Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

Prima Donna

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<p>After the premiere in Chicago, and shining the light at Broadway, the comedic opera <em>Prima Donna</em>, opened at the Colonial on March 1, 1909. The romantic and dramatic story of the Prima Donna of the Paris Opera fall in love in front of night bar opens here in Boston. Starring renowned soprano Fritzi Scheff, this lavishes show had a large number of scantily chorus girl, comedic drama, and amazing musical numbers including “Everybody Else's Girl Looks Better to Me Than Mine.”</p>

Prima Donna | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

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Lady Be Good

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<p>On November 30, 1925, the musical comedy <em>Lady, Be Good </em>opened here at the Colonial! Starring the brother-and-sister dance team Fred and Adele Astaire, the show presents the entangled love story the two siblings each go through, revealing a whole host of hidden love and secrets. The show included George and Ira Gershwin's now iconic song “Fascinating Rhythm.”</p>

Lady Be Good | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

Anything Goes

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<p>On November 5, 1934, a Broadway classic was born as Anything Goes began its pre-Broadway engagement at the Colonial Theatre. It ran at the Colonial until November 17.</p>
<p>Featuring music and lyrics by Cole Porter with a book by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodenhouse, the show was a hit with audiences and critics alike and starred Ethel Merman as Reno Sweeney, William Gaxton as Billy Crocker, and Victor Moore as Reverend Dr. Moon.</p>
<p>Boston audiences were among the very first to get to hear the now-classics “You’re the Top”, “I Get a Kick out of You”, "Blow, Gabriel Blow," and the title song “Anything Goes.” The Boston Post hailed it as "a great musical comedy which danced and sang and gagged its way to glory" and described Porter's music and lyrics as "rare and flawless."</p>
<p>The show went on to play 420 performances on Broadway and continued to find success years later with two acclaimed revivals. While the original production pre-dated the Tony Awards, the later revivals garnered a total of 19 Tony Award nominations and 6 Tony Awards.</p>
<p>Shortly after the show made its debut on stage, the story was adapted to the big screen in 1936.</p>

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<p>Included in the video are production photos and promotional shots from the original Broadway production. The 16mm footage featured was shot by amateur filmmaker Ray Knight during the show's Broadway run.</p>

Anything Goes | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

Porgy and Bess

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<p>The World Premiere of the seminal opera&nbsp;<em>Porgy and Bess</em> opened at the Colonial on September 30, 1935. Written by George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, and DuBose Heyward, the unshakeable love story between a crippled beggar and a beautiful yet haunted woman introduced classics into the great American Songbook including “Summertime,” “It Ain’t Necessarily So,” and “I Loves You, Porgy." The show ran until October 5 at the Colonial before opening on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre on October 10.</p>

<p>Pictured: Todd Duncan and Anne Wiggins Brown as the titular roles.</p>

Porgy and Bess | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

Red, Hot & Blue

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<p>On October 7, 1936, the pre-Broadway engagement of the musical <em>Red, Hot &amp; Blue</em> began performances at the Colonial.<br><br>Starring Ethel Merman, Bob Hope, and Jimmy Durante, the musical follows a newly wealthy widow named Nails who starts a lottery to help her lawyer find his long-lost childhood sweetheart.<br><br>The original show was directed by Howard Lindsay and choreographed by George Hale, with music by Cole Porter (who had come to the Colonial previously for the pre-Broadway tryout of&nbsp;<em>Anything Goes</em> in 1934), with a book written by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse.<br><br>The most well-known number from the show is the duet between Hope and Merman, “It’s De-Lovely.” It is said that there was a dispute between Durante and Merman about who should be billed first. The solution was to crisscross their names on the Playbill drawing the observer's eye in two directions.<br><br>At the time, the New York Times&nbsp;wrote “Everyone was there [at the Colonial] who could get in and those who could not sit stood three deep at the back of the house.”</p>

<p>Photo 1: RED, HOT &amp; BLUE 1936 Colonial Theatre program (signed by Merman).<br />Photo 2: Production photo of Ethel Merman and Bob Hope.<br />Photo 3: Production photo of Ethel Merman, Bob Hope and Jimmy Durante.</p>
<p>Images from Vandamm Studio</p>

Red, Hot & Blue| Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

I'd Rather Be Right

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<p>On October 11, 1937, George M. Cohan starred as Franklin D. Roosevelt in the pre-Broadway engagement of <em>I'd Rather Be Right</em>, marking the first time that any show had ever put the President of the United States on stage and called him by name. The political satire and comedic jokes alongside the lively songs and dances brought laughter and joy to all who attended. This historical show was written by Moss Hart, George S. Kaufman and Richard Rodgers.</p>

<p>Images from Boston's Colonial Theater</p>

I'd Rather Be Right | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

The Philadelphia Story

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<p>On March 13, 1939, <em>The Philadelphia Story</em> starring Katharine Hepburn&nbsp;as Tracy Lord, began its pre-Broadway tryout at the Colonial.<br><br>The new comedy by Philip Barry completed a two-week run before immediately opening on Broadway. The play was a great success and was Hepburn's first great triumph after a number of Hollywood failures. Hepburn starred as Tracy Lord once again in the film adaptation of the play that was released in 1940, alongside Cary Grant and James Stewart.<br><br>Hepburn returned to the Colonial in 1975 for the tryout of <em>A Matter of Gravity</em> by Enid Bagnold.</p>

The Philadelphia Story | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

Away We Go!

