Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

The Prima Donna

THE PRIMA DONNA is a comic opera in two acts with music by Victor Herbert and a libretto by Henry Blossom. Written as a starring vehicle for Fritzi Scheff, the work premiered at the Studebaker Theater in Chicago on October 5, 1908. The production moved to Broadway where it had its New York City debut at the Knickerbocker Theatre on November 30, 1908. It ran at that theatre for total of 72 performances; closing on January 30, 1909

THE PRIMA DONNA opened at the Colonial on March 1, 1909. The romantic and dramatic story of the Prima Donna of the Paris Opera fall in love in front of night bar opens here in Boston. The show had a large number of scantily chorus girl, comedic drama, and amazing musical numbers including “Everybody Else's Girl Looks Better to Me Than Mine.”

Photo 1: Fritzi Scheff by Moffett Studio
Photo 2: The Prima Donna program