| Bloomer Girl | |
|---|---|
 1944 Original Cast Recording | |
| Music | Harold Arlen |
| Lyrics | E.Y. Harburg |
| Book | Sig Herzig andFred Saidy |
| Basis | Unpublished play by Lilith andDaniel Lewis James |
| Productions | 1944Broadway |
Bloomer Girl is a 1944Broadwaymusical with music byHarold Arlen, lyrics byE.Y. Harburg, and a book bySig Herzig andFred Saidy, based on an unpublished play by writerDaniel Lewis James and his wife Lilith.[1][2] The plot concerns independent Evelina Applegate, ahoop skirt manufacturer's daughter who defies her father by rejecting hoopskirts and embracing comfortablebloomers advocated by her aunt "Dolly" Bloomer, who was inspired by the women's rights advocateAmelia Bloomer. TheAmerican Civil War is looming, andabolitionist Evelina refuses to marry suitor Jeff Calhoun until he frees his slave, Pompey.
A television version of the musical was shown in 1956.
The original Broadway production opened at the Shubert Theatre on October 5, 1944, directed by William Schorr and produced byJohn C. Wilson in association with Nat Goldstone.[1] The production's scenic designer and lighting designer wasLemuel Ayers.[3]Agnes de Mille was the choreographer,[4] and her contributions included a Civil War ballet.[5] The production starredCeleste Holm as Evelina,David Brooks as Jeff Calhoun,Dooley Wilson as the slave Pompey, andJoan McCracken in the featured dancing role as Daisy.[6][4] While successful—it closed on April 27, 1946, after 657 performances on Broadway—it has seldom been revived.
Alisa Roost directed anOff-Broadway revival, which recreated Agnes deMille's original dream ballet, at the Theatre at St. Clements in 2000[7] and New York City Center'sEncores! staged concert series performed it for a week in 2001.[8][9]
Bloomer Girl caused a temporary rift between de Mille andJerome Robbins when, about a year into the show's run, Robbins appropriated several dancers then in the chorus, including James Mitchell andArthur Partington, forBillion Dollar Baby (1945).[10]
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An original cast album was released on American Decca 78 RPM set DA 381[11] during the original Broadway run ofBloomer Girl. The recording was re-released onLP in the 1950s. It then remained out of print until the same recording became available onCD in the early 1990s. The [CD] recording restored the second half ofSunday in Cicero Falls, which was deleted from the [LP] due to length.
An abridged version of the musical, which eliminated most of Agnes de Mille's choreography, except for the dance after "It Was Good Enough For Grandma" and the Civil War ballet, aired onProducers' Showcase in 1956; it starredBarbara Cook andKeith Andes and featured many of the original dancers, includingJames Mitchell,Lidija Franklin,Betty Low, andEmy St. Just.