Babes in Arms

For the film of the same name, see Babes in Arms (film).

Babes in Arms
Original Broadway Logo
Music	Richard Rodgers
Lyrics	Lorenz Hart
Book	Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart
Productions	1937 Broadway 1939 film

Babes in Arms is a 1937 musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart and book by Rodgers and Hart. It concerns a teen-age boy who puts on a show with his friends to avoid being sent to a work farm.

Production history

Babes in Arms opened on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre on April 14, 1937, transferred to the Majestic Theatre on October 25, 1937, and closed on December 18, 1937 after 289 performances. The production, under the auspices of Dwight Deere Wiman, was staged by Robert B. Sinclair with choreography by George Balanchine. Settings were by Raymond Sovey, and costumes by Helene Pons. Hans Spialek created the orchestrations and Gene Salzer led the orchestra which included pianists Edgar Fairchild and Adam Carroll. The cast featured Mitzi Green, Ray Heatherton, and Alfred Drake, as well as the Nicholas Brothers

The City Center Encores! staged concert ran in February 1999, directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall with Erin Dilly, David Campbell, Jessica Stone and Christopher Fitzgerald.

The musical was produced at the Chichester Festival Theatre from June 7, 2007 through July 7, 2007, and featured Lorna Luft.

Several songs in Babes in Arms became pop standards, including the title song; "Where or When"; "My Funny Valentine"; "The Lady Is a Tramp"; "Johnny One Note" and "I Wish I Were in Love Again".

The film version, released in 1939, starred Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney and was directed by Busby Berkeley.

A studio cast recording starring Gregg Edelman as Val, Judy Blazer as Billie, Jason Graae as Gus, Donna Kane as Dolores, Judy Kaye as Baby Rose, Adam Grupper as Peter, with JQ and the Bandits as the Quartet and featuring the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra was released by New World Records in 1990.

Characters and original Broadway cast

• Billie Smith – Mitzi Green
• Val Lamar – Ray Heatherton
• Marshall Blackstone – Alfred Drake
• Peter Jackson – Duke McHale
• Baby Rose – Wynn Murray
• Gus Fielding - Rolly Pickert
• Dolores Reynolds - Grace McDonald
• Ivor DeQuincy – Harold Nicholas
• Irving DeQuincy – Fayard Nicholas
• Lee Calhoun - Dana Hardwick
• Sheriff Reynolds - George Watts

Musical numbers

Overture [including the Lamars’ act and the Blackstones’ act] — Orchestra

ACT I

• "Opening Act I" — Orchestra
• "Where or When" — Billie & Val
• "Babes in Arms" — Val, Marshall, Billie & The Gang
• "I Wish I Were in Love Again" — Gus & Dolores
• "Babes in Arms - Reprise" — Marshall, Sheriff & The Gang
• "Light On Our Feet" with dance (originally the racially insensitive "All Dark People Are Light On Their Feet") — The DeQuincy Bros.
• "Way Out West" with dance break — Baby Rose & Men's Quartet
• "My Funny Valentine" — Billie
• "Johnny One Note" — Baby Rose
• "Ballet - Johnny One Note" including: — Orchestra
  • Section 1: Tango and Jazz Ballet
  • Section 2: The Scene Moves Backstage
  • Section 3: Move Back to Ballet
  • Section 4: Finale - Act I

Entr'acte — Orchestra

ACT II

• "Imagine" — Men's Quartet, Baby Rose, Peter, & Marshall
• "All At Once" — Val & Billie
• "Imagine - Reprise #1" — Peter & The Men's Quartet
• "Peter's Journey (Ballet)" — Orchestra
• "Imagine - Reprise #2" — The Men's Quartet & Peter
• "The Lady Is a Tramp" with encore — Billie
• "You Are So Fair" with 2 dances — Gus & Dolores with Orchestra
• "Reprise: The Lady is a Tramp" — Billie
• "Specialty #1 (Light On Our Feet) & Specialty #2 (Imagine)" — Orchestra
• "Finale Ultimo" — The Gang with Val & Billie
• "Bows (Johnny One-Note)" — Orchestra
• "Exit Music (Where or When)" — Orchestra

External links

• Internet Broadway Database listing
• "Babes in Arms songs, plot, production notes"
• "Babes in Arms" production information, Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization
• The Judy Garland Online Discography "Babes In Arms" pages.