1940s Stage Chronology

Broadway Musical Chronology:
The 1940s
Compiled by John Kenrick
(Copyright 2000)

All shows listed are book musicals and all dates are for Broadway openings unless otherwise noted.

KEY
Show Title (Genre/City), Opening Date, Theatre, Number of Performances

1940

John Henry, 1/10/1940, 44th Street, 7
Earl Carroll's Vanities (Revue - 10th Ed.), 1/13/1940, St James, 25
Two for the Show (Revue), 2/11/1940, Booth, 124
Reunion in New York (Revue), 2/21/1940, Little, 119
Hither and Higher, 4/4/1940, Shubert, 84
Keep Off the Grass, 5/23/1940, Broadhurst, 44
Louisiana Purchase, 5/28/1940, Imperial, 444
Walk with Music, 6/4/1940, Ethel Barrymore, 55
Higher and Higher (Return), 8/5/1940, Shubert, 24
Hold on to Your Hats, 9/11/1940, Shubert, 158
Dancing Years, The (London-R), 9/16/1940, Adelphi, 969
Gondoliers (R), 9/30/1940, 44th Street, 7
Boys and Girls Together (Revue), 10/1/1940, Broadhurst, 191
Mikado (R), 10/3/1940, 44th Street, 11
Trial by Jury/The Pirates of Penzance (R), 10/7/1940, 44th Street, 6
It Happens on Ice (Revue), 10/10/1940, Center, 180
Cabin in the Sky, 10/25/1940, Martin Beck, 156
Tis of Thee (Revue), 10/26/1940, Maxine Elliott's, 1
Panama Hattie, 10/30/1940, 46th St, 501
Mum's the Word (Revue), 12/5/1940, Belmont, 12
Pal Joey, 12/25/1940, Ethel Barrymore, 270 (see 9/1/1941)
Meet the People (Revue), 12/25/1940, Mansfield, 160
All in Fun (Revue), 12/27/1940, Majestic, 3

1941

Crazy with the Heat (Revue), 1/14/1941, 44th Street, 7
Lady in the Dark, 1/23/1941, Alvin, 467
Crazy with the Heat (Revue-Return), 1/30/1941, 44th Street, 92
Green Pastures, The (R), 3/15/1941, Broadway, 44
It Happens on Ice (Revue), 7/15/1941, Center, 386
Lady Behave (London), 7/24/1941, His Majesty's, 401
Pal Joey (Moved), 9/1/1941, Shubert, 104 (total)
Best Foot Forward, 10/1/1941, Ethel Barrymore, 326
Viva O'Brien, 10/9/1941, Majestic, 20
Let's Face It, 10/29/1941, Imperial, 547
High Kickers, 10/31/1941, Broadhurst, 171
Get a Load of This (London), 11/19/1941, Hippodrome, 698
Sons O' Fun (Revue), 12/1/1941, Winter Garden, 742
Sunny River, 12/4/1941, St. James, 36
Banjo Eyes, 12/25/1941, Hollywood, 126

1942

Lady Comes Across, 1/9/1942, 44th Street, 3
H.M.S. Pinafore/The Green Table, 1/21/1942, St James, 18
Porgy and Bess (R), 1/22/1942, Majestic, 286
Mikado/The Big City/A Ball in Old Vienna (R), 2/3/1942, St. James, 19
Of V We Sing (Revue), 2/11/1942, Concert, 76
Pirates of Penzance/The Prodigal Son (R), 2/17/1942, St James, 11
Iolanthe (R), 2/23/1942, St. James, 5
Trial by Jury (R), 2/28/1942, St. James, 7
Gondoliers (R), 3/3/1942, St. James, 3
Priorities of 1942 (Revue), 3/12/1942, 46th Street, 353
Dancing Years, The (London - R), 3/14/1942, 969
Full Swing (London), 4/16/1942, Palace, 468
Keep 'Em Laughing (Revue), 4/24/1942, 44th Street, 77
Harlem Cavalcade (Revue), 5/1/1942, Ritz, 49
Top-Notchers (Revue), 5/29/1942, 44th Street, 48
By Jupiter, 6/3/1942, Shubert, 427
Laugh, Town, Laugh! (Revue), 6/22/1942, Alvin, 65
Chocolate Soldier (R), 6/23/1942, Carnegie Hall, 24
Star and Garter (Revue), 6/24/1942, Music Box, 605
Stars on Ice (Revue), 7/2/1942, Center, 827
This Is the Army (Revue), 7/4/1942, Broadway, 113
Merry Widow (R), 7/15/1942, Carnegie Hall, 39
New Moon (R), 8/18/1942, Carnegie Hall, 24
New Priorities of 1943 (Revue), 9/15/1942, 46th St., 54
Show Time (Revue), 9/16/1942, Broadhurst, 342
Let Freedom Sing (Revue), 10/5/1942, Longacre, 8
Count Me In, 10/8/1942, Ethel Barrymore, 61
Oy Is Due a Lebeni, 10/12/1942, Molly Picon, 139
Beat the Band, 10/14/1942, 46th St, 67
Time Place and the Girl, 10/21/1942, Mansfield, 13
DuBarry Was a Lady (London), 10/22/1942, His Majesty's, 178
Rosalinda, 10/28/1942, 44th Street, 521
Once Over Lightly, 11/19/1942, Alvin, 6
Let's Face It! (London), 11/19/1942, Hippodrome, 348
New Faces of 1943 (Revue), 12/22/1942, Ritz, 94

