The Hot Mikado (1939 production)

:Otheruses4|the 1939 musical|the 1986 musical|Hot MikadoInfobox Musical
name= The Hot Mikado
subtitle=


caption= Poster for "The Hot Mikado"
music=
lyrics=
book= Mike Todd
basis= Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Mikado"
productions= 1939 New York World's Fair
1939 Broadway
awards= " (another all-black adaptation of "The Mikado").

"The Hot Mikado" was jazzier than "The Swing Mikado" and had a full-voiced, star-studded cast to back up its sass. It follows both the story line of "The Mikado" and the spectacle of the original. "The Hot Mikado" was noted for its wild costuming. "Rosa Brown's outfit, a winged dress with train and a gigantic hat, weighed thirty-five pounds." (Mordden, p.240). The spectacle and jazzed-up score attracted a crowd that made "The Swing Mikado" seem like "chicken feed."

Productions

The musical was first produced at the Broadhurst Theatre from March 23 1939 to June 3 1939, running for 85 performances. The opening night cast included Bill "Bojangles" Robinson as The Mikado; Frances Brock as Pitti-Sing; Rosa Brown as Katisha; Maurice Ellis as Pooh-Bah; Eddie Green as Ko-Ko; Rosetta LeNoire as Peep-Bo; James A. Lilliard as Pish-Tush; Bob Parrish as Nanki-Poo; Gwendolyn Reyde as Yum-Yum; Freddie Robinson as Messenger Boy; and Vincent Shields as Red Cap.

The musical was then produced at the 1939–1940 New York World's Fair for two seasons and was reportedly one of the most popular attractions at the fair. The orchestrations were arranged by Charles L. Cooke, and the production was directed by Hassard Short. Choreography was by Truly McGee. The show was produced on a large scale there, employing 150 actors. [Shenton, Mark. Feature in "Plays International" magazine, Vol. 10, No. 11, June 1995, pp. 10-11.]

A summer-stock revival, including Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, produced by Cheryl Crawford, played for one week in 1941 at the Maplewood Theater.

Notes

References

*cite book| author=Mordden, Ethan| title=Sing For Your Supper| publisher=Palgrave MacMillan| year=2005| id=0-312-23951-3
* [http://www.jimcrowhistory.org/resources/lessonplans/hs_es_newyorkfair.htm Article describing the audience and critical reception for the piece]

External links

* [http://www.ibdb.com/show.asp?ID=4502 "The Hot Mikado"] at the The Internet Broadway Database
* [http://www.ferris.edu/htmls/news/jimcrow/who/who_pages/hotmikado.htm Poster for the 1939 version of "The Hot Mikado"]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ-CcPIU2MY Color footage of "The Hot Mikado" being performed at the 1939-1940 New York World's Fair with Bill Robinson]