Overview
Considered a masterpiece of that specialized genre known as the topical revue, As Thousands Cheer
inspired some of Hart's best solo work as a comedy writer and afforded
Berlin the opportunity to pen some of Broadway's greatest musical gems.
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.