1943

Something for the Boys, 1/7/1943, Alvin, 422
For Your Pleasure (Revue), 2/5/1943, Mansfield, 11
Old Chelsea (London), 2/17/1943, Prince's, 95
Lady in the Dark (Return), 2/27/1943, Broadway, 113
Merry Widow, The (London-R), 3/4/1943, His Majesty's, 302
Chauve-Souris 1943 (Revue), 3/12/1943, Royale, 12
La-Di-Da-Di-Da (London), 3/30/1943, Victoria Palace, 318
Oklahoma!, 3/31/1943, St. James, 2212
Ziegfeld Follies (Revue), 4/1/1943, Winter Garden, 553
Student Prince (R), 6/8/1943, Broadway, 153
Early to Bed, 6/17/1943, Broadhurst, 380
Lisbon Story, The (London), 6/17/1943, Hippodrome, 492
Vagabond King (R), 6/29/1943, Shubert, 55
Merry Widow (R), 8/4/1943, Majestic, 321
Blossom Time (R), 9/4/1943, Ambassador, 47
Laugh Time (Revue), 9/8/1943, Shubert, 126
Porgy and Bess (R), 9/13/1943, 44th Street, 24
Heaven on Earth, 9/16/1943, New Century, 12
Bright Lights of 1944 (Revue), 9/16/1943, Forrest, 4
Hairpin Harmony, 10/1/1943, National, 3
One Touch of Venus, 10/7/1943, Imperial, 567
Love Racket, The (London), 10/21/1943, Victoria Palace, 324

Panama Hattie (London), 11/4/1943, Piccadilly, 308
Artists and Models (Revue), 11/5/1943, Broadway, 27
Arc De Triomphe (London), 11/9/1943), Phoenix, 6 months
What's Up, 11/11/1943, National, 63
Connecticut Yankee, A (R), 11/17/1943, Martin Beck, 135
Carmen Jones, 12/2/1943, Broadway, 502

1944

Jackpot, 1/13/1944, Alvin, 67
Mexican Hayride, 1/28/1944, Winter Garden, 479
Porgy and Bess (R), 2/7/1944, New York City Center, 16
Mikado (R), 2/11/1944, Ambassador, 6
Trial by Jury/HMS Pinafore (R), 2/14/1944, Ambassador, 7
Pirates of Penzance/Cox and Box (R), 2/17/1944, Ambassador, 8
Gondoliers (R), 2/21/1944, Ambassador, 4
Iolanthe (R), 2/22/1944, Ambassador, 6
Patience (R), 2/25/1944, Ambassador, 4
Porgy and Bess (R), 2/28/1944, New York City Center, 48
Ruddigore (R), 3/2/1944, Ambassador, 3
Yeomen of the Guard (R), 3/3/1944, Ambassador, 1
Follow the Girls, 4/8/1944, Century, 882
Meet Me Victoria (London), 4/8/1944, Victoria Palace, 251
Allah Be Praised, 4/20/1944, Adelphi, 20
Helen Goes to Troy, 4/24/1944, Alvin, 96
Dream with Music, 5/13/1944, Majestic, 28
Maid as Mistress/The Secret of Suzanne, 5/14/1944, Alvin, 2
New Moon (R), 5/17/1944, New York City Center, 45
Take a Bow (Revue), 6/15/1944, Broadhurst, 12
Hats Off To Ice (Ice Revue), 6/22/1944, Center, 889
Wild Rose (London - aka Sally), 8/6/1942, Prince's, 205
Song of Norway, 8/21/1944, Imperial, 860
Star Time (Revue), 9/12/1944, Majestic, 120
Bloomer Girl, 10/5/1944, Shubert, 654
Merry Widow (R), 10/7/1944, New York City Center, 32
Robin Hood (R), 11/7/1944, Adelphi, 15
Sadie Thompson, 11/16/1944, Alvin, 60
Rhapsody, 11/22/1944, Century, 13
Seven Lively Arts (Revue), 12/7/1944, Ziegfeld, 182
Spook Scandals (Revue), 12/8/1944, President, 2
Laffing Room Only (Revue), 12/23/1944, Winter Garden, 232
Sing Out Sweet Land (Revue), 12/27/1944, International, 102
On the Town, 12/28/1944, Adelphi, 462

