''As the Girls Go'' is a

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...

with music by

Jimmy McHugh James Francis McHugh (July 10, 1894 – May 23, 1969) was an American composer. One of the most prolific songwriters from the 1920s to the 1950s, he is credited with over 500 songs. His songs were recorded by many artists, including Chet Baker, J ...

, lyrics by

Harold Adamson Harold Campbell Adamson (December 10, 1906 – August 17, 1980) was an American lyricist during the 1930s and 1940s. Early life Adamson, the son of building contractor Harold Adamson and Marion "Minnie" Campbell Adamson, was born and raised in ...

and a book by William Roos. After an out-of-town tryout at the Opera House in Boston in October 1948, the original

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

production of ''As the Girls Go'' opened 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 ...

on November 13, 1948, transferred to

The Broadway Theatre The Broadway Theatre (formerly Universal's Colony Theatre, B.S. Moss's Broadway Theatre, Earl Carroll's Broadway Theatre, and Ciné Roma) is a Broadway theatre, Broadway theater at 1681 Broadway (Manhattan), Broadway (near 53rd Street (Manhatta ...

and ran for a total of 420 performances. The production was directed by Howard Bay, choreographed by

Hermes Pan Hermes Pan (born Hermes Joseph Panagiotopoulos, December 10, 1909 – September 19, 1990) was an American dancer and choreographer, principally remembered as Fred Astaire's choreographic collaborator on the famous 1930s movie musicals starring A ...

and produced by Michael Todd. It starred Bobby Clark and

Irene Rich Irene Rich (born Irene Frances Luther; October 13, 1891 – April 22, 1988) was an American actress who worked in both silent films and talkies, as well as radio. Early life Rich was born in Buffalo, New York. At age 17, she wed Elvo Elc ...

and featured

Hobart Cavanaugh Hobart Cavanaugh (September 22, 1886 – April 26, 1950 ) was an American character actor in films and on stage. Biography He was born in Virginia City, Nevada on September 22, 1886. Cavanaugh attended the University of California. He worked i ...

Betty Jane Watson Elizabeth Jane Watson (December 28, 1921 – February 21, 2016) was an American actress and singer known for her roles in musical theatre, especially Laurey in ''Oklahoma!'', creating the role in the London premiere. She also performed in nightcl ...

(replaced by Fran Warren),

June Kirby June Shirley Kirby (January 5, 1928 – March 6, 2022) was an American actress and model, who spent most of her career as a wardrobe mistress in Hollywood productions' costume departments. She was a showgirl at The Diamond Horseshoe in the lat ...

Jo Sullivan Elizabeth Josephine Sullivan Loesser (née Sullivan; August 28, 1927 – April 28, 2019) was an American actress and high lyric soprano singer. She became a musical theatre star with her performance in the original production of '' The Most Happ ...

, and Pauline Hahn. A teenaged

Abbe Lane Abbe Lane (born Francine Lassman; December 14, 1931) is an American singer and actress. Lane was known in the 1950s and 1960s for her revealing outfits and sultry style of performing. Her first marriage was as the fourth wife of Latin bandleader ...

, billed as Abbe Marshall, was in the ensemble. The production's musical director, Max Meth won a

Tony Award The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual cer ...

for his work.

Synopsis

In 1953 (four years ahead), a woman (Lucille Thompson Wellington) is elected President of the United States. The First Husband (Waldo Wellington) gets around town quite a bit, presiding at events, receiving honorary degrees, and making a mess of protocol. The first female president's foes try to cook up a scandal by throwing women into the path of the flirty First Spouse, but they have no luck.

Musical numbers

;Act I *As the Girls Go - Waldo Wellington, Max Wellington and Girls *Nobody's Heart But Mine - Kathy Robinson and Kenny Wellington *Brighten Up and Be a Little Sunbeam - Waldo Wellington, Max Wellington and Children *Rock, Rock, Rock - Kenny Wellington, Max Wellington and Kathy Robinson *It's More Fun Than a Picnic - Mickey Wellington, Max Wellington and Children *American Cannes - Waldo Wellington and Girls *You Say the Nicest Things, Baby - Kathy Robinson, Kenny Wellington and Singing Girls *I've Got the President's Ear - Waldo Wellington and Girls *Holiday in the Country - Entire Company ;Act II *There's No Getting Away from You - Kathy Robinson and Singing, Dancing Ensemble *Lucky in the Rain - Kenny Wellington, Kathy Robinson and Ensemble *Father's Day - Waldo, Lucille, Kenny, Mickey and Tommy Wellington *It Takes a Woman to Get a Man - Waldo Wellington and Ensemble *You Say the Nicest Things, Baby (Reprise) - Waldo Wellington and Lucille Thompson Wellington

External links

*
Time magazine reviewPrepping the girls for "As the Girls Go"
from th
Museum of the City of New York Collections blog
1948 musicals Broadway musicals Tony Award-winning musicals {{musical-theat-stub