''Sally'' is a musical comedy with music by

Jerome Kern Jerome David Kern (January 27, 1885 – November 11, 1945) was an American composer of musical theatre and popular music. One of the most important American theatre composers of the early 20th century, he wrote more than 700 songs, used in ove ...

, lyrics by Clifford Grey and book by Guy Bolton (inspired by the 19th century show, ''Sally in our Alley''), with additional lyrics by Buddy De Sylva, Anne Caldwell and P. G. Wodehouse. The plot hinges on a mistaken identity: Sally, a waif, is a dishwasher at the Alley Inn. She poses as a famous foreign ballerina and rises to fame (and finds love) through joining the Ziegfeld Follies. There is a rags to riches story, a ballet as a centrepiece, and a wedding as a finale. "

Look for the Silver Lining "Look for the Silver Lining" is a 1919 popular song with music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by B.G. DeSylva. Background The song was written in 1919 for the unsuccessful musical ''Zip, Goes a Million''. In 1920, it was publishedSuskin, Steven. ...

" continues to be one of Kern's most familiar songs. The song is lampooned by another song, "Look for a Sky of Blue," in

Rick Besoyan Richard Besoyan (July 2, 1924 – March 13, 1970) was a singer, actor, playwright, composer and director especially of operetta and musicals. He is best remembered for writing the successful satirical musical ''Little Mary Sunshine''. Life an ...

's satirical 1959 musical '' Little Mary Sunshine''. The piece was first produced in 1920 on Broadway by

Florenz Ziegfeld Florenz Edward Ziegfeld Jr. (; March 21, 1867 – July 22, 1932) was an American Broadway impresario, notable for his series of theatrical revues, the ''Ziegfeld Follies'' (1907–1931), inspired by the '' Folies Bergère'' of Paris. He also ...

, and ran for 570 performances, one of the longest runs on Broadway up to that time. The show was designed as a debut star vehicle for Marilyn Miller. It had a successful London run and was revived several times on Broadway and in the

West End West End most commonly refers to: * West End of London, an area of central London, England * West End theatre, a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London, England West End may also refer to: Pl ...

, although it has had few productions since the 1950s. The musical was adapted into a 1925 silent film and a 1929 musical film.

Background and original production

Kern, Bolton, and Wodehouse had collaborated on a number of musical comedies at the Princess Theatre. The story combined the innocence of these earlier "Princess musicals" with the lavishness of the "

Ziegfeld Follies The ''Ziegfeld Follies'' was a series of elaborate theatrical revue productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 to 1931, with renewals in 1934 and 1936. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as '' The Ziegfeld Follies of the ...

" formula. The score recycles some material from previous Kern shows, including "

" and "Whip-poor-will" (with lyrics by De Sylva, from the flop "Zip Goes a Million"); "The Lorelei" (lyrics by Anne Caldwell); and "You Can't Keep a Good Girl Down" and "The Church 'Round the Corner" (lyrics by Wodehouse). Grey supplied the lyrics for the few new songs in the score. At the request of Ziegfeld,

Victor Herbert Victor August Herbert (February 1, 1859 – May 26, 1924) was an American composer, cellist and conductor of English and Irish ancestry and German training. Although Herbert enjoyed important careers as a cello soloist and conductor, he is bes ...

was engaged to write the music to "The Butterfly Ballet" in Act Three. The musical was originally produced by

, opening on December 21, 1920 at the New Amsterdam Theatre on Broadway. It ran for 570 performances, which was one of the longest runs on Broadway up to that time. By the time it closed in 1924 (including revivals), it would prove to be among the top five money makers of the 1920s. The show was designed as the musical comedy debut of Marilyn Miller, a 22-year-old ''Ziegfeld Follies'' girl. Miller would continue to be a star on Broadway until her death in 1936.

Roles and original cast

*"Pops", ''proprietor of the Alley Inn, New York'' – Alfred P. James *Rosalind Rafferty, ''a manicurist'' – Mary Hay *Madame Nookerova's maid – Mary Hay *Sascha, ''Violinist at the Alley Inn'' – Jacques Rebiroff *Otis Hooper, ''a theatrical agent'' – Walter Catlett *Mrs. Ten Broek, ''a settlement worker'' – Dolores *Sally of the Alley, ''a foundling'' – Marilyn Miller *Madame Nookerova, ''a Wild Rose'' – Marilyn Miller *Premier Star of the Follies – Marilyn Miller *Connie, ''a waiter at the Alley Inn'' – Leon Errol *Duke of Czechogovinia – Leon Errol *Miss New York, ''a niece'' – Agatha Dehussey *Admiral Travers, ''a gay one'' – Phil Ryley *Blair Farquar, ''an only son'' – Irving Fisher *Jimmie Spelvin – Stanley Ridges *Billy Porter – Wade Boothe *Harry Burton – Jack Barker