1945

Lady Says Yes, A, 1/10/1945, Broadhurst, 117
Up in Central Park, 1/27/1945, Century, 504
Firebrand or Florence, 3/22/1945, Alvin, 43
Carousel, 4/19/1945, Majestic, 890
Perchance to Dream (London), 4/21/1945, Hippodrome, 1022
Carmen Jones (R), 5/2/1945, New York City Center, 21
Blue Holiday (Revue), 5/21/1945, Belasco, 5
Memphis Bound!, 5/24/1945, Broadway, 36
Hollywood Pinafore, 5/31/1945, Alvin, 52
Concert Varieties (Revue), 6/1/1945, Ziegfeld, 36
Sweet Yesterday (London), 6/21/1945, Adelphi, 196
Marinka, 7/18/1945, Winter Garden, 165
Mr. Strauss Goes to Boston, 9/6/1945, Century, 12
Merrie England (London-R), 9/6/1945, Prince's, 365
Carib Song, 9/27/1945, Adelphi, 36
Polonaise, 10/6/1945, Alvin, 113
Red Mill, The (R), 10/16/1945, Ziegfeld, 531
Follow the Girls (London), 10/25/1945, His Majesty's, 572
Girl from Nantucket, The, 11/8/1945, Adelphi, 12
Are You With It?, 11/10/1945, Century, 266
Day Before Spring, The, 11/22/1945, National, 165
Under The Counter (London), 11/22/1945, Phoenix, 665
Billion Dollar Baby, 12/21/1945, Alvin, 220
La Belle De Cadix (Paris), 12/24/1945, Casino Montparnasse, 2 seasons

1946

Show Boat (R), 1/5/1946, Ziegfeld, 418
Desert Song (R), 1/8/1946, New York City Center, 45
Nellie Bly, 1/21/1946, Adelphi, 16
Lute Song, 2/6/1946, Plymouth, 142
Duchess Misbehaves, The, 2/13/1946, Adelphi, 5
Three To Make Ready (Revue), 3/7/1946, Adelphi, 327
St. Louis Woman, 3/30/1946, Martin Beck, 113
Carmen Jones (R), 4/7/1946, New York City Center, 32
Call Me Mister, 4/18/1946, National, 734
Pirates of Penzance (R), 5/12/1946, New York City Center, 4
Annie Get Your Gun, 5/16/1946, Imperial, 1147
Around the World in Eighty Days, 5/31/1946, Adelphi, 75
Icetime (Revue), 6/20/1946, Center, 405
Tidbits of 1946, 7/8/1946, Plymouth, 8
Sweetheart Mine (London), 8/1/1946, Victoria Palace, 323
Yours Is My Heart, 9/5/1946, Shubert, 36
Gypsy Lady, 9/17/1946, Century, 79
Naughty Naught '00, 10/19/1946, Old Knickerbocker Music Hall, 21
Park Avenue, 11/4/1946, Shubert, 72
If the Shoe Fits, 12/5/1946, Century, 21
Pacific 1860 (London), 12/19/1946, Theatre Royal, 129
Toplitzky of Notre Dame, 12/26/1946, Century, 60
Beggar's Holiday, 12/26/1946, Broadway, 111

