Take a Chance (1932 musical)
Encyclopedia
Take a Chance is a musical with lyrics by B. G. De Sylva and music by Nacio Herb Brown
and Richard A. Whiting
, and book by De Sylva and Laurence Schwab.
, where it had opened on September 26, 1932. The musical was extensively rewritten, and after further tryouts in Philadelphia, Wilmington, Delaware
, and Newark, New Jersey
, the musical was renamed, and the book, music, and cast had changed, leaving only Ethel Merman
. Richard Whiting left, and Vincent Youmans
was called in to write additional songs.
at the Apollo Theatre
on November 26, 1932 and closed on July 1, 1933 after 243 performances. Directed by Edgar MacGregor with choreography by Bobby Connolly, the show starred Ethel Merman as Wanda Brill and featured Jack Haley
as Duke Stanley, Jack Whiting as Kenneth Raleigh, June Knight as Toni Ray, and Sid Silvers
as Louie Webb. Merman's vocal arrangements were by Roger Edens
. Merman introduced the popular hit Eadie Was a Lady.
Act 2
played Merman's role in the film.
Nacio Herb Brown
Nacio Herb Brown was an American writer of popular songs, movie scores, and Broadway theatre music in the 1920s through the early 1950s.-Biography:...
and Richard A. Whiting
Richard A. Whiting
Richard Armstrong Whiting was a composer of popular songs including the standards, "Hooray for Hollywood", "Ain't We Got Fun?" & "On the Good Ship Lollipop"....
, and book by De Sylva and Laurence Schwab.
Background
Take a Chance started as a musical titled Humpty Dumpty written by DeSylva and Schwab, which flopped immediately during out-of town tryouts in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, where it had opened on September 26, 1932. The musical was extensively rewritten, and after further tryouts in Philadelphia, Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
, and Newark, New Jersey
Newark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
, the musical was renamed, and the book, music, and cast had changed, leaving only Ethel Merman
Ethel Merman
Ethel Merman was an American actress and singer. Known primarily for her powerful voice and roles in musical theatre, she has been called "the undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage." Among the many standards introduced by Merman in Broadway musicals are "I Got Rhythm", "Everything's...
. Richard Whiting left, and Vincent Youmans
Vincent Youmans
Vincent Youmans was an American popular composer and Broadway producer.- Life :Vincent Millie Youmans was born in New York City on September 27, 1898 and grew-up on Central Park West on the site where the Mayflower Hotel once stood. His father, a prosperous hat manufacturer, moved the family to...
was called in to write additional songs.
Production
The musical opened on BroadwayBroadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
at the Apollo Theatre
Apollo Theatre
The Apollo Theatre is a Grade II listed West End theatre, on Shaftesbury Avenue in the City of Westminster. Designed by architect Lewin Sharp for owner Henry Lowenfield, and the fourth legitimate theatre to be constructed on the street, its doors opened on 21 February 1901 with the American...
on November 26, 1932 and closed on July 1, 1933 after 243 performances. Directed by Edgar MacGregor with choreography by Bobby Connolly, the show starred Ethel Merman as Wanda Brill and featured Jack Haley
Jack Haley
John Joseph "Jack" Haley was an American stage, radio, and film actor best known for his portrayal of the Tin Man and Kansas farmworker Hickory in The Wizard of Oz.-Career:...
as Duke Stanley, Jack Whiting as Kenneth Raleigh, June Knight as Toni Ray, and Sid Silvers
Sid Silvers
Sid Silvers was an American actor, comedian, lyricist, and writer.Silvers began his career in vaudeville in the early 1920s as a comedy partner of Phil Baker. As part of their act, Silvers would heckle Baker from the audience...
as Louie Webb. Merman's vocal arrangements were by Roger Edens
Roger Edens
Roger Edens was a Hollywood composer, arranger and associate producer, and is considered one of the major creative figures in Arthur Freed's musical film production unit at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer during the "golden era of Hollywood".-Early career and work with Judy Garland:Edens was born in...
. Merman introduced the popular hit Eadie Was a Lady.
Synopsis
Two small-time gamblers, Duke Stanley and Louie Webb, leave their carnival circuit to seek greater fortunes in the legitimate theater. Their friend Toni Ray wants to be a singer and her Harvard-educated boyfriend, Kenneth Raleigh, also wants to enter show business. They meet a no-nonsense nightclub singer, Wanda Brill. Wanda performs a risque number in a New Orleans club in a red dress and black boa ("Eadie Was a Lady").Songs
Act 1- The Life of the Party – Night Club Girls and Guests
- Should I Be Sweet (written by Vincent YoumansVincent YoumansVincent Youmans was an American popular composer and Broadway producer.- Life :Vincent Millie Youmans was born in New York City on September 27, 1898 and grew-up on Central Park West on the site where the Mayflower Hotel once stood. His father, a prosperous hat manufacturer, moved the family to...
) – Toni Ray - So Do I – Kenneth Raleigh, Toni Ray and Guests
- I Got Religion – Wanda Brill
- She's Nuts About Me – Duke Stanley
- Tickled Pink – Kenneth Raleigh and Girls
- Turn Out the Light – Louie Webb, Duke Stanley, Toni Ray, Kenneth Raleigh and Girls
- Charity – Guests
- (Oh, How) I Long to Belong to You (written by Vincent Youmans) – Kenneth Raleigh and Toni Ray
- Rise and Shine (written by Vincent Youmans and De Sylva) – Wanda Brill and Ensemble
Act 2
- Tonight Is Opening Night – Ensemble
- (You're an Old) Smoothie – Duke Stanley and Wanda Brill
- Eadie Was a Lady – Wanda Brill and Ensemble
- Should I Be Sweet (Revue Version) – Toni Ray
1933 Film
In 1933, the show was made into a film with almost no resemblance to the original show, except for the song Eadie Was a Lady. Lillian RothLillian Roth
Lillian Roth was an American singer and actress.-Early life:Roth was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She was only 6 years old when her mother took her to Educational Pictures, where she became the company's trademark, symbolized by a living statue holding a lamp of knowledge...
played Merman's role in the film.