A TAMS-WITMARK TITLE
Du Barry Was A Lady
Full-Length Musical, Comedy / 3w, 4m plus ensemble
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Book by Herbert Fields and B.G. DeSylva
This wacky Cole Porter musical features Louie, a washroom attendant who dreams that he is King Louis XV of France and that his secret love, May, is Madame Du Barry.
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Cast Size
3w, 4m plus ensemble -
Duration
More than 120 minutes (2 hours) -
Subgenre
Fantasy, Romantic Comedy -
Target Audience
Adult, Teen (Age 14-18)
Details
Summary
Louie Blore, attendant in the men's washroom of the Club Petite in New
York, wins $75,000 in the Irish sweeps. Having long had his eye on the
star of the floor show, May Daly, Louie seeks to win her away from Alex
Barton, the young man to whom she is engaged. He tries to put Alex away
with knock-out drops, but mixes up the glasses and drinks the potion
himself. During his delirium, Louie dreams that he is Louis XIV and that
May Daly is Du Barry, his mistress. His unsuccessful pursuit of May
continues through the gardens and boudoirs of 18th-century Versailles.
When he awakens, Louie realizes that he has no chance with May and will
have to settle for her friendship.
History
Du Barry Was A Lady opened on Broadway at the 46th Street Theatre on 6 December, 1939, starring Ethel Merman, Bert Lahr and Betty Grable. The show later moved to the Royale Theatre and ran for a total of 408 performances. In London’s West End, the show played for 178 performances at His Majesty’s Theatre.
Cast Attributes
Keywords
- Time Period 1930s, 18th Century
- Setting New York City, 1939, and Versailles, France, early 18th century.
- Features Period Costumes
- Duration More than 120 minutes (2 hours)
Media
“A silly frolic... an infectiously good time.” – The New York Times
Music
- Musical Style Classic Broadway
- Dance Requirements Moderate
- Vocal DemandsDifficult
- Orchestra Size Large
- Chorus Size Large
Licensing & Materials
- Licensing fees and rental materials quoted upon application.
Music Rentals
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