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<p>From March 15 - 27, 1943, the first musical written by Rodger and Hammerstein, <em>Away We Go!</em> debuted at the Colonial Theatre. It was named for the popular dance step “do-si-do and away we go.”&nbsp;</p>
<p>After some poor reviews of the play, they decided to make some changes to the final number, “Oklahoma.” The song went from a solo number to including the whole cast and harmonies. The cast rehearsed the updated song for the first time in the Colonial lobby. It was a hit with the Boston audience, and it received a lot of praise, soon becoming the musicals title song. The newly named musical,&nbsp;<em>Oklahoma!,</em> was on Broadway for 5 years as well as touring for 10 years. It was said to be the first musical that successfully blended comedy with drama and used the songs to continue the plot, not just a break from the story. This musical set a new standard for any future musicals. <em>Oklahoma!</em> went on to win a Special Pulitzer Prize, a Special Tony Award for their 50th anniversary, and even won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical in 2019.&nbsp;</p>

Away We Go! | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

On the Town

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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="beo8c-0-0"><span data-text="true">From December 15 - 23, 1944, the pre-Broadway tryout of the Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green musical ON THE TOWN completed its run at the Colonial Theatre.&nbsp;</span></div>
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="d40rm-0-0"><span data-text="true">Based on Jerome Robbins’ 1944 ballet Fancy Free (which was also composed by Bernstein), ON THE TOWN follows 3 fun-loving sailors making the most of their 24-hour shore leave in New York City. Directed by George Abbott, this was the first pre-Broadway tryout for Bernstein, Comden, Green, and Robbins. </span></div>
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="1fd9a-0-0"><span data-text="true">Elinor Hughes, Drama Critic from the Boston Herald, described the show as “a lively, entertaining and almost overpowering youthful and energetic affair. The average age of the performers being somewhere in the middle twenties - and that goes for the authors.” The production carried this energy with it when it transferred to Broadway’s Adelphi Theatre, opening on December 28, 1944 for a run of 462 performances. The show has since had three major Broadway revivals, a 1949 film adaptation, and introduced audiences to the now-famous song “New York, New York.” </span></div>
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="2kirs-0-0"><span data-text="true">Many members of the cast and creative team for ON THE TOWN would later return to the Colonial. The Colonial hosted the pre-Broadway productions of Comden and Green’s DO RE MI in 1960 and ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY in 1973, as well as Bernstein’s operetta CANDIDE in 1956. Director George Abbott would also return in 1947 for the pre-Broadway tryout of BAREFOOT BOY WITH CHEEK. </span></div>
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="b9mnj-0-0"><span data-text="true">Photo 1: ON THE TOWN promotional flyer.</span></div>
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7vmir-0-0"><span data-text="true">Photo 2: The cast of ON THE TOWN. Credit: New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.</span></div>
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="35fn3-0-0"><span data-text="true">Photo 3: Actress Nancy Walker alongside a program for ON THE TOWN.</span></div>
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<p>Images from The New York Public Library.</p>

On the Town | Emerson Colonial Theatre Blog

Carousel

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<p><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';" lang="EN">The award winning-musical<strong> <em>Carousel </em></strong>debuted at the Colonial on March 27, 1945. It played in Boston for a three week pre-Broadway run through April 15, 1945.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';" lang="EN">Rodgers and Hammerstein returned to the Colonial while <em>Oklahoma!</em> was in its second year on Broadway for their second collaboration with choreographer Ages de Mille. The show starred John Raitt as Billy Bigelow, Jan Clayton as Julie Jordan, Jean Darling as Carrie Pipperidge, and Christine Johnson as Nettie Fowler. <strong><em>Carousel </em></strong>went on to open on Broadway on April 19, 1945 at the Majestic Theater, where it ran for two years and played 890 performances.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';" lang="EN"><em><strong>Carousel </strong></em>received a warm welcome from audiences and critics alike in Boston. Critic Elinor Hughes wrote "if the theater were twice as large, it could not accommodate the would-be customers."</span></p>

