Emerson Colonial Theatre Official Blog

Show Girl

The pre-Broadway run of SHOW GIRL brought a host of legends to the Colonial in June of 1929. The musical features music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin and Gus Kahn, and a book by William Anthony McGuire. It produced by Florenz Siegfeld, and the orchestra was directed by Duke Ellington.

A backstage musical set at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City, SHOW GIRL tells the story of aspiring showgirl Dixie Dugan (played by Ruby Keeler) as she is pursued by four suitors (played by Eddie Foy, Jr., Joseph Macauley, Austin Fairman, and Frank McHugh).

The Gershwin's were hard at work on a musical called East Is West when producer Florenz Ziegfeld abruptly called off the project and replaced it with this adaptation of the J. P. McEvoy novel. Gus Kahn’s lyrical assistance was required, as George and Ira struggled with a short work schedule and an incomplete book. The highlight of SHOW GIRL occurred during the tryouts in Boston when Al Jolson jumped out of his seat in the audience and sang a chorus of “Liza” to his new wife, Ruby Keeler, the show’s leading lady. This impromptu bit continued during the first few weeks of the show’s New York run. 

SHOW GIRL went on to play 111 performances at the Ziegfeld Theatre on Broadway from July 2 - October 5, 1929. 

SHOW GIRL also marked the return of Ziegfeld and the Gershwin's to the Colonial. Ziegfeld produced a number of hits at the Colonial throughout Prohibition and the 1920s, including The Cocoanuts (1927) and with the Gershwin's, Lady, Be Good (1925) and Rosalie (1927). You can learn more about Lady, Be Good here.