#2 Kern + Porter

Explain what Princess Shows were generally about (you can also share what they were not about) and also provide some information about the scale on which they were produced.

Shows in the Princess Theater, a 299 seat theater on West 39th Street. They were scaled down productions focused on “domestic” settings to keep the shows profitable. Similar to modern Off-Broadway plays.

“Show Boat”

A)Year originally produced:

B)Music by:

C)Book and Lyrics by:

D)Based on the novel by:

E)Originally produced by:

A) 1927

B) Music: Jerome Kern

C) Book/Lyrics: Oscar Hammerstein

D) Based on novel by: Edna Ferber

E) Producer: Florenz Ziegfeld

Cite the name of the boat in “Show Boat,” explain what kind of activities occurred onboard, and name the body of water it traveled on.

The boat in “Show Boat” is called the “Cotten Blossom,” a cruise ship with entertainment on it like acts and one big show. It traveled on the Mississippi River.

What was the title of Cole Porter’s first full-length musical, what was its critical reception, and what did Porter do in response?

“See America First” (1916). Giant flop. Porter moved to Paris taking a job with the French Foreign Legion, but mostly threw lavish parties.

“Anything Goes”

A)Setting:

B)Original Star:

C)A star from a Broadway Revival of the show:

D)A song from the show (not including the title song):

A) Set on an Ocean Liner called the “S.S. American”

B) Original Star: Ethel Merman

C) Revival Star: Patti Lupone, Sutton Foster

D) “Easy To Love”

What play by Shakespeare inspired “Kiss Me Kate?” What is the general theme/subject of the show?

“The Taming of the Shrew.” The production asks “who will win” in the leading couple’s “battle of the sexes.”