Of Thee I Sing
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Music By George Gershwin
Lyrics By Ira Gershwin
Book/Libretto by: George S. Kaufman
Produced by: Sam H. Harris
Choreography by: George Hale
Directed by: George S. Kaufman
Opened: December 26, 1931
Theatre: Music Box Theatre
# of Performances: 441
Licensing Agent: Music Theatre International
Synopsis
ACT I
SCENE 1
Of Thee I Sing opens with a political rally for John P. Wintergreen ("Wintergreen For President"). He is "the man the people choose" who "loves the Irish and the Jews" and everyone else. In the midst of the hoopla of band-playing, shouting, and banner waving by the party faithful, mass hysteria takes over. Wintergreen supporters chant "Wintergreen For President."
SCENE 2
Political bosses Louis Lippman and Francis X. Gilhooley, newspaper magnate Matthew Arnold Fulton, Senator Carver Jones, and Senator Robert E. Lyons are resting in their hotel room. They cannot recall the name of the man they just nominated for Vice President. Alexander Throttlebottom, the Vice Presidential candidate enters, followed by the Presidential candidate, John P. Wintergreen. No one recognizes Throttlebottom. As the group discusses party politics, they search for a campaign slogan to capture the popular imagination. A hotel chambermaid says she wants love more than anything else in the world; the politicians seize on that notion. They decide Wintergreen has to fall in love with a typical American girl to reach the masses. He will run on a one word platform-love. A national beauty contest will be held to select Miss White House, the girl Wintergreen will marry.
SCENE 3
A group of girls parade on the boardwalk in Atlantic City in bathing suits, singing "Who Is the Lucky Girl to Be."
SCENE 4
Twenty-four girls in bathing suits are assembled in a hotel suite. Fulton and the two Senators are interviewing Wintergreen. Mary Turner, Fulton’s assistant, who is organizing the Atlantic City event, is onstage. When Throttlebottom appears, he is told to go into hiding-to return to his former life as a hermit. Vice-Presidents are never to be seen in public. Wintergreen meets the girls and confesses to Mary Turner he has cold feet about having to marry the one who wins the contest. She gives him a corn muffin from her lunchbox and introduces herself to him. He decides he is in love with her and wants to marry her. They leave as committee members Fulton, Gilhooley, Lyons, Lippman, and Jones enter ("Finaletto: Act I").
The committee selects Diana Deveraux, a beautiful Southern contestant, to be Wintergreen’s wife. He refuses to marry her. He says he has to marry Mary Turner because she makes corns muffins and he loves her.
SCENE 5
Outside Madison Square Garden, a band marches by playing "Wintergreen For President." Jenkins and Miss Benson sing "Love Is Sweeping The Country," describing how love has become the national pastime.
SCENE 6
Inside Madison Square Garden, speeches are in progress.
As Senator Jones speaks, two wrestlers perform. Throttlebottom attempts to reach the platform and is restrained by a policeman until he shows a banner with his picture on it. He attempts to speak, but is constantly interrupted. Wintergreen and Mary Turner are introduced to the cheering crowd. She promises to marry him if he is elected; he tells the crowd their future happiness is up to the voters. They lead the crowd in the campaign love song, "Of Thee I Sing."
SCENE 7
A movie collage, accompanied by music and a steady blast of cheering and shouting, tracks the election returns around the country. At the end, Wintergreen is declared the winner.
SCENE 8
A group of girls and boys in military uniforms are lined up on the Capitol steps. The Supreme Court Justices enter led by the Chief Justice ("Finale: Act I"). Wintergreen gives his inaugural address. Then he is given the inaugural oath and is married to Mary Turner at the same time. Diana Devereaux appears and claims that Wintergreen has jilted her. He explains to the nation that he needed a wife who could bake corn muffins. The Supreme Court debates the case and issues a decision in favor of corn muffins. The crowd chases Diana off and celebrates the inauguration.
ACT II
SCENE I
The Wintergreens have settled into the oval office. They each have one side of the presidential desk. A group of male and female secretaries are led by two chief secretaries, Jenkins and Miss Benson. They rejoice in their lives as presidential secretaries ("Opening: Act II"). As they leave, a guide passes through with a group of rural visitors. Jenkins and Miss Benson review the schedule for the day, noting the ongoing furor over the jilting of Diana Devereaux. Another tour group comes through; Throttlebottom is among them. He gapes at the oval office. During an exchange with the Tour Guide, Throttlebottom learns that the Vice President presides over the Senate. He races out to try to find the Capitol.
