Composer

:

Jerome Kern

Genre

:

Musical Theatre

Style

:

Musical Theater

Compose Date

:

1929

First Performance

:

Sep 3, 1929

Sweet Adeline is a musical comedy that was composed by Jerome Kern with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical was first performed on Broadway in 1929 and was an instant hit. The plot of the musical revolves around a group of vaudeville performers who are struggling to make it big in the entertainment industry. The story is set in the early 1900s and follows the life of Adeline Schmidt, a talented singer who dreams of becoming a star. Adeline is part of a traveling vaudeville troupe that performs in small towns across America. Despite her talent, Adeline is constantly overlooked by the troupe's manager, Sid Barnett, who is more interested in promoting his girlfriend, Daisy. One day, Adeline meets a wealthy businessman named Johnny King, who is immediately smitten with her. Johnny offers to help Adeline achieve her dreams of stardom and invites her to perform at his lavish parties in New York City. Adeline is thrilled at the opportunity and leaves the troupe to pursue her dreams. However, Adeline soon realizes that the entertainment industry is not as glamorous as she thought. She struggles to find work and is constantly rejected by producers who are more interested in her looks than her talent. Meanwhile, Johnny's business ventures begin to fail, and he is forced to sell his mansion and move to a small apartment. Despite the setbacks, Adeline and Johnny remain determined to succeed. They team up with a group of struggling vaudeville performers and put on a show that becomes a huge success. Adeline finally achieves her dream of becoming a star, and she and Johnny fall in love. Sweet Adeline premiered on Broadway on September 3, 1929, and ran for 234 performances. The musical was a critical and commercial success and helped establish Jerome Kern as one of the leading composers of his time. The show featured several popular songs, including "Why Was I Born?" and "Don't Ever Leave Me." The musical is known for its catchy tunes, witty lyrics, and colorful characters. It captures the spirit of the vaudeville era and celebrates the resilience and determination of performers who are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their dreams. Sweet Adeline remains a beloved classic of American musical theater and continues to be performed around the world.

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