''Chee-Chee'' is a

musical Musical is the adjective of music Music is generally defined as the The arts, art of arranging sound to create some combination of Musical form, form, harmony, melody, rhythm or otherwise Musical expression, expressive content. Exact def ...

Richard Rodgers Richard Charles Rodgers (June 28, 1902 – December 30, 1979) was an American composer who worked primarily in musical theater. With 43 Broadway musicals and over 900 songs to his credit, Rodgers was one of the most well-known American ...

and

Lorenz Hart Lorenz Milton Hart (May 2, 1895 – November 22, 1943) was an American lyricist and half of the Broadway songwriting team Rodgers and Hart. Some of his more famous lyrics include " Blue Moon", " The Lady Is a Tramp", "Manhattan", " Bewitched, ...

based on the 1927 book, ''The Son of the Grand Eunuch'', by Charles Pettit. ''Chee-Chee'' opened on

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 ...

September 25, 1928, and the show closed after 31 performances. In 1963 vocalist

Betty Comden Betty Comden (May 3, 1917 - November 23, 2006) was an American lyricist, playwright, and screenwriter who contributed to numerous Hollywood musicals and Broadway shows of the mid-20th century. Her writing partnership with Adolph Green spanned ...

released an album that included some of the songs from the musical.

Synopsis

In 1928

Herbert Fields Herbert Fields (July 26, 1897March 24, 1958) was an American librettist and screenwriter. Biography Born in New York City, Fields began his career as an actor, then graduated to choreography and stage direction before turning to writing. From 1 ...

wrote a libretto based on Pettit's book in which the son of the Grand Eunuch, Li-Pi, and his wife, Chee-Chee, are forced into exile when the Grand Eunuch announces his plan for Li-Pi to become a eunuch and take his father's place as the Grand Eunuch. Chee-Chee is captured and rescued, and Li-Pi is captured and rescued, and finally the musical ends happily.

Musical Numbers

Two acts, seven scenes. ;Act I Scene I: A Corridor in the Palace of the Holy Emperor, Son of Heaven, in the Violet Town of Peking * We're Men of Brains - Eunuchs * I Am a Prince - Prince Tao-Tee * In a Great Big Way - Li-Li-Wee * The Most Majestic of Domestic Officials (Entrance of the Grand Eunuch) - Ensemble * Holy of Holies - Li-Pi-Siao, Li-Li-Wee * Her Hair Is Black as Licorice (Food Solo) - Li-Pi-Siao * Dear, Oh Dear - Chee-Chee, Li-Pi-Tchou * Await Your Love (Concubines' Song) - Li-Pi-Siao, Miss Smile of a Rose, Ensemble * Joy Is Mine - Li-Pi-Tchou * I Wake at Morning - Li-Pi-Tchou * Grovel to Earth (Chee-Chee's First Entrance) - Chee-Chee * Just a Little Thing - Li-Pi-Tchou, Chee-Chee * You Are Both Agreed (Finaletto Scene 1) - Li-Pi-Siao, Li-Pi-Tchou, Chee-Chee Scene II: The Road to the Future * I Must Love You - Chee-Chee, Li-Pi-Tchou * Owl Song - A Very Narrow Minded Owl Scene III: A Wayside Tavern * I Bow a Glad Good Day (Tavern Opening) - Innkeeper, Li-Pi-Siao, Ensemble * Better Be Good to Me - Li-Li-Wee, Prince Tao-Tee * The Tartar Song - Tartar Chief, Ensemble * Chee-Chee's Second Entrance - Chee-Chee * Finale (Act I) ;Act II Scene I: A Forest * Khonghouse Song - Li-Pi-Tchou, Ensemble * Sleep, Weary Head - Chee-Chee * Singing a Love Song - Tartar Chief, Ensemble Scene II: Visiting Day at the Monastery of Celestial Clouds * Monastery Opening * Chinese Dance * Living Buddha (Impassive Buddha) - The Grand Prior * Moon of My Delight - Li-Li-Wee, Prince Tao-Tee Scene III: The Gallery of Torments Scene IV: The Palace * Finale Ultimo

References

External links

* Dominic Symonds
We’ll Have Manhattan: The Early Work of Rodgers & Hart
chapter 8
Chee-Chee Theatre Program
New York Public Library Digital Collections

Synopsis

Musical Numbers

See also

References

External links

Further reading