Carousel | Emerson Colonial Theatre Blog

Brigadoon

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<h2><span class="btn-primary">Brigadoon</span></h2>
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="3sjfj-0-0"><span data-text="true">On February 10, 1947, the pre-Broadway tryout of BRIGADOON opened at the Colonial. The production also made stops at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven and the Forrest Theater in Philadelphia. </span></div>
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7rf3f-0-0"><span data-text="true">This production’s music was composed by Frederick Loewe with lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner. Lerner and Loewe, a duo whose other credits include MY FAIR LADY and CAMELOT, were inspired by Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musicals OKLAHOMA! and CAROUSEL, both of which also had a pre-Broadway run at the Colonial. </span></div>
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="34j6k-0-0"><span data-text="true">The plot of the musical features two American tourists who stumble upon Brigadoon, a mysterious Scottish village that appears for only one day every 100 years. The most famous song from the musical - "Almost Like Being in Love" - has gone on to become a standard. </span></div>
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="c5kko-0-0"><span data-text="true">The production was choreographed by Agnes de Mille and starred David Brooks as Tommy Albright, James Mitchell as Harry Beaton, Marion Bell as Fiona MacLaren, and Virginia Bosler as Jean MacLaren. </span></div>
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="1njng-0-0"><span data-text="true">BRIGADOON later opened on Broadway at the Ziegfeld Theatre on March 13, 1947, and ran through July 31, 1948 for a total of 581 performances and has gone on to receive many subsequent revivals. The 1954 film adaptation starred Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse, while the 1966 television version starred Robert Goulet, Sally Ann Howes, and Peter Falk.</span></div>
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="e0bqc-0-0"><span data-text="true">Photo 1: A Colonial poster for Brigadoon, signed by Marion Bell</span></div>
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="epfo7-0-0"><span data-text="true">Photo 2: A Colonial advertisement for Brigadoon; A photo of the Original Cast, courtesy of the NYPL for the Performing Arts </span></div>
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="3q1g5-0-0"><span data-text="true">Photo 3: Photos of the Original Cast, courtesy of the NYPL for the Performing Arts</span></div>
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Brigadoon | Emerson Colonial Theatre Blog

The Matchmaker

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<p>Before there was&nbsp;<em>Hello, Dolly!</em> - Thorton Wilder's <em>The Matchmaker</em> began a two-week try-out engagement at the Colonial on November 14, 1955.<br><br>While the general story of the play had existed before in many different forms, The Matchmaker was itself a rewrite of Wilder's 1938 play The Merchant of Yonkers (which also premiered at the Colonial!). The Matchmaker starred Ruth Gordon (who was born in Quincy, MA) as Mrs. Dolly Gallagher Levi, Eileen Herlie as Irene Molloy, and Loring Smith as Horace Vandergelder.<br><br>The show went on to Broadway where it played 486 performances and earned Director Tyrone Guthrie a Tony Award for Best Direction and Ruth Gordon a nomination for Best Actress in a Play, followed by a motion picture version starring Shirley Booth as Dolly<br><br>The story enjoyed yet another version in 1964 when David Merrick (who had produced the 1955 Broadway play) partnered with composer Jerry Herman to mount the hugely successful, Tony Award-winning musical&nbsp;<em>Hello, Dolly!</em> starring Carol Channing.<br><br>A film version of&nbsp;<em>Hello, Dolly!</em> was released in 1969 starring Barbra Streisand as the lead role.</p>
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<p>Photo 1: <em>The Matchmaker</em> Colonial promotional flyer<br />Photo 2: Production photo of Ruth Gordon in 1955.<br />Photo 3: <em>The Matchmaker</em> 1955 Colonial Theatre program.<br />Photo 4: Production photo of Ruth Gordon with costar Alexander Davion.</p>

The Matchmaker | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

Candide

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<p>On October 29, 1956, CANDIDE began its pre-Broadway try-out at the Colonial.</p>
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<p>Featuring music by the legendary composer Leonard Bernstein (who was working on West Side Story simultaneously), a book by Lillian Hellman, and lyrics written by Richard Wilbur with John Latouche and Dorothy Parker.</p>
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<p>The operetta was based on the classic novella written in 1758 by the French writer Voltaire. It starred Max Adrian as Dr. Pangloss, Robert Rounseville as Candide, and Barbara Cook as Cunegonde (who performed the iconic aria "Glitter and Be Gay" that has become a favorite showpiece for many sopranos).</p>
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<p>Candide went on to Broadway earning five Tony Award nominations, including a nomination for Best Musical. Since then, the show has evolved into a widely produced opera making gardens grow around the world.</p>
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<p>Photo 1: Candide 1956 Colonial promotional flyer.<br />Photo 2: Production photo of Robert Rounseville and Barbara Cook.<br />Photo 3: Production photo of the Candide ensemble.<br />Photo 4: Production photo of Robert Rounseville, Max Adrian, and the ensemble.</p>
<p>📸: Friedman-Abeles via New York Public Library</p>

Candide | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

Poor Richard

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Poor Richard | Emerson Colonial Official Blog

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<p>On November 9, 1960, the pre-Broadway premiere of <em>Poor Richard</em> opened, featuring Alan Bates, Gene Hackman and Joanna Pettet.&nbsp;</p>
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Poor Richard | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

