The Best Plays of 1923–1924", Dodd, Mead & Company, p. 374. It was staged by Alonzo Price, choreographed by Sammy Lee, music director

, costume design by

Charles LeMaire Charles LeMaire (April 22, 1897 – June 8, 1985) was an American costume designer. He was born in Chicago. LeMaire's early career was as a vaudeville performer, but he became a costume designer for such Broadway productions as ''Ziegfeld Folli ...

, and scenic design by Frank E. Gates and Edward A. Morange. It ran for 151 performances, closing on May 3, 1924. The cast of included Mary Hay (Mary Jane McKane), Eva Clark (Louise Dryer), James Heenan (Andrew Dunn, Sr.),

Kitty Kelly Kitty Kelly (born Sue O'Neil; April 27, 1902 – June 29, 1968), was an American stage and film character actress. Biography Born in New York City in 1902, Kelly was best known as a member of the Ziegfeld Follies and her radio hosting with Co ...

(Maggie Murphy), Louis Morrell (George Sherwin),

Stanley Ridges Stanley Charles Ridges (17 July 1890 – 22 April 1951) was an English-born, American actor who made more than 100 appearances in theatre and movies from 1917 to 1951. After his American film debut in '' Success'' (1923), he appeared in films ...

(Andrew Dunn, Jr.),

Hal Skelly Hal Skelly (James Harold Skelley; May 31, 1891 – June 16, 1934) was an American Broadway and film actor. Biography He was born James Harold Skelley in Alleghenyville, Pennsylvania to James and Martha Skelley. His family moved to Daven ...

(Joe McGillicudy), and Dallas Welford (Martin Frost). Set in New York City, the plot concerns a cute country girl named Mary Jane (Mary Hay) who applies for a job in the Dunns’ offices. Although she is a good stenographer, they are concerned about hiring her because she is too pretty for Andrew Dunn, Jr. (Stanley Ridges). She gets the job by slicking down her bobbed hair and putting on goggles. Later, after Mr. Dunn Sr. (James Heenan) fires Jr., Mary Jane goes into business with Jr. and get betrothed in the last act. Opening night of ''Mary Jane McKane'' was also the inaugural performance for the new Imperial Theater at 45th Street, west of Broadway. The

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

reported that Miss Hay “emerged, let it be recorded, as a sweet, comely, tuneful and most appealing heroine.” “Mary Hays Scores”, New York Times, Wednesday, December 26, 1923, page 13.

Songs

Act 1 * “The Rumble of the Subway” * “Speed” * “Not in Business Hours” * “Stick to Your Knitting” * “My Boy and I” * “Toddle-oo” * “Down Where the Mortgages Grow” Act 2 * “Time-Clock Slaves” * “Laugh It Off” * “Stick to Your Knitting” (reprise) * “The Flannel Petticoat Gal” Act 3 * “Thistledown" * “Toodle-oo” (reprise) * “Mary Jane McKane”

References

Sources

* Boardman, Gerald. ''Days to Be Happy, Years to Be Sad'', New York: Oxford University Press(1982) {{Vincent Youmans 1923 musicals Broadway musicals Original musicals Musicals set in New York City Musicals by Vincent Youmans