The President and Mary Wintergreen enter the office to begin their day. She insists she needs a bigger allowance to run the White House. Lippman, now Secretary of Agriculture; Gilhooley, now Secretary of the Navy; and Fulton, now Secretary of State, enter and report the country is now in an uproar over Diana Devereaux. Mary weeps and Wintergreen insists they can win this fight just as they won the election. Twelve newspapermen enter to interview the President on the Devereaux issue. The President and Mary refuse to answer the reporters’ questions directly and refer to their love for each other instead ("Who Cares"). The reporters leave. The Wintergreens plan the rest of their crusade. Mary will bake corn muffins for the unemployed! The secretaries announce the French ambassador, who is preceded by six French soldiers. The Ambassador insists Wintergreen have his marriage to Mary annulled and marry Diana. Wintergreen refuses. His resignation is called for by Gilhooley. Wintergreen refuses to resign ("The Illegitimate Daughter").
SCENE 2
Lippman, Jones, Lyons, Gilhooley, and Fulton are meeting in a corridor in the Capitol, discussing the possibility of impeaching Wintergreen. They are trying to remember the name of the Vice President. Throttlebottom is standing on the sidelines waiting for someone to recognize him. They inform him he is about to become President. Wintergreen appears and attempts to describe the job of President to Throttlebottom.
SCENE 3
In the Senate Chamber, a group of bearded Senators are swaying back and forth rhythmically ("Senator From Minnesota"). Throttlebottom calls the Senate into session. The Senators cannot consider the impeachment issue until they settle the issue of a tribute to Paul Revere’s horse and other such lofty matters.
Fulton, Lippman, Gilhooley, and Lyons enter to begin the impeachment ("The Senate"). Showgirls dressed in red, white, and blue bathing suits usher Diana Devereaux into the Senate. She sings of her despair at being jilted ("Jilted, Jilted"). Wintergreen again defends his position on the matter. Mary interrupts the proceedings to announce that the President is an expectant father. The Senators find him not guilty. Everyone marches off singing "Posterity is Right Around the Corner" because a baby is coming.
SCENE 4
In the White House, Jenkins and Miss Benson are discussing the arrival date of the White House baby. Wintergreen receives the French Ambassador who indicates France wants the baby.
SCENE 5
Representatives from around the world are presenting the White House Flunkeys with gifts for the baby ("Oh, Trumpeter, Blow Your Golden Horn"). The Supreme Court debates the sex of the baby, who is expected at any moment ("Finale Ultimo"). The French Ambassador comes to demand the baby. When Wintergreen refuses, the Ambassador severs diplomatic relations. The Supreme Court announce the sex of the Wintergreen baby-it’s a boy. Then a second baby is announced-it’s a girl. Wintergreen has the brilliant idea to marry Throttlebottom off to Diana Devereaux. Mary appears with the twins (Reprise: "Of Thee I Sing ").
Song List
- Wintergreen for President
- Who is the Lucky Girl to Be?
- The Dimple on Your Knee
- Don't Worry, Little Girl
- Because, Because
- As the Chairman of the Committee
- How Beautiful
- Never Was There a Girl So Fair
- Some Girls Can Bake a Pie
- Love is Sweeping the Country
- Of Thee I Sing
- Entrance of the Supreme Court Judges
- A Kiss for Cinderella
- Is It True or Am I Dreaming?
- I Was the Most Beautiful Blossom
- Some Girls Can Bake a Pie (reprise)
- Of Thee I Sing (reprise)
- Hello, Good Morning
- Who Cares?
- Garcon, S'il Vous Plait
- Entrance of the French Ambassador
- The Illegitimate Daughter
- We'll Impeach Him
- Who Cares? (reprise)
- The Senatorial Roll Call
- The Impeachment Trial:
- Wheras
- The Illegitimate Daughter (reprise)
- Jilted, Jilted!
- I'm About to Be a Mother
- Posterity is Just Around the Corner
- Trumpeter, Blow Your Horn
- On That Matter No One Budges
- Of Thee I Sing (reprise)
Cast List
- John P. Wintergreen -- William Gaxton
- Mary Turner -- Lois Moran
- Alexander Throttlebottom -- Victor Moore
- Diana Devereaux -- Grace Brinkley
- Jenkins -- George Murphy
- Miss Benson -- June O'Dea
- The French Ambassador -- Florenz Ames
Awards & Nominations
Of Thee I Sing was the first musical ever to be awarded the Pulitzer Prize for drama. George Gershwin was not included in the citation since his was a musical contribution and was not considered eligible for a literary award.
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Added: Wed Apr 06 2005
Last Modified: Wed Nov 15 2006