The Dream Girl
Encyclopedia
'The Dream Girl is an operetta
in three acts with music by Victor Herbert
and book by Rida Johnson Young
(who also wrote the lyrics) and Harold R. Atteridge
. It is based on the 1906 play The Road to Yesterday by Beulah Marie Dix
and Evelyn Greenleaf Sutherland. Additional music was written by Sigmund Romberg
. It opened at the Ambassador Theatre
on August 20, 1924 and ran for 117 performances.
The Dream Girl was Victor Herbert's last musical composition, and the work was produced posthumously. A satiric look at reincarnation, it starred Fay Bainter
, George LeMaire and Walter Woolf.
Act II
Act III
Operetta
Operetta is a genre of light opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter. It is also closely related, in English-language works, to forms of musical theatre.-Origins:...
in three acts with music by 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...
and book by Rida Johnson Young
Rida Johnson Young
Rida Johnson Young was an American playwright, songwriter and librettist. In her career, Young wrote over thirty plays and musicals, and over 500 songs. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970...
(who also wrote the lyrics) and Harold R. Atteridge
Harold R. Atteridge
Harold Richard Atteridge was a composer, librettist and lyricist primarily for musicals and revues. He wrote the book and lyrics for over 20 musicals and revues for the Shuberts, including several iterations of The Passing Show....
. It is based on the 1906 play The Road to Yesterday by Beulah Marie Dix
Beulah Marie Dix
Beulah Marie Dix was an American screenwriter of the silent era and an author of children's books. She wrote for over 55 films between 1917 and 1942.-Selected filmography:* The Squaw Man...
and Evelyn Greenleaf Sutherland. Additional music was written by Sigmund Romberg
Sigmund Romberg
Sigmund Romberg was a Hungarian-born American composer, best known for his operettas.-Biography:Romberg was born as Siegmund Rosenberg to a Jewish family in Gross-Kanizsa during the Austro-Hungarian kaiserlich und königlich monarchy period...
. It opened at the Ambassador Theatre
Ambassador Theatre (New York)
The Ambassador Theatre is a legitimate Broadway theatre located at 219 West 49th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan.Designed by architect Herbert J. Krapp for the Shuberts, the structure is unusual in that it is situated diagonally on its site to fit the maximum number of...
on August 20, 1924 and ran for 117 performances.
The Dream Girl was Victor Herbert's last musical composition, and the work was produced posthumously. A satiric look at reincarnation, it starred Fay Bainter
Fay Bainter
Fay Okell Bainter was an American film and stage actress.-Early life:She was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Charles F. Bainter and Mary Okell. In 1910, she was a traveling stage actress...
, George LeMaire and Walter Woolf.
Roles and original cast
- Ken Paulton - Edward Basse
- Will Levison - John Clarke
- Elspeth - Fay BainterFay BainterFay Okell Bainter was an American film and stage actress.-Early life:She was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Charles F. Bainter and Mary Okell. In 1910, she was a traveling stage actress...
- Cristoforo - Edmund Fitzpatrick
- Wilson Addison - George LeMaire
- Bobby Thompkins - Frank Masters
- Elinor Levison - Alice Moffat
- Aunt Harriet - Maude OdellMaude OdellMaude Odell was an actress. Also known as Tillie Doremus, she was one of the United States' best-known stage actresses of the early 20th century....
- Mr. Gillette - William Oneal
- Nora - Clara Palmer
- Dolly Follis - Wyn Richmond
- Jimmie Van Dyke - Billie B. Van
- Malena - Vavara
- Jack Warren - Walter Woolf
Musical numbers
Act I- Making a Venus - Bobby Thompkins, Malena, Models and Boys
- All Year Round (Music by Sigmund Romberg) - Jack Warren and Chorus
- Dancing Round - Elspeth and Chorus
- (My) Dream Girl (I Loved You Long Ago) - Jack
- Old Songs - Maidens and Quartette
Act II
- Maiden, Let Me In - Will Levison and Boys
- Gypsy Life - Malena and Chorus
- Stop, Look and Listen - Elspeth, Jimmie Van Dyke and Bobby
- (The) Broad Highway - Jack and Chorus
- My Hero - Elspeth and Jack
- I Want to Go Home (Music by Sigmund Romberg)- Elspeth
Act III
- Bubbles - Dolly Follis and Chorus
- Make Love in the Morning - Jimmie and Dancers
- Saxophone Man - Bobby, Dolly and Chorus
- Dream Girl - Elspeth, Jack and Company