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Sally (musical)
Encyclopedia
Sally is a musical comedy with music by Jerome Kern
, 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
. It was originally produced by Florenz Ziegfeld
, 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. 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 "Follies" formula. The score recycles some material from previous Kern shows, including "Look for the Silver Lining
" 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
was engaged to write the music to "The Butterfly Ballet" in Act Three.
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.
A 1929 film version
of Sally was made, with a screenplay was by Waldemar Young.
"Look for the Silver Lining" 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
's satirical 1959 musical Little Mary Sunshine
.
Act II
Act III
, starring British musical comedy veterans George Grossmith, Jr.
and Leslie Henson
, which ran for 387 performances.
It also played well in 1923 in Australia, produced by the J. C. Williamson
company. There were Broadway revivals in 1923 (at the New Amsterdam Theatre
) and 1948 and a London revival in 1942 (at Prince's Theatre). Other productions included a 1944 LACLO Production in Los Angeles, California
and a 1988 concert production Off-Broadway
at the Academy Theatre.
Jerome Kern
Jerome David Kern 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 over 100 stage works, including such classics as "Ol' Man River", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", "A...
, lyrics by Clifford Grey
Clifford Grey
Clifford Grey was an English songwriter, actor, librettist and Olympic medalist. His birth name was Percival Davis, and he was also known as Clifford Gray, Tippi Gray, Tippi Grey, Tippy Gray and Tippy Grey.As a writer, Grey contributed prolifically to West End and Broadway shows, as librettist and...
and book by Guy Bolton
Guy Bolton
Guy Reginald Bolton was a British-American playwright and writer of musical comedies. Born in England and educated in France and the U.S., he trained as an architect but turned to writing. Bolton preferred working in collaboration with others, principally the English writers P. G...
(inspired by the 19th century show, Sally in our Alley), with additional lyrics by Buddy De Sylva
Buddy De Sylva
George Gard "Buddy" DeSylva was an American songwriter, film producer and record executive. He wrote or co-wrote many popular songs and along with Johnny Mercer and Glenn Wallichs he founded Capitol Records.-Biography:...
, Anne Caldwell
Anne Caldwell
Anne Caldwell , also known as Anne Caldwell O'Dea, was a librettist and lyricist. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She wrote both pop songs and Broadway shows including working with Jerome Kern.-External links:...
and P. G. Wodehouse
P. G. Wodehouse
Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, KBE was an English humorist, whose body of work includes novels, short stories, plays, poems, song lyrics, and numerous pieces of journalism. He enjoyed enormous popular success during a career that lasted more than seventy years and his many writings continue to be...
. It was originally produced by Florenz Ziegfeld
Florenz Ziegfeld
Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr. , , was an American Broadway impresario, notable for his series of theatrical revues, the Ziegfeld Follies , inspired by the Folies Bergère of Paris. He also produced the musical Show Boat...
, 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
Marilyn Miller
Marilyn Miller was one of the most popular Broadway musical stars of the 1920s and early 1930s. She was an accomplished tap dancer, singer and actress, but it was the combination of these talents that endeared her to audiences. On stage she usually played rags-to-riches Cinderella characters who...
, a 22-year old Ziegfeld Follies
Ziegfeld Follies
The Ziegfeld Follies were a series of elaborate theatrical productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 through 1931. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as The Ziegfeld Follies of the Air....
girl. Miller would continue to be a star on Broadway until her death in 1936. 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 "Follies" formula. The score recycles some material from previous Kern shows, including "Look for the Silver Lining
Look for the Silver Lining
"Look for the Silver Lining" is a popular song with music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by B.G. DeSylva. It was written in 1919 for the unsuccessful musical Zip, Goes a Million. In 1920 it was published and reused in the musical Sally whence it was popularized by Marilyn Miller...
" 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 Herbert
Victor August Herbert was an Irish-born, German-raised American composer, cellist and conductor. Although Herbert enjoyed important careers as a cello soloist and conductor, he is best known for composing many successful operettas that premiered on Broadway from the 1890s to World War I...
was engaged to write the music to "The Butterfly Ballet" in Act Three.
