STAGE TUBE: On This Day 5/19 - SHOW BOAT
By: Nicole Rosky May. 19, 2012
Welcome to BWW's Daily ON THIS DAY Series celebrating theatrical birthdays, openings and special events that took place on this day in theatre history!
Today in 1932, the first Broadway revival of Showboat opened at the Casino Theatre, and ran for 180 performances. Show Boat is a musical in two acts with music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It was originally produced in New York in 1927 and in London in 1928, and was based on the 1926 novel of the same name by Edna Ferber. The plot chronicles the lives of those living and working on the Cotton Blossom, a Mississippi River show boat, from 1880 to 1927. The show's dominant themes include racial prejudice and tragic, enduring love.
In celebration of this day, we bring you Paul Robeson's performance of 'Old Man River' from the 1936 movie. Click below to check it out!
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