Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

Away We Go!

From March 15 - 27, 1943, the first musical written by Rodger and Hammerstein, AWAY WE GO! debuted at the Colonial Theatre. It was named for the popular dance step “do-si-do and away we go.” The show went on to become one of the most well-known American musicals, after being renamed Oklahoma!

Throughout the 1940s, Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein brought their pre-Broadway tryouts to the Colonial. In fact, Rodgers once said, "I wouldn't open anything, not even a can of beans, except in Boston!"

However, AWAY WE GO!, being the pair's first musical collaboration, was not an immediate hit. Boston Herald critic Elinor Hughes wrote, "Big, handsome, picturesque and generally entertaining, the production isn't quite ready yet for Broadway, being as yet on the lengthy side and having some first act doldrums, but the virtues are numerous and the failings can be remedied. Meanwhile, Boston has a fine new musical to take to its heart." 

And so, Rodgers and Hammerstein decided to make some changes, notably to the final number, “Oklahoma.” As the cast rehearsed the new version of the song in the Colonial's lobby, they were creating a showstopper tune - as well as the show's future title!

The newly named musical, Oklahoma!, went on to have a successful run in Boston and open on Broadway on March 31, 1943 where it ran for five years until May 29, 1948. It is known as the first fully integrated musical, blending song, character, plot and even dance to tell the story, and setting a new standard for future musicals. Oklahoma! went on to win a Special Pulitzer Prize and a Special Tony Award for the 50th anniversary.

In addition to marking the first musical collaboration of Rodgers and Hammerstein, AWAY WE GO! also was the first time that choreographer Agnes De Mille worked with the pair. They would go on to collaborate on Carousel and Allegro, two more shows that debuted at the Colonial! The show starred Betty Garde, Alfred Drake, Joan Roberts, Celeste Holm and Howard da Silva.