As Thousands Cheer
Sketches By Moss Hart | Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin
It was the Depression era version of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE and THE DAILY SHOW. Moss Hart's sketches were sharp, witty and hilarious and Irving Berlin's songs ranged from wry to satiric to poignant. Their inspiration? The newspaper headlines of the day, from affairs to society photos and advice to the lovelorn; even comic strips and the weather report were fair game! A cast that included Clifton Webb, Ethel Waters and Marilyn Miller impersonated the likes of Joan Crawford, the Hoovers, John D. Rockefeller, Mahatma Gandhi and Josephine Baker for over 400 performances beginning in September of 1933. Considered a masterpiece of that specialized genre known as the topical revue, AS THOUSANDS CHEER inspired some of Harts best solo work as a comedy writer and afforded Berlin the opportunity to pen some of the greatest musical gems.
Cast Size: No Chorus • Small (1-10) • Medium (5-21) • Large (14+). Vocal Demands: Moderate. Dance Requirements: Some Dancing Required. Good For: High School • College/University • Amateur/Community • Professional Theatre • Religious Organization.
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About The Show
Production Info
To request the rights to make merchandise for this show email brian.sherman@rnh.com.
If your production budget is currently straining under the weight of large scale shows, you can still present the high quality entertainmentfull of the first rate words and music, humor and pathos that your audiences expect... read more
By day they were ordinary citizens, joining in protests, carrying picket signs, demanding a right to revote, denouncing the so-called ""butterfly ballots."" By night they were actors, appearing in a timely revue that tweaked political fat-cats in its comedy sketches, and addressed social concerns in its musical numbers. read more
It was the Depression's version of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE and POLITICALLY INCORRECT. read more
Think of your favorite Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals and PIPE DREAM will probably not be the first title to come to mind. In fact, you may not even know it. But in its time, it was one of the most eagerly anticipated new shows to reach Broadway, promising another banquet of R&H hit songs and setting box office records. It opened in November of 1955. Then it disappeared. What happened? Read more →
In the fall of 2010 we ran a contest through our SOUND OF MUSIC Facebook page to give away a trip for two to Salzburg Austria, the location where the movie and stage musical takes place and where the movie was filmed 46 years ago. Read the blog from the winner's trip.
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I had the incredible honor of visiting Salzburg in October 2011 with members of the von Trapp family. We were there to attend the premiere of the first stage production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC ever done in the city where the story is set, and to preside over the opening of a new exhibition. – BERT FINK
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September 30, 1933
October 24, 1904
February 21, 1935
"[Moss Hart's sketches are] so sharply barbed that [they] seem daring even now." — Sun Sentinel, January 01, 1998
"[Moss Hart's sketches are] so sharply barbed that [they] seem daring even now." — Sun Sentinel, January 01, 2001
"This charming, delightful, witty, trenchant satire on the press and society is as fresh and relevant today as it was in 1933." — American Arts Today, January 01, 1998
"It deserves thousands of cheers!" — Palm Beach Daily News, January 01, 2001
Song #
Song Name
Character Name
Play
Other Versions
2
How's Chances?
Suitors, Chauffer, Barbara,
12
Through A Key Hole
Gossip Columnist, All, Women,
13
Finale - Not For All The Rice In China
All
Vocal Range of Characters:
STANDARD
- AS THOUSANDS CHEER - Rehearsal Set (20 L/V, 2 P/Vs, 1 Bass)
- 20 – Libretto/Vocal Books
- 1 – Logo CD
- 2 – Piano Vocal Scores
- 1 – BASS
ADDITIONAL
- As Thousands Cheer - Libretti/Vocal Books 10 pack
- 10 – Libretto/Vocal Books
- AS THOUSANDS CHEER - PRE-PRODUCTION PACKAGE
- 1 – Libretto/Vocal Books
- 1 – Piano Vocal Scores
3 Women
3 Men
ENSEMBLE
Singing-dancing chorus as large as desired featuring The Ladies and Gentlemen of the Chorus.
COMMENTS
The original 1933 production employed a cast that numbered nearly 50 while the 1998 revival used a cast of only 6. The rousing success of both productions indicates that this topical revue can be produced on as large or as intimate a scale as you wish. A minimum of 6 actors is needed.
CHARACTERS
Langley - a butler
Mr. Andrews
Mrs. Andrews
Gertrude - a Pomeranian
Mr. Hoover
Mrs. Hoover
Frank - a moving man
Barbara Hutton
2 Suitors
The Chauffeur
The Weathercaster
Joan Crawford
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
Will Hays
Representative of England
Representative of Italy
Representative of Germany
Representative of France
The Statue of Liberty
John D. Rockefeller, Sr.
John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
John D. Rockefeller, Jr.'s Children
The Radio Announcer
Monsieur Peppiton - the famous chef
Mr. Williams
Mrs. Williams
Miss Williams - their daughter
Opera Singer
Mahatma Gandhi
Aimee Semple McPherson
The Director
The Camera Operator
A Native
Customers
A Bellboy
Mrs. Fisher - the housekeeper
Ella - a scrubwoman
Aggie - a chambermaid
Henry - a waiter
A Window Cleaner
Josephine Baker
Her Personal Secretary
The King
The Queen
The Prince of Wales
The Prime Minister
The Gossip Columnist
The Ladies and Gentlemen of the Chorus
Materials Notes
Featured News
GREAT Things Come in SMALL Packages
If your production budget is currently straining under the weight of large scale shows, you can still present the high quality entertainmentfull of the first rate words and music, humor and pathos that your audiences expect...
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By day they were ordinary citizens, joining in protests, carrying picket signs, demanding a right to revote, denouncing the so-called ""butterfly ballots."" By night they were actors, appearing in a timely revue that tweaked political fat-cats in its comedy sketches, and addressed social concerns in its musical numbers. Read More
Extra! Extra! Thousands Cheer For As Thousands Cheer
It was the Depression's version of SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE and POLITICALLY INCORRECT. Read More