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As Thousands Cheer

It was the Depression era version of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE and THE DAILY SHOW. Moss Hart's sketches were sharp, witty and hilarious and Irving Berlin's songs ranged from wry to satiric to poignant.

More information

Description

  • Full Length Musical
  • Satire/Political Satire

  • Target Audience: Teen (Age 14 - 18), Adult
  • Set Requirements: Bare Stage/Simple Set

  • Performance Group:
  • Community Theatre, College Theatre / Student, Professional Theatre, High School/Secondary
It was the Depression era version of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE and THE DAILY SHOW. Moss Hart's sketches were sharp, witty and hilarious and Irving Berlin's songs ranged from wry to satiric to poignant. Their inspiration? The newspaper headlines of the day, from affairs to society photos and advice to the lovelorn; even comic strips and the weather report were fair game!

A cast that included Clifton Webb, Ethel Waters and Marilyn Miller impersonated the likes of Joan Crawford, the Hoovers, John D. Rockefeller, Mahatma Gandhi and Josephine Baker for over 400 performances beginning in September of 1933.

Considered a masterpiece of that specialized genre known as the topical revue, AS THOUSANDS CHEER inspired some of Harts best solo work as a comedy writer and afforded Berlin the opportunity to pen some of the greatest musical gems.
REVIEWS:

"[Moss Hart's sketches are] so sharply barbed that [they] seem daring even now."

Sun Sentinel

"This charming, delightful, witty, trenchant satire on the press and society is as fresh and relevant today as it was in 1933."

American Arts Today

"It deserves thousands of cheers!"

Palm Beach Daily News
Premiere Production: In 1933, As Thousands Cheer opened at the Music Box Theatre, New York.

Characters

  • Casting: 3M, 3F
  • Casting Notes: The original 1933 production employed a cast that numbered nearly 50 while the 1998 revival used a cast of only 6. The rousing success of both productions indicates that this topical revue can be produced on as large or as intimate a scale as you wish. A minimum of 6 actors is needed.
  • Chorus Size: Flexible

  • LANGLEY - a butler
    MR. ANDREWS
    MRS. ANDREWS
    GERTRUDE - a Pomeranian
    MR. HOOVER
    MRS. HOOVER
    FRANK - a moving man
    BARBARA HUTTON
    2 SUITORS
    THE CHAUFFEUR
    THE WEATHERCASTER
    JOAN CRAWFORD
    DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS, JR.
    WILL HAYS
    REPRESENTATIVE OF ENGLAND
    REPRESENTATIVE OF ITALY
    REPRESENTATIVE OF GERMANY
    REPRESENTATIVE OF FRANCE
    THE STATUE OF LIBERTY
    JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, SR.
    JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, SR.
    MRS. JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, JR.
    JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, JR.'S CHILDREN
    THE RADIO ANNOUNCER
    MONSIEUR PEPPITON - the famous chef
    MR. WILLIAMS
    MRS. WILLIAMS
    MISS WILLIAMS - their daughter
    OPERA SINGER
    MAHATMA GANDHI
    AIMEE SEMPLE McPHERSON
    THE DIRECTOR
    THE CAMERA OPERATOR
    A NATIVE
    CUSTOMERS
    A BELLBOY
    MRS. FISHER - the housekeeper
    ELLA - a scrubwoman
    AGGIE - a chambermaid
    HENRY - a waiter
    A WINDOW CLEANER
    JOSEPHINE BAKER
    HER PERSONAL SECRETARY
    THE KING
    THE QUEEN
    THE PRINCE OF WALES
    THE PRIME MINISTER
    THE GOSSIP COLUMNIST
    THE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE CHORUS

    • Available Material

    Name Price
    Perusal Material Shipped immediately. This is optional. Order Now

    1 x Libretto/Vocal Books
    1 x Piano Vocal Scores

    		 $24.00
    Rehearsal Material Shipped a minimum of 3 months before the last performance. This must be hired as a condition of the License to produce this show.

    20 x Libretto/Vocal Books
    2 x Piano Vocal Scores
    1 x Bass

    		$550.00 +$135.00/pm
    Lib/Vocal Book 10 Pack Shipped with (or after) Rehearsal Material. This is optional.

    10 x Libretto/Vocal Books

    		$50.00 +$50.00/pm

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