International Revue

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<p><span class="ui-provider a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z ab ac ae af ag ah ai aj ak">On January 16, 1961, film legend and actress Marlene Dietrich made her first public appearance in Boston at the Colonial with her famed <em>International Revue</em>. Dietrich employed Burt Bacharach as her musical arranger. Together they refined her nightclub act into a more ambitious theatrical one-woman show with an expanded repertoire, including songs from her films as well as popular songs of the day. </span></p>

International Revue | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

Sail Away

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<h2><span class="btn-primary">Sail Away&nbsp;</span></h2>
<p>On August 9, 1961, Noël Coward’s musical comedy&nbsp;<em>Sail Away</em> began its pre-Broadway tryout at the Colonial. Coward wrote the book, music, and lyrics, and also served as the director (this was the last of his works that he directed).<br><br>Among the famous names who turned out to see this world premiere production on opening night were First Lady Jaqueline Kennedy (who sat fourth row center and later visited the cast backstage) and actress Judy Garland (who sat in the second row).<br><br>The production originally starred Elaine Stritch and Jean Fenn and was considerably revamped following its time in Boston. By the time it moved to Broadway a few months later, Stritch found her character, the tart Mimi Paragon, made the central role and the part played by opera singer Fenn was eliminated.&nbsp;<em>Sail Away </em>ended up garnering two Tony nominations, including Best Actress in a Musical for Stritch.</p>

<p>Photo 1: Poster for the pre-Broadway tryout of Noël Coward’s SAIL AWAY at the Colonial in 1961.<br />Photo 2: First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy walking through the Colonial during the opening night performance of SAIL AWAY.<br />Photo 3: Hollywood actress Judy Garland after the opening night of SAIL AWAY, taking a sip of champagne from Coward, while Elaine Stritch observes them.</p>

Sail Away | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

I Can Get It For You Wholesale

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<p>On February 27, 1962, Boston audiences were introduced to a 19-year-old Barbra Streisand and a young Elliott Gould in the new musical <em>I Can Get It For You Wholesale</em>, directed by Arthur Laurents.</p>
<p>Producer David Merrick was among those who saw the importance of Boston tryouts for introducing new stars and playwrights. The production played a three-week pre-Broadway engagement at the Colonial before going on to Broadway.</p>

I Can Get It For You Wholesale | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

I Can Get It From You Wholesale

Gypsy

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<div>From April 24-May 13, 1961, the "indomitable" Ethel Merman returned to the Colonial for a three-week run of the first national tour of GYPSY.</div>
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<div>The Tony Award-nominated musical - written by Arthur Laurents, Jule Styne, and Stephen Sondheim and choreographed by Jerome Robbins - came to the Colonial fresh off of a successful Broadway run. Boston audiences flocked to see the show's star and GYPSY broke house records for a musical at the time.</div>
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<div>This was Merman's second Colonial appearance - she previously starred in the American premiere of Cole Porter's ANYTHING GOES, which debuted at the Colonial in 1934.</div>
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<div>Fun fact: Stephen Sondheim once said that Ethel Merman's performance in GYPSY is the reason why she was one of his all-time favorite performers.</div>
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Gypsy | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

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<div>The first national tour of <a tabindex="0" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/howtosucceedinbusinesswithoutreallytrying?__eep__=6&amp;__cft__[0]=AZXg8eqKaJTrXk3kYqEW825fRJe8ISoqNEGlvh5IAsR71H0kixJmB2dsdInHwiX-LR1BSSxQXMvcxm2zuQ4MxvM6DqUhfQNaQPdAlvi8XT_E9V1JWghc_6p7lK2Jxo-88gf_HbfdmAF-JTLGoX4acppF0iOqmL2-QEfeITyLWmYnSn-LLyv3aAzwmgysfioNcrrO0uboxXHKwFr-PaVsmy_Z&amp;__tn__=*NK-R" class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x1ejq31n xd10rxx x1sy0etr x17r0tee x972fbf xcfux6l x1qhh985 xm0m39n x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz x1sur9pj xkrqix3 x1fey0fg xo1l8bm">#HowToSucceedInBusinessWithoutReallyTrying</a> made its final stop at the Colonial, playing from May 18 through June 27, 1964.</div>
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<div>Based on a book of the same name, the musical tells the story of young, ambitious J. Pierrepont Finch, who, with the help of the book How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, rises from window washer to chairman of the board of the World Wide Wicket Company.</div>
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<div>Did You Know? The <a tabindex="-1"></a>original Broadway production won seven Tony Awards, the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.</div>
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<div>Photo 1: The cover of the Boston Playbill.</div>
<div>Photo 2: The company of the first national tour. Photo credit New York Public Library.</div>
<div>Photo 3: The production's key art.</div>
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How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

