Productions1 on Broadway
| 1943 | Alvin Theatre Original. January 7, 1943 · Hassard Short | 422 performances |
Every Broadway staging held in broadway-data, sourced to IBDB. West End runs are not yet held.
Licensing not confirmed
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In the literature32 passages
The scene was a military base in Texas, and Ethel Merman was the star. Michael Todd produced, and Herbert, in addition to co-authoring the libretto with Dorothy, co-directed with Hassard Short. book:broadway-its-history-people-and-places-an-encyclopedia-bloom-ken-1949-2nd-ed-new#p189
The producer of Something for the Boys was the extraordinary showman, Michael Todd. Todd was upset by the New York critics’ practice of leaving shows early so they could make deadlines. Todd had his ushers block the aisles, and he himself refused to let Burns Mantle of the Daily News and Howard Barnes of the Herald Tri… book:broadway-its-history-people-and-places-an-encyclopedia-bloom-ken-1949-2nd-ed-new#p369
The next occupant of the Alvin was among the first shows to explore psychiatry, Lady in the Dark (1/23/41; 467 performances). The musical starred Gertrude Lawrence, returning to the Alvin in a better vehicle than her previous offering, Treasure Girl. KURT WEILL and Ira Gershwin supplied the score to a libretto by Moss… book:broadway-its-history-people-and-places-an-encyclopedia-bloom-ken-1949-2nd-ed-new#p394
Something for the Boys (1/7/43; 422 performances), at the Alvin Theater, marked Porter’s last score written for Ethel Merman. Bill Johnson, Paula Laurence, and Betty Garrett were also in the wartime musical. book:broadway-its-history-people-and-places-an-encyclopedia-bloom-ken-1949-2nd-ed-new#p439
Their musicals together were timely, hilarious fare that included the Merman vehicles DuBarry Was a Lady, Panama Hattie, and Something for the Boys. book:broadway-musicals-the-101-greatest-shows-of-all-time-bloom-ken-1949-vlastnik-fra#p21
In Something for the Boys, Merman saves the United States war effort due to transmissions she receives in the fillings in her teeth. Here, she flies. off in an army plane to save the day with sister Chiquita (Paula Laurence). book:broadway-musicals-the-101-greatest-shows-of-all-time-bloom-ken-1949-vlastnik-fra#p140
Passages naming this show, found by keyword across 178 books. Where this show turns up in the literature, not curated trivia about it.