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Which came first: groups of kids getting together to put on a show, or BABES IN ARMS, the 1937 Rodgers & Hart musical about a group of kids getting together to put on a show? It's a fair bet that, for generations, enthusiastic stage struck kids gathered together searching for an outlet to perform. But it was in 1937, with their classic script and glorious score, that Rodgers & Hart coined the now-famous phrase, "Hey, kids, let's put on a show!"

Its score is, without a doubt, musical comedy's finest: Where Or When, Johnny One Note, I Wish I Were In Love Again, The Lady Is A Tramp, Babes In Arms, My Funny Valentine... however the script, as penned by Rodgers & Hart, fell into obscurity. It was a script revised by George Oppenheimer in 1959 under the supervision of Richard Rodgers which became the version licensed by R&H from then on. That same version, first mounted at the Royal Poinciana Playhouse in Palm Beach starring Julie Wilson, has been presented across the country and through the decades with success at such prestigious venues as the Goodspeed Opera House (featuring Andrea McArdle) in 1979 as well as countless high schools, community and summer stock theatres.

The current trend of returning to source material, however, led the esteemed Cincinnati College -Conservatory of Music to re-examine Rodgers & Hart's original script. They were so intrigued by what they found they mounted a fully staged and triumphant production. The R&H Theatre Library is thrilled to be able to make this new?...old?...original version available to you. What's more, BABES IN ARMS 1937 (as well as the familiar 1959 version) is the focus of our 1999-2000 Spotlight Promotion, offering a royalty-free opening night (minimum number of performances required, of course.)

For decades critics have worn themselves out singing the praises of this terrific musical. Here is the critical reaction to the original 1937 Broadway production...

New York Times-
"...full of good feeling, and a score that is altogether superb..."

New York Herald Tribune-
"...Mr. Hart proves that he is the slyest and most ingenious of lyric writers..."

New York Daily Mirror-
"...perfectly swell fun, clean, clever, tuneful and constantly amusing. Rodgers and Hart at their best..."
and to the 1998 Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music production..."

The Cincinnati Enquirer-
"The show is charming, the numbers sizzle, what more can you ask?"

Playbill On-Line-
"We're lucky to have a "new" version of BABES IN ARMS."

As recently as November, audiences were cheering for BABES IN ARMS 1937. At the New England Theatre Conference in Hartford, CT students from Joseph Case High School in Swansea, MA presented a 30-minute cutting from BABES IN ARMS 1937 as part of NETC's Publishers' Showcase (see Photo Gallery, page C.) Co-directors Thomas Marcello and Brian McCann had this to say: "[We were] pleased to introduce these young actors to so many show tune standards which have become the backbone of America's musical theatre tradition. BABES IN ARMS captures the excitement that actors feel every time they go on stage."

Such strong praise makes choosing BABES IN ARMS for your 1999-2000 season almost irresistible. Remember, you'll get a "Royalty-free Opening Night," 2 wonderful versions of a wonderful show to choose from, and a score full of all-time favorites that can't be beat! Give your cast, audiences and critics a chance to rave about this long-time classic. Present BABES IN ARMS...another offer this good may come along - but who knows where or when?