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.
A 1929 film version
Sally (film)
Sally is the third all talking-all color movie ever made . The color process of Sally was Technicolor...
of Sally was made, with a screenplay was by Waldemar Young.
"Look for the Silver Lining" 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
Rick Besoyan
Richard Besoyan 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 and career:...
's satirical 1959 musical Little Mary Sunshine
Little Mary Sunshine
Little Mary Sunshine is a musical that parodies old-fashioned operettas and musicals. The book, music, and lyrics are by Rick Besoyan. The musical should not be confused with the 1916 silent film of the same name ....
.
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 MillerMarilyn MillerMarilyn Miller was one of the most popular Broadway musical stars of the 1920s and early 1930s. She was an accomplished tap dancer, singer and actress, but it was the combination of these talents that endeared her to audiences. On stage she usually played rags-to-riches Cinderella characters who...
- Madame Nookerova, a Wild Rose - Marilyn Miller
- Premier Star of the Follies - Marilyn Miller
- Connie, a waiter at the Alley Inn - Leon ErrolLeon ErrolLeon Errol , was an Australian-born American comedian and actor, popular in the first half of the 20th century.-Biography:...
- 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 RidgesStanley RidgesStanley Ridges was a British-born actor who made his mark in films by playing a wide assortment of character parts...
- Billy Porter - Wade Boothe
- Harry Burton - Jack Barker
Musical numbers
Act I- The Night Time - Jimmie Spelvin and Ensemble (lyrics by Grey)
- Way Down East - Rosalind Rafferty and Ensemble
- On with the Dance - Otis Hooper, Rosalind, Betty and Harry Burton (lyrics by Grey)
- This Little Girl - Mrs. Ten Broek, "Pops" and Foundlings
- Joan of Arc ("You Can't Keep a Good Girl Down") - Sally of the Alley and Foundlings (lyrics by Grey & Wodehouse)
- Look for the Silver LiningLook for the Silver Lining"Look for the Silver Lining" is a popular song with music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by B.G. DeSylva. It was written in 1919 for the unsuccessful musical Zip, Goes a Million. In 1920 it was published and reused in the musical Sally whence it was popularized by Marilyn Miller...
- Sally and Blair Farquar (lyrics by De Sylva) - Sally - Blair and Ensemble (lyrics by Grey)
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)
- 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)
Act III
- Land of Butterflies (ballet) (music By Victor Herbert)
- Finale - Dear Little Church 'Round the Corner
Subsequent productions
The musical enjoyed a successful production in 1921 in London at the Winter Garden TheatreNew London Theatre
The New London Theatre is a West End theatre located on the corner of Drury Lane and Parker Street in Covent Garden, in the London Borough of Camden...
, starring British musical comedy veterans George Grossmith, Jr.
George Grossmith, Jr.
George Grossmith, Jr. was a British actor, theatre producer and manager, director, playwright and songwriter, best remembered for his work in and with Edwardian musical comedies...
and Leslie Henson
Leslie Henson
Leslie Lincoln Henson was an English comedian, actor, producer for films and theatre, and film director. He initially worked in silent films and Edwardian musical comedy and became a popular music hall comedian who enjoyed a long stage career...
, which ran for 387 performances.
It also played well in 1923 in Australia, produced by the J. C. Williamson
J. C. Williamson
James Cassius Williamson was an American actor and later Australia's foremost theatrical manager, founding J. C. Williamson Ltd....
company. There were Broadway revivals in 1923 (at the New Amsterdam Theatre
New Amsterdam Theatre
The New Amsterdam Theatre is a Broadway theater located at 214 West 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues in the Theatre District of Manhattan, New York City, off of Times Square...
) and 1948 and a London revival in 1942 (at Prince's Theatre). Other productions included a 1944 LACLO Production in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
and a 1988 concert production Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
at the Academy Theatre.