Call Me Madam at Janet and Ray Scherr Forum Theatre

Love and politics are as important today as they were in 1950, but in those days they were backed by a Tony© Award-winning Irving Berlin score (with songs like “It’s a Lovely Day Today” and “The Hostess with the Mostess”). Suggested by Washington socialite Perle Mesta’s 1949 appointment to the Ambassadorship of Luxembourg, Lindsay and Crouse set their story in “two mythical countries: the Duchy of Lichtenburg and the United States of America.” Ethel Merman won the Tony© Award for her performance, natch, and starred in the 1953 film version. George Abbott directed, Jerome Robbins choreographed. Impressive enough, but how many Broadway musicals have generated a Presidential campaign slogan? (“I Like Ike!”)

Authors

• Howard Lindsay
• Irving Berlin
• Russel Crouse