The Odd Couple

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<h2><span class="btn-primary">The Odd Couple</span></h2>
<p>On February 4, 1965, Neil Simon's <em>The Odd Couple</em> opened at the Colonial, starring Walter Matthau and Art Carney.</p>
<p>Simon went on to credit Boston critic Elliot Norton with helping him develop the third act of the play. Norton enjoyed the show but told Simon “You know what I missed in the third act? I missed the Pigeon Sisters.” Simon went on to take Norton’s advice by rewriting the third act and reintroducing the Pigeon Sisters.</p>
<p><em>The Odd Couple</em> went on to win four Tony Awards including Best Author of a Play for Neil Simon.</p>

The Odd Couple | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

Flora the Red Menace

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<p>On April 19, 1965, <em>Flora the Red Menace</em> debuted at the Colonial Theatre for its pre-Broadway tryout. Starring 19-year-old Liza Minnelli in her Broadway debut.<br><br>Featuring a book by George Abbott and Robert Russell, produced by Harold Prince, the musical was the first Broadway collaboration of John Kander and Fred Ebb who later developed shows such as <em>Cabaret</em> and <em>Chicago</em>.<br><br>Minnelli went on to win the Tony Award for Best Actress for her role as Flora becoming the youngest person to ever do so at the age of 19.</p>

<p>Photo 1: Liza Minnelli's 1965 headshot.<br />Photo 2: Flora The Red Menace Playbill from the pre-Broadway run at the Colonial Theatre.<br />Photo 3: Inside of Flora The Red Menace Playbill.<br />Photo 4: George Abbott, Liza Minnelli, and Hal Prince near Boston’s Colonial Theatre (walking down Allen’s Alley); photo: Jill Krementz.</p>

Flora the Red Manace | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

Promises Promises

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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="46b1-0-0"><span data-text="true">On October 26, 1968, the pre-Broadway tryout of the Burt Bacharach, Hal David, and Neil Simon musical PROMISES, PROMISES completed its run at the Colonial Theatre. The cast featured Jerry Orbach, Edward Winter, Kelly Bishop, Baayork Lee, and Donna McKechnie. </span></div>
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="ad1f1-0-0"><span data-text="true">The show’s now-iconic Act 1 closer “Turkey Lurkey Time” was received poorly by Boston audiences. Following the opening performance at the Colonial, choreographer Michael Bennett and his assistant Bob Avian reworked the choreography in their hotel rooms, transforming the song into the high-energy, cult classic dance number that the show is known for today. </span></div>
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="7egn5-0-0"><span data-text="true">Promises, Promises would later open on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre on December 1, 1968, and run for a total of 1,281 performances. The original Broadway production was nominated for eight 1969 Tony awards, winning two for Jerry Orbach (Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical) and Marian Mercer (Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical). </span></div>
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="9hcn-0-0"><span data-text="true">The production also brought Bennett and Avian to the Colonial, who would later go on to achieve acclaim for their work on hits like A Chorus Line and Company. The pair returned to the Colonial in 1971 to co-direct and choreograph the pre-Broadway tryout of Steven Sondheim’s Follies. </span></div>
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="4hghr-0-0"><span data-text="true">Fun fact: a 2010 Broadway Revival of PROMISES, PROMISES featured Kristin Chenoweth, who starred in The Queen of Versailles at the Colonial!&nbsp;</span></div>
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="ahmh1-0-0"><span data-text="true">Credit: NYPL For The Performing Arts</span></div>
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Promises, Promises | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

Promises, Promises

Dear World

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<h5>From November 11 - December 14, 1968, the pre-Broadway premiere of Jerry Herman’s DEAR WORLD played the Colonial, starring Angela Lansbury. The Joe Layton directed and choreographed musical went on to open on Broadway at the Mark Hellinger Theatre, where it ran from February to May of 1969.</h5>

Dear World | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

Plaza Suite

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<p>On January 22, 1968, the world premiere of Neil Simon's play opened at the Colonial Theatre starring Maureen Stapleton and George C. Scott.</p>
<p>The play is composed of three acts, each of them involving different characters stay in Suite 719 of New York City’s famed Plaza Hotel. The first act, Visitor from Mamaroneck follows an unhappily wedded couple who revisits their honeymoon suite in hopes to re-spark what once was. The second act, Visitor from Hollywood, involves a movie producer and his old flame, a suburban housewife who is only interested in a chat between old friends, yet the producer repeatedly attempts to seduce her. The third act, Visitor from Forest Hills, revolves around a married couple on the morning of their daughters wedding as they attempt to calm the brides nerves while he refuses to leave the suite bathroom to attend her wedding. After the Colonial, the play opened at the Plymouth Theatre on Broadway on February 14, 1968 and continue to run for almost three years and 1097 performances. &nbsp;</p>
<p>The play was a huge success and was later adapted into a film version in 1970, titled Out-of-Towners.</p>
<p>In 2020, Boston was welcomed back into Suite 719 when Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick starred in the Broadway-bound revival--only two weeks apart from the original production's opening night.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Images from Friedman-Abeles and Joan Marcus</p>

