Mister Roberts

Mister Roberts is a 1948 Tony Award-winning play based on the 1946 Thomas Heggen novel of the same name.

The novel began as a collection of short stories about Heggen's experiences aboard the USS Virgo (AKA-20) in the South Pacific during World War II. Broadway producer Leland Hayward acquired the rights for the play and hired Heggen and Joshua Logan for the adaptation.

Mister Roberts opened on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre on February 18, 1948, starring Henry Fonda, David Wayne, Robert Keith and, Jocelyn Brando who replaced Eva Marie Saint before the show opened. Logan's brother-in-law, William Harrigan, played the Captain. The original production also featured Harvey Lembeck, Ralph Meeker, Steven Hill and Murray Hamilton. Fonda got out of a Hollywood film contract in order to star in the Broadway theatre stage production, and won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. The production ran for 1,157 performances.

Tyrone Power starred in the London company. John Forsythe appeared in a national touring production. Many actors began their career in various productions and touring companies. Fess Parker began his show business career in the play, in 1951.

Joshua Logan's account of his collaboration with Thomas Heggen in the writing of the play is in Logan's autobiography, "Josh: My Up and Down, In and Out Life" (Chapter 14).

Awards and nominations

• 1948 Tony Award for Best Play

References

• Hugh M. Heckman (January 1979). "The Story and Memories of the USS VIRGO AKA-20 / AE-30, USS Virgo and Mr. Roberts" (^{[dead link]} – ^{Scholar search}). Sea Classics (Challenge Publications, Inc.). http://www.uss-virgo.com/roberts_wacky.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-14. 

External links

• Mister Roberts at the Internet Broadway Database