Composer

:

Harold Arlen

Genre

:

Musical Theatre

Style

:

Musical Theater

Compose Date

:

1946

Average_duration

:

48:12

St. Louis Woman is a musical composed by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Johnny Mercer and a book by Arna Bontemps and Countee Cullen. The musical premiered on Broadway on March 30, 1946, at the Martin Beck Theatre and ran for 113 performances. The plot of St. Louis Woman revolves around the love triangle between Little Augie, a gambler and womanizer, his long-suffering girlfriend, Butterfly, and her childhood friend, the upright and respectable Rev. Joshua Green. Set in St. Louis in the early 1900s, the musical explores themes of love, loyalty, and redemption against the backdrop of the vibrant African American community of the time. The musical features a number of memorable songs, including "Come Rain or Come Shine," "Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home," and "I Had Myself a True Love." The music is characterized by Arlen's signature blend of jazz, blues, and pop, with Mercer's lyrics adding a touch of wit and sophistication. St. Louis Woman was notable for its all-black cast and creative team, which was rare for a Broadway production at the time. The musical was also one of the first to feature African American performers in leading roles, including Ruby Hill as Butterfly and Harold Nicholas as Little Augie. Despite its groundbreaking nature, St. Louis Woman received mixed reviews from critics and struggled at the box office. However, the musical has since become a cult classic and has been revived several times, including a 1998 production at the Encores! series in New York City. Overall, St. Louis Woman is a landmark musical that broke new ground in terms of representation and paved the way for future productions featuring African American performers and creative teams. Its enduring popularity is a testament to the timeless appeal of Arlen's music and Mercer's lyrics, as well as the enduring themes of love and redemption that resonate with audiences of all backgrounds.

More....