Plaza Suite | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

Follies

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<p>On May 13, 1961, the legendary Broadway musical <em>FOLLIES</em> concluded its month-long pre-Broadway tryout here at the Colonial that began on April 24.</p>
<p>With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Goldman, the musical follows a reunion of the famous Weismann Girls who performed in an elaborate Broadway revue between World War 1 and World War 2.</p>
<p>Inspired by a New York Times article about a gathering of former Ziegfeld Girls, in the musical several of the showgirls perform their old numbers – often accompanied by the ghosts of their younger selves. Originally titled&nbsp;<em>THE GIRLS UPSTAIRS</em>, it was producer and co-director Hal Prince who suggested the title of <em>FOLLIES</em> as he was “intrigued by the psychology of a reunion of old chorus dancers and loved the play on the world ‘follies’.”</p>
<p>The original production was among the most costly on Broadway and was deemed a “total financial failure, with a cumulative loss of $792,000.” However, the musical was still a big hit and ran for over 500 performances.&nbsp;<em>FOLLIES</em> was nominated for 11 Tony Awards and went on to win seven including Best Original Score.</p>
<p>The musical has had a number of major revivals, and several of its songs have become standards, including “Broadway Baby,” “I’m Still Here,” “Too Man Mornings,” “Could I Leave You?,” and “Losing My Mind.”</p>
<p>Want to learn more about this iconic musical? Check out <em>EVERYTHING WAS POSSIBLE</em> by Ted Chaplin, an eyewitness account of the making of <em>FOLLIES</em> from its Boston tryout to its triumphant Broadway opening.</p>

<p>Photo 1: Hal Prince, co-director &amp; choreographer Michael Bennett, and Stephen Sondheim chat while sitting in the orchestra of the Colonial.<br />Photo 2: FOLLIES show poster from the Boston engagement, which can also be viewed just outside the women’s restroom in the orchestra lobby.<br />Photo 3: “A Prince and His Follies” Taken on the Grand Staircase of the Colonial, Prince is surrounded by several of the ghost showgirls who haunted the stage throughout the show.<br />Photo 4: The cover of the Boston Playbill.</p>

Follies | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

A Little Night Music

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<h2><span class="btn-primary">A Little Night Music</span></h2>
<p>On January 23, 1973, the pre-Broadway tryout of <em>A Little Night Music</em> opened here at the Colonial!<br><br>Starring Glynis Johns, Len Cariou, and Hermione Gingold, the show introduced the world to Stephen Sondheim’s classic “Send in the Clowns” which was written several days before the start of the Boston out-of-town tryout. The show went on to win six Tony Awards, including Best Musical.</p>

A Little Night Music | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

On the Twentieth Century

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<p>On January 10, 1978 - during a blizzard in the city of Boston - Harold Prince's <em>On the Twentieth Century</em> began its pre-Broadway tryout at the Colonial with music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green<br><br>The musical, partly based on the 1932 play&nbsp;<em>Twentieth Century</em> and its film adaptation, starred Madeline Kahn as Lily Garland, John Collum as Oscar Jaffee, Imogene Coca as Letitia Primrose, and Judy Kaye as Agnes.<br><br>Part operetta, part farce, and part screwball comedy, the show followed a behind-the-scenes relationship between Lily, a temperamental actress, and Oscar, a bankrupt theatre producer.<br><br>It went on to play 460 performances in New York and won five Tony Awards including Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for John Collum, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Original Score.<br><br>When Kahn eventually left the show during its New York run, she was replaced with understudy Judy Kaye whose theatre career subsequently took off within this new role. Kaye would go on to be a part of the shows US tour opposite Rock Hudson.<br><br>Several revivals followed in London and elsewhere, including a revival in 2015 starring Kristin Chenoweth and Peter Gallagher.</p>
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<p>Photo 1: <em>On the Twentieth Century</em> Colonial promotional flyer.<br />Photo 2: Broadway production photo of John Collum and Madeline Kahn.<br />Photo 3: Imogene Coca, John Cullum &amp; Madeline Kahn in a rehearsal shot for <em>On the Twentieth Century</em>.<br />Photo 4: <em>On the Twentieth Century</em> 1978 Colonial Theatre Playbill.<br />Photo 5: Broadway production photo of Dean Dittman, George Coe, John Cullum &amp; Imogene Coca.<br />Photo 6: Broadway production photo of John Collum and Madeline Kahn.</p>
<p>📸: Martha Swope via @nypl.</p>

On the Twentieth Century | Emerson Colonial Official Blog

Dancin

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<p>On February 14, 1978, the pre-Broadway tryout of Bob Fosse’s DANCIN’ played its first performance at the Colonial. It was during rehearsals for this show that Fosse famously chipped the onyx table in the Ladies’ Lounge while demonstrating a new tap routine. The table has been considered good luck ever since. The show also found itself in Boston during the notorious Blizzard of ‘78 and the aftermath of that storm. DANCIN' played at the Colonial through March 4.</p>

