Of V We Sing is a
Broadwaymusical revue with lyrics by Alfred Hayes and a book by
Mel Tolkin,
Sam Locke, and Al Geto.[1][2] It premiered at the Elysee Theatre on February 11, 1942, and ran for 76 performances before closing on April 25 that year.[1][2] The show marked the Broadway debuts of both
Betty Garrett and
Phil Leeds.[3][4]
Production
The show was originally put on by the American Youth Theatre under the name V For Victory in September 1941 at the Malin Studio Theater.[5] By October, it was running under the name Of V We Sing.[1][6][7]
The Broadway production was directed by Perry Bruskin and produced by
Alexander H. Cohen.[8]
A condensed version of the show, with a cast of ten people, played at the
La Conga Club in New York City for two weeks in September 1942.[9][10][11] Four members of the original cast performed in this version: Eleanor Bagley, Lee Barrie, Connie Baxter, and Adele Jerome. New cast members were Kay Dowd, Ty Kearney, Ray Long, Marty Ritt, and
Shelley Winters.[10]
Synopsis
The show consisted of two acts of songs and sketches.[1] Some of the show's content addressed
World War II, while other parts touched on topics closer to home, like
unions,
Mother's Day, and the
Brooklyn Dodgers.[12]