Musical numbers

;Act I * Opening and Violin Solo * The Night Time - Jimmie Spelvin and Ensemble (lyrics by Grey) * On with the Dance - Otis Hooper, Rosalind, Betty and Harry Burton (lyrics by Grey) * On with the Dance (Encore) - Otis Hooper, Rosalind, Betty and Harry Burton * Joan of Arc ("You Can't Keep a Good Girl Down") - Sally of the Alley and Foundlings (lyrics by Grey & Wodehouse) *

- Sally and Blair Farquar (lyrics by De Sylva) *

- (Reprise) - Sally, Duke of Czechogovinio, Boys and Girls * Sally - Blair and Ensemble (lyrics by Grey) * Dance - Sally * Finale Act One - Sally, Duke of Czechogovinio, Otis Hooper, Rosalind and Company ;Act II * Opening Act II: The Social Game - Jimmie and Ensemble * Wild Rose - Sally and Diplomats (lyrics by Grey) * (On the Banks of) The Schnitza Komisski - Duke of Czechogovinio and Ensemble (lyrics by Grey) * Schnitza Komisski Dance (Pzcherkatrotsky) - Duke of Czechogovinio * Whip-poor-will - Sally and Blair (lyrics by De Sylva) * The Lorelei - Otis Hooper, Rosalind and Jimmie (lyrics by Anne Caldwell) * The Church Around the Corner - Rosalind and Otis (lyrics by Grey & Wodehouse) * Finale Act II: - Entire Company ;Act III * Land of Butterflies (ballet) (music By Victor Herbert) * Wild Rose (Reprise) - Sally and Boys * Finale - Dear Little Church 'Round the Corner

Subsequent productions

The musical enjoyed a successful production in 1921 in London at the

Winter Garden Theatre The Winter Garden Theatre is a Broadway theatre at 1634 Broadway in the Midtown Manhattan neighborhood of New York City. It opened in 1911 under designs by architect William Albert Swasey. The Winter Garden's current design dates to 1922, when ...

, starring British musical comedy veterans

George Grossmith Jr. George Grossmith Jr. (11 May 1874 – 6 June 1935) was an English actor, theatre producer and Actor-manager, manager, director, playwright and songwriter, best remembered for his work in and with Edwardian musical comedies. Grossmith was also a ...

and Leslie Henson, which ran for 387 performances. It also played well in 1923 in Australia, produced by the

J. C. Williamson James Cassius Williamson (26 August 1845 – 6 July 1913) was an American actor and later Australia's foremost impresario, founding the J. C. Williamson's theatrical and production company. Born in Pennsylvania, Williamson moved with his fami ...

company. There were Broadway revivals in 1923 (at the New Amsterdam Theatre) and 1948 and London revivals in 1942 (at Prince's Theatre) and 1952 (Oxford New Theatre). Other productions included a 1944 LACLO Production in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the wo ...

and a 1988 concert production

Off-Broadway An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer th ...

at the Academy Theatre.

Adaptations

A 1925 silent

romantic comedy Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a subgenre of comedy and slice of life fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount most obstacles. In a typic ...

film of the same name starred Colleen Moore and was directed by

Alfred E. Green Alfred Edward Green (July 11, 1889 – September 4, 1960) was an American film director. Green entered film in 1912 as an actor for the Selig Polyscope Company. He became an assistant to director Colin Campbell. He then started to direct two-reel ...

, produced by Moore's husband John McCormick. The screenplay was adapted by

June Mathis June Mathis (born June Beulah Hughes, January 30, 1887 – July 26, 1927) was an American screenwriter. Mathis was the first female executive for Metro/MGM and at only 35, she was the highest paid executive in Hollywood. In 1926 she was voted ...

. The 1929 musical film version was only the third all talking all-color feature movie ever made. It retains three of Kern's songs ("

", "Sally", and "Wild Rose"). The rest of the music newly written for the film by Al Dubin and Joe Burke. Miller was hired by the Warner Brothers to reprise her role at an extravagant sum (reportedly $1,000 an hour for a total of $100,000). The film was nominated for an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment in ...

for Best Art Direction by Jack Okey in 1930. ''Sally'' was presented on '' The Railroad Hour'' April 6, 1953. The 30-minute radio adaptation starred Gordon MacRae and Lucille Norman.

References and sources

;References ;Sources
Description of the musical

External links

Vocal score
*

* ttp://www.hat-archive.com/Sally.htm Information about the Australian productionbr>Site gives length of long-running shows
{{Authority control 1920 musicals Broadway musicals Musicals by Jerome Kern Musicals set in the Roaring Twenties