1947

Bloomer Girl (R), 1/6/1947, New York City Center, 48
Street Scene, 1/9/1947, Adelphi, 148
Finian's Rainbow, 1/10/1947, 46th St, 725
Sweethearts (R), 1/21/1947, Shubert, 288
Maurice Chevalier (Concert), 3/10/1947, Henry Miller's, 46
Chocolate Soldier (R), 3/12/1947, Century, 69
Brigadoon, 3/13/1947, Ziegfeld, 581
Great Campaign, 3/30/1947, Princess, 5
Barefoot Boy With Cheek, 4/3/1947, Martin Beck, 108
Our Lan', 4/18/1947, Henry Street Playhouse, 12
Bless The Bride (London), 4/26/1947, Adelphi, 886
Oklahoma! (London), 4/29/1947, Drury Lane, 1548
Telephone, The/The Medium, 5/1/1947, Ethel Barrymore, 212
Up in Central Park (R), 5/19/1947, New York City Center, 16
Icetime of 1948 (Revue), 5/28/1947, Center, 422
Louisiana Lady, 6/2/1947, Century, 4
Our Lan' (Moved), 9/27/1947, Royale, 41
Music in My Heart, 10/2/1947, Adelphi, 124
Under the Counter, 10/3/1947, Shubert Theatre, 27
High Button Shoes, 10/9/1947, Century, 727
Allegro, 10/10/1947, Majestic, 315
Finian's Rainbow (London), 10/21/1947, Palace, 55
Andalouise (Paris), 10/25/1947, Gaite-Lyric, 12 months
Edith Piaf (Concert), 10/30/1947, Playhouse, 49
Caribbean Carnival (Revue), 12/5/1947, International, 11
Angel in the Wings (Revue), 12/11/1947, Coronet, 308
Cradle Will Rock (R), 12/26/1947, Mansfield, 21 (see 1/28/1948)
D'Oyly Carte Opera Company (Repertory), 12/29/1947, Century, 136

1948

Make Mine Manhattan (Revue), 1/15/1948, Broadhurst, 429
Cradle Will Rock (R-Moved), 1/28/1948, Broadway, 13
Look, Ma, I'm Dancin'!, 1/29/1948, Adelphi, 188
Tonight at 8:30 (One Acts-R), 2/20/1948, National, 26
Maurice Chevalier (Concert), 2/29/1948, John Golden, 33
Billie Holiday on Broadway (Concert), 4/27/1948, Mansfield, 6
Inside U.S.A. (Revue), 4/30/1948, Century, 339
Hold It!, 5/5/1948, National, 46
Bob's Your Uncle (London), 5/5/1948, Saville, 363
Sally (R), 5/6/1948, Martin Beck, 36
Ballet Ballads, 5/9/1948, Maxine Elliott's, 69
Sleepy Hollow, 6/3/1948, St. James, 12
Cage Me a Peacock (London), 6/18/1948, Strand, 337
Howdy, Mrs. Ice! (Revue), 6/24/1948, Center, 406
Show Boat (R), 9/7/1948, New York City Center, 15
Hilarities (Revue), 9/9/1948, Adelphi, 18
Small Wonder (Revue), 9/15/1948, Coronet, 134
Magdalena, 9/20/1948, Ziegfeld, 188
Love Life, 10/7/1948, 46th St., 252
Where's Charley?, 10/11/1948, St. James, 792
Lute Song (London), 10/11/1948, Winter Garden, 24
My Romance, 10/19/1948, Shubert, 95
As the Girls Go, 11/13/1948, Winter Garden, 414
Telephone, The/The Medium (R), 12/7/1948, NY City Center, 40
Lend an Ear (Revue), 12/16/1948, National, 460
High Button Shoes (London), 12/22/1948, Hippodrome, 291
Kiss Me, Kate, 12/30/1948, New Century, 1077*

1949

Along Fifth Avenue (Revue), 1/13/1949, Broadhurst, 180
All for Love (Revue), 1/22/1949, Mark Hellinger, 121
Carousel (R), 1/25/1949, New York City Center, 48
South Pacific, 4/7/1949, Majestic, 1,925*
Brigadoon (London), 4/14/1949, His Majesty's, 685
Howdy Mr. Ice of 1950 (Revue), 5/26/1949, Center, 430
Cabalgata (Revue), 7/7/1949, Broadway, 76
Miss Liberty, 7/15/1949, Imperial, 308
Ken Murray's Blackouts of 1949 (Revue), 9/6/1949, Ziegfeld, 51
King's Rhapsody (London), 9/15/1949, Palace, 839
Chartock's Gilbert & Sullivan Repertory Company, 10/4/1949, Mark Hellinger, 23
Touch and Go (Revue), 10/13/1949, Broadhurst, 176
Lost in the Stars, 10/30/1949, Music Box, 281
Regina, 10/31/1949, 46th Street, 56
Texas, Lil' Darlin', 11/25/1949, Mark Hellinger, 293
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, 12/8/1949, Ziegfeld, 740