Girl Crazy

This article is about the stage musical. For other uses, see Girl Crazy (disambiguation).

Girl Crazy is a musical with music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin and book by Guy Bolton and John McGowan. It is remembered as the show that made stars of both Ginger Rogers (who, with Allen Kearns, sang "Could You Use Me?" and "Embraceable You" and, with Willie Howard, "But Not for Me") and Ethel Merman, in her Broadway debut^[1][2] (who sang "I Got Rhythm", "Sam and Delilah", and "Boy! What Love Has Done To Me!"). It features the most hit songs by the Gershwins in one Broadway show^{[citation needed]}, and (as of 2009) is the only Gershwin musical to be filmed more than once.^{[citation needed]}

It has been adapted three times for film, most notably in 1943 with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. In that version, the roles played by Ginger Rogers and Ethel Merman were combined into one, played by Garland.

In 1992 it was revived with a new title as the stage musical Crazy for You. The show was heavily revised, with a completely new plot, and songs from other Gershwin shows added. An abridged version of Girl Crazy was presented at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC October 2-5, 2008 as part of their Broadway: Three Generations production. Max von Essen played Danny, Jenn Colella played Molly, and Randy Graff played Kate.

Songs

Broadway production

The show opened at the Alvin Theatre on October 14, 1930 and ran for 272 performances. It was directed by Alexander Leftwich.

Cast

• Willie Howard as Gieber Goldfarb
• Allen Kearns as Danny Churchill
• Ginger Rogers as Molly Gray
• William Kent as Slick Fothergill
• Ethel Merman as Kate Fothergill

The pit orchestra included Glenn Miller, Gene Krupa, Tommy Dorsey and Benny Goodman and Jack Teagarden. Roger Edens was the onstage pianist for Ethel Merman. It was conducted on opening night by George Gershwin himself.

Film adaptations

The 1932 RKO Radio Pictures production was very unlike the stage play except for its score. The film was tailored for the comic talents of Wheeler & Woolsey, a then-popular comedy team. In 1943, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer produced a lavish version starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland. In 1965, MGM once again dusted off the property for Connie Francis. Unlike the previous two versions, the title was changed to When the Boys Meet the Girls. It co-starred Herman's Hermits, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs, Louis Armstrong, and Liberace. A number of Gershwin songs were retained, including "Embraceable You", "Bidin' My Time", "But Not for Me", "Treat Me Rough", and "I Got Rhythm".

External links

• Girl Crazy at the Internet Broadway Database

References