Gay New York is amusical in two acts with both book and lyrics byMaurice Hegeman and music by Harry Trappert.[1] The musical was adapted from an unidentified German-languageoperetta.[2]
Set onFifth Avenue inManhattan and onLong Island,Gay New York is a musical farce in which the New York tailor Herman Schultz splurges on a night out on the town to the chagrin of his wife Bertha. A comedy of errors, all sorts of misadventures occur; including a series of mistaken identities involving three men with nearly identical names: Walter Brook Jennings, the owner of a Swedish massage parlor; Supreme Court Justice W. B. Jennings; and Wilbur Jennings, the son of the judge. Schultz is accompanied on his adventures by the recentVassar College graduate Dr. Marie Darcey; the messenger boy Swifty; the famous woman golfer Donna Dean; and the celebrated dancer Mlle. Florizell. When trouble arises, the policeman Officer Ketchim becomes involved.[2]
Gay New York was a successful "road musical" created as a starring vehicle forDan Mason.[2] The production was initially organized by the theatrical impresario Gus Hill and began touring the MidWest and Eastern portions of the United States in the autumn of 1905.[3] However, by the time the touring production reachedBroadway'sMurray Hill Theatre in February 1906 there was no mention of Hill's involvement and Charles E. Barton was listed the show's producer and M. L. Heckert as director.[1]
Gay New York played only eight performances at the Murray Hill Theatre from February 5, 1906, through February 10, 1906, and then continued on its national tour elsewhere.[1] The Broadway cast included Dan Mason as Herman Schultz; Louise Sanford as Bertha Schultz; Kathryn Bartlett as Marie Darcey, M.D.; Dan W. Mack as "Swifty"; Lillian Hoerlein as Mlle. Florizell; Ed Brennan as Walter Brook Jennings; Theodore S. Peters as the Honorable W. B. Jennings; Edward B. Adams as Wilbur Jennings; Violet Rio as Donna Dean; William Butler as Officer Ketchim; Leah Keinz as Julia Schultz; Lulu Lee as Dolly Van Tassel; Charles E. Foreman as Frank Swift; Nellie Cameron as Marjorie Darje; Joseph F. Willard as Sam; and Bessie Bartell as Polly Primrose.[2] The show's sets were designed byErnest Albert and C. W. Valentine, and the costumes were designed by Will R. Barnes, Frank Hayden and J. Henry Rowley.[1]