Dancin | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

La Cage aux Folles

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<div>On June 15, 1983, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES began its pre-Broadway tryout at the Colonial.</div>
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<div>Adapted from Jean Poiret’s French play and subsequent film, the musical was composed by Jerry Herman and written by Harvey Fierstein.&nbsp;It was directed by Arthur Laurents and starred Gene Barry and George Hearn.</div>
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<div>The musical tells the story of couple Georges and Albin, and is credited as the first major Broadway musical centered on a queer relationship. The show's act <a tabindex="-1"></a>one finale, "I Am What I Am," became a worldwide hit.</div>
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<div>The show was so popular, the Colonial’s box office stayed open all night to accommodate the demand for tickets. They served coffee and donuts in the lobby for those waiting.</div>
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<div>The show then went on to Broadway, playing at the Palace Theater in New York where it ran for 4 years and 1,761 performances. It was nominated for nine Tony Awards and won six, including the Tony Award for Best Musical.</div>
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<div>Photo: George Hearn and Gene Barry surrounded by the cast of <em>La Cage aux Folles</em> on the Colonial's Grand Staircase.</div>
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La Cage aux Folles | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

Grand Hotel

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<div>On October 7, 1989, GRAND HOTEL closed its three-week pre-Broadway tryout at the Colonial, starring Liliane Montevecchi, Jane Krakowski, David Carroll, and Michael Jeter.</div>
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<div>A musical adaptation of the novel by Vicki Baum, GRAND HOTEL takes place over the course of one weekend in 1928 Berlin, depicting the lives of eclectic guests at an elegant hotel. Originally debuting in 1958 under the name AT THE GRAND, the show was revisited 30 years later under the direction of <a tabindex="-1" class="html-a xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x1hl2dhg x16tdsg8 x1vvkbs"></a>Tommy Tune, who returned to the Colonial after directing the 1983 pre-Broadway tryout of MY ONE AND ONLY.</div>
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<div>During the Boston engagement, Tune brought in composer-lyricist Maury Yeston (with whom he had worked with on NINE) to contribute fresh material and make significant adjustments to the show. Yeston wrote seven new songs in the first week, including a new opening number.</div>
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<div>The Broadway production of GRAND HOTEL went on to win 5 Tony Awards (including Best Direction and Best Choreography for Tune) and ran for over 1,000 performances.</div>
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<div>Photo Credit: NYPL for the Performing Arts</div>
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Grand Hotel | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

Moon Over Buffalo

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<p>On August 15, 1995, the pre-Broadway tryout of Ken Ludwig’s uproarious <em>Moon Over Buffalo</em> opened at the Colonial. Starring Carol Burnett, Philip Bosco and Randy Graff, it marked Burnett’s return to Broadway after 30 years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Pictured: Burnett on stage with Bosco, and off-stage in a meeting in the historic Ladies’ Lounge (now the Orchestra Lounge).</p>

Moon Over Buffalo | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

The Diary of Anne Frank

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<h2><span class="btn-primary">The Diary of Anne Frank</span></h2>
<p><span class="ui-provider a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z ab ac ae af ag ah ai aj ak">On October 29, 1997, the pre-Broadway engagement of the play <em>The Diary of Anne Frank</em> premiered at the Colonial, starring Natalie Portman, George Hearn, and Linda Lavin. The hopeful, inspiring, and deeply moving story of Anne Frank, present a enduring human experience during a time of great hardship, sharing the resilience, compassion, and strength in human spirit.</span></p>

The Diary of Anne Frank | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

Seussical

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<p>On September 6, 2000, as the Colonial prepared for the celebration of our 100th Birthday, <em>Seussical the Musical</em> had its pre-Broadway opening.<br><br>Based on the many children’s stories and worlds of Dr. Seuss, <em>Seussical </em>was created by members of the team behind the Broadway hit <em>Ragtime</em>, including composer Stephen Flaherty and lyricist Lynn Ahrens.<br><br>The show starred David Shiner (who was born in Boston) as The Cat in the Hat, Michele Pawk as Mayzie La Bird and Kevin Chamberlin&nbsp;as Horton the Elephant. Chamberlin was nominated for the 2001 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and went on to become widely known as Bertram on the Disney Channel’s "Jessie."<br><br>After its Broadway run, <em>Seussical</em> went on to find success in local markets through regional and community stagings and is now one of the most performed shows in America.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Note: These production photos are of the Broadway cast and were taken by Joan Marcus.</p>

Suessical | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

Moulin Rouge

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<p>On July 10, 2018, the Colonial reopened its doors with the first EVER performance of <em>Moulin Rouge! The Musical</em>.<br><br>Inspired by the popular film by Baz Luhrmann, <em>Moulin Rouge! The Musical </em>tells the story of Christian, a young composer, who falls in love with cabaret actress Satine, who is the star of the Moulin Rouge, all set to pop music.</p>
<p>The Boston pre-Broadway tryout starred Aaron Tveit as Christian, KO as Satine, Danny Burstein as Harold Zidler, Tam Mutu as The Duke, &nbsp;Sahr Ngaujah as Toulouse-Lautrec, and Robyn Hurder as Nini.<br><br><em>Moulin Rogue!</em> <em>The Musical </em>transferred to Broadway in the summer of 2019, and went on to win 10 Tony Awards, including best musical, best choreography and best direction of a musical.</p>

