''Three's A Crowd'' is a 1930

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 Stre ...

revue A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatre, theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance, and sketch comedy, sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural pre ...

with lyrics by

Howard Dietz Howard Dietz (September 8, 1896 – July 30, 1983) was an American publicist, lyricist, and librettist, best remembered for his songwriting collaboration with Arthur Schwartz. According to historian Stanley Green, Dietz and Schwartz were "most cl ...

and others, and music by

Arthur Schwartz Arthur Schwartz (November 25, 1900 – September 3, 1984) was an American composer and film producer, widely noted for his songwriting collaborations with Howard Dietz. Biography Early life Schwartz was born to a Jewish family in Brooklyn, New ...

and others. It was “put together” by

, and produced by Max Gordon.

Production

''Three's A Crowd'' premiered on

at the Selwyn Theatre on

October 15 Events Pre-1600 *1066 – Following the death of Harold II at the Battle of Hastings, Edgar the Ætheling is proclaimed King of England by the Witan; he is never crowned, and concedes power to William the Conqueror two months later. * 121 ...

1930 Events January * January 15 – The Moon moves into its nearest point to Earth, called perigee, at the same time as its fullest phase of the Lunar Cycle. This is the closest moon distance at in recent history, and the next one will be on J ...

, and closed on

June 6 Events Pre-1600 * 913 – Constantine VII, the eight-year-old illegitimate son of Leo VI the Wise, becomes nominal ruler of the Byzantine Empire under the regency of a seven-man council headed by Patriarch Nicholas Mystikos, appointe ...

1931 Events January * January 2 – South Dakota native Ernest Lawrence invents the cyclotron, used to accelerate particles to study nuclear physics. * January 4 – German pilot Elly Beinhorn begins her flight to Africa. * January 22 – Sir I ...

, after 271 performances. It was “compiled” by

; staged by

Hassard Short Hubert Edward Hassard Short (15 October 1877 – 9 October 1956), usually known as Hassard Short, was an actor, stage director, set designer and lighting designer in musical theatreJohn Kenrick (theatre writer), Kenrick, JohnWho's Who in Musicals ...

; dances by

Albertina Rasch Albertina Rasch (January 19, 1891 – October 2, 1967) was an Austrian-American dancer, company director, and choreographer. Early life Rasch was born in 1891 (although she would later shave five years off her age), in Vienna (in what was then ...

; with additional songs by

Johnny Green John Waldo Green (October 10, 1908 – May 15, 1989) was an American songwriter, composer, musical arranger, conductor and pianist. He was given the nickname "Beulah" by colleague Conrad Salinger. His most famous song was one of his ear ...

Vernon Duke Vernon Duke ( 16 January 1969) was a Russian-born American composer and songwriter who also wrote under his birth name, Vladimir Dukelsky. He is best known for " Taking a Chance on Love," with lyrics by Ted Fetter and John Latouche (1940), "I ...

Burton Lane Burton Lane ( Levy; February 2, 1912 – January 5, 1997) was an American composer and lyricist primarily known for his theatre and film scores. His most popular and successful works include '' Finian's Rainbow'' in 1947 and '' On a Clear Day Yo ...

, and others. It had settings by Albert R. Johnson and costumes designed by Kiviette. The cast included

Fred Allen John Florence Sullivan (May 31, 1894 – March 17, 1956), known professionally as Fred Allen, was an American comedian. His absurdist topically-pointed radio program '' The Fred Allen Show'' (1932–1949) made him one of the most popular and forw ...

Libby Holman Elizabeth Lloyd Holman (née Holzman; May 23, 1904 – June 18, 1971) was an American socialite, actress, singer, and activist. Early life Elizabeth Lloyd Holman was born on May 23, 1904, in Cincinnati, Ohio, the daughter of a lawyer and stockbr ...

Clifton Webb Webb Parmelee Hollenbeck (November 19, 1889 – October 13, 1966), known professionally as Clifton Webb, was an American actor, singer, and dancer. He worked extensively and was known for his stage appearances in the plays of Noël Coward, in ...

, Tamara Geva with

Fred MacMurray Frederick Martin MacMurray (August 30, 1908 – November 5, 1991) was an American actor. He appeared in more than one hundred films and a successful television series in a career that spanned nearly a half-century. His career as a major film le ...

Reception

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

opening night review said, “Those responsible for “Three's A Crowd,” and Howard Dietz seems to be chief among them, have put together a bright, smart and tasteful show. It has a pleasant lightness, a sort of unforced gayety, and, for the most part, a quizzical, knowing point of view.” Stanley Green reported that, “The piece that made the biggest hit, however, was the only one that Dietz was not associated with –“ Body and Soul,” by

Robert Sour Robert Sour (1905 – 1985)
''The New York Times'', March 8, 1985. was a

, and Edward Heymann. . . . The best of the Schwartz and Dietz inspirations was “ Something to Remember You By,” a ballad of unhappy leave-talking sung by Miss Holman to a sailor who stood with his back to the audience. He was played by Fred MacMurray."Green, Stanley, The World of Musical Comedy, Ziff-David Publishing Co., New York, 1960, p. 187-188

Songs

* “Body and Soul” (words by Edward Heymann and Robert Sour; music by John W. Green) * “Something to Remember You By” (words by Howard Dietz; music by Arthur Schwartz) * “Right at the Start of It” (words by Howard Dietz; music by Arthur Schwartz) * “Forget All Your Books” (words by Howard Dietz and Samuel M. Lehrer; music by Burton Lane) * “Out in the Open Air” (words by Howard Dietz and Ted Pola; music by Burton Lane) * “The Moment I Saw You” (words by Howard Dietz; music by Arthur Schwartz) * “Yaller” * “Practising Up On You” (words by Howard Dietz; music by Phil Charig) * “All the King’s Horses”

References

Sources

* Ewen, David. ''Complete Book of the American Musical Theater,'' (2nd Ed.) Henry Holt and Company, New York, 1959, pp. 294. * Green, Stanley, ''The World of Musical Comedy,'' Ziff-David Publishing Co., New York, 1960, p. 187-188. * Mantle, Burns, ed., ''The Best Plays of 1930-31,'' Dodd, Mead & Company, New York, 1931, p. 432.

External links

* * {{Playbill production, threes-a-crowd-selwyn-theatre-vault-0000010412
That’s Entertainment

Three's A Crowd ''Three's a Crowd'' (also known as ''Three's Company, Too'' in the ''Three's Company'' syndication package) is an American sitcom television series produced as a spin-off sequel and continuation of '' Three's Company'' that aired on ABC from ...

Broadway musicals Revues Musicals by Howard Dietz Musicals by Arthur Schwartz Musicals by Burton Lane