<p>Photo 1: The spectacular <em>Moulin Rouge!</em> set, designed by Derek McLane<br />Photo 2: Director Alex Timbers (foreground center) with (from left) Aaron Tveit, choreographer Sonya Tayeh, Karen Olivo, Danny Burstein, and Sahr Ngaujah in a portrait taken for the Boston Globe on the Grand Staircase.<br />Photo 3: Karen Olivo and Aaron Tveit as Satine and Christian<br />Photo 4: Danny Burstein as Harold Zidler<br />Photo 5: Robyn Hurder as Nini</p>
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<p>Images by Matthew Murphy and Keith Bedford</p>

Moulin Rogue | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

Moulin Rouge! The Musical

Smokey Mountain Christmas Carol

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<h2><span class="btn-primary">Smokey Mountain Christmas Carol</span></h2>
<p>From December 3 - 19, 2019, Dolly Parton helped ring in the holiday season at the world premiere of <em>Smokey Mountain Christmas Carol</em>. Dolly even took part in a Colonial tradition and had her portrait taken on our grand staircase!</p>
<p>Based on both Parton's festive feel-good hit Smoky Mountain Christmas and the Yuletide classic A Christmas Carol, and with a book from David H. Bell, the story transports the action to the mountains of Tennessee, where mining company bigwig Ebenezer Scrooge reigns tyrannically. As in the original, Scrooge has a date set with destiny, meeting the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, who hold a mirror up to his curmudgeonly ways.</p>

Smokey Mountain Christmas Carol | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

Dolly Parton's Smokey Mountain Christmas Carol

A Beautiful Noise

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<h2><span class="btn-primary">A Beautiful Noise</span></h2>
<p>On June 21, 2022, the king himself - Neil Diamond - joined us at the Colonial for the very first performance of A Beautiful Noise Musical. The beloved jukebox musical that tells the story of Diamond's life opened on July 11 and ran until August 7.</p>
<p>The production starred Will Swenson as Neil Diamond (then), Mark Jacoby as Neil Diamond (now), and Robyn Hurder as Marcia.&nbsp;</p>
<p>The show went on to open at the Broadhurst Theatre on Broadway in December of 2022, where it ran for almost two years until June 30, 2024. A National Tour launched in the fall of 2024, as well.</p>

<p>Images from Emily Gardner and Matthew Murphy</p>

A Beautiful Noise | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

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All Things Equal

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<h2><span class="btn-primary">All Things Equal</span></h2>
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="16p5g-0-0"><span data-text="true">On February 3, 2024, All Things Equal played the Colonial for two sold out performances!  </span></div>
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="3g8g4-0-0"><span data-text="true">Starring Michelle Azar as Ruth Bader Ginsburg herself and written by Tony Award Winner Rupert Holmes, All Things Equal tells the story of the trailblazing Supreme Court Justice's life, including losing her mother the day before she graduated high school, being one of only nine young women studying law at Harvard while also raising a daughter and helping her husband battle cancer, fighting for women’s rights in the 1970s before all-male courts, and taking courageous stands for human rights as a voice of reason amid a splintering and increasingly politicized Supreme Court. </span></div>
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<div class="public-DraftStyleDefault-block public-DraftStyleDefault-ltr" data-offset-key="3g8g4-0-0"><span data-text="true">Photo Credit: Emerson Colonial Theatre, Bing Liem.</span></div>
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All Things Equal | Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

<h3>Take a look at what a few theatre legends had to say about what the Colonial means to them:</h3>
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Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

The Odd Couple

Dancin

Moulin Rogue

Anything Goes

A Beautiful Noise

1900s

Prima Donna

1920s

Lady Be Good

1930s

Anything Goes

Porgy and Bess

Red, Hot & Blue

I'd Rather Be Right

The Philadelphia Story

1940s

Away We Go!

On the Town

Carousel

Brigadoon

1950s

The Matchmaker

Candide

1960s

Poor Richard

International Revue

Sail Away

I Can Get It From You Wholesale

Gypsy

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

The Odd Couple

Flora the Red Menace

Promises, Promises

Dear World

Plaza Suite

1970s

Follies

A Little Night Music

On the Twentieth Century

Dancin

1980s

La Cage aux Folles

Grand Hotel

1990s

Moon Over Buffalo

The Diary of Anne Frank

2000s

Seussical

2010s

Moulin Rouge! The Musical

Dolly Parton's Smokey Mountain Christmas Carol

2020s

A Beautiful Noise

All Things Equal

Take a look at what a few theatre legends had to say about what the Colonial means to them: