Stage Musical Chronology:
The 1940s
Compiled by John Kenrick
(Copyright 2000)
All dates are for Broadway openings unless otherwise noted.
KEY
Show Title (Genre/City), Opening Date, Theatre, Number of Performances
1940
- John Henry, 1/10/1940, 44th Street, 7
- Earl Carroll's Vanities (Revue - 10th Ed.), 1/13/1940, St James, 25
- Two for the Show (Revue), 2/11/1940, Booth, 124
- Reunion in New York (Revue), 2/21/1940, Little, 119
- Hither and Higher, 4/4/1940, Shubert, 84
- Keep Off the Grass, 5/23/1940, Broadhurst, 44
- Louisiana Purchase, 5/28/1940, Imperial, 444
- Walk with Music, 6/4/1940, Ethel Barrymore, 55
- Higher and Higher (Return), 8/5/1940, Shubert, 24
- Hold on to Your Hats, 9/11/1940, Shubert, 158
- Dancing Years, The (London-R), 9/16/1940, Adelphi, 969
- Gondoliers (R), 9/30/1940, 44th Street, 7
- Boys and Girls Together (Revue), 10/1/1940, Broadhurst, 191
- Mikado (R), 10/3/1940, 44th Street, 11
- Trial by Jury/The Pirates of Penzance (R), 10/7/1940, 44th Street, 6
- It Happens on Ice (Revue), 10/10/1940, Center, 180
- Cabin in the Sky, 10/25/1940, Martin Beck, 156
- Tis of Thee (Revue), 10/26/1940, Maxine Elliott's, 1
- Panama Hattie, 10/30/1940, 46th St, 501
- Mum's the Word (Revue), 12/5/1940, Belmont, 12
- Pal Joey, 12/25/1940, Ethel Barrymore, 270 (see 9/1/1941)
- Meet the People (Revue), 12/25/1940, Mansfield, 160
- All in Fun (Revue), 12/27/1940, Majestic, 3
1941
- Crazy with the Heat (Revue), 1/14/1941, 44th Street, 7
- Lady in the Dark, 1/23/1941, Alvin, 467
- Crazy with the Heat (Revue-Return), 1/30/1941, 44th Street, 92
- Green Pastures, The (R), 3/15/1941, Broadway, 44
- It Happens on Ice (Revue), 7/15/1941, Center, 386
- Lady Behave (London), 7/24/1941, His Majesty's, 401
- Pal Joey (Moved), 9/1/1941, Shubert, 104 (total)
- Best Foot Forward, 10/1/1941, Ethel Barrymore, 326
- Viva O'Brien, 10/9/1941, Majestic, 20
- Let's Face It, 10/29/1941, Imperial, 547
- High Kickers, 10/31/1941, Broadhurst, 171
- Get a Load of This (London), 11/19/1941, Hippodrome, 698
- Sons O' Fun (Revue), 12/1/1941, Winter Garden, 742
- Sunny River, 12/4/1941, St. James, 36
- Banjo Eyes, 12/25/1941, Hollywood, 126
1942
- Lady Comes Across, 1/9/1942, 44th Street, 3
- H.M.S. Pinafore/The Green Table, 1/21/1942, St James, 18
- Porgy and Bess (R), 1/22/1942, Majestic, 286
- Mikado/The Big City/A Ball in Old Vienna (R), 2/3/1942, St. James, 19
- Of V We Sing (Revue), 2/11/1942, Concert, 76
- Pirates of Penzance/The Prodigal Son (R), 2/17/1942, St James, 11
- Iolanthe (R), 2/23/1942, St. James, 5
- Trial by Jury (R), 2/28/1942, St. James, 7
- Gondoliers (R), 3/3/1942, St. James, 3
- Priorities of 1942 (Revue), 3/12/1942, 46th Street, 353
- Dancing Years, The (London - R), 3/14/1942, 969
- Full Swing (London), 4/16/1942, Palace, 468
- Keep 'Em Laughing (Revue), 4/24/1942, 44th Street, 77
- Harlem Cavalcade (Revue), 5/1/1942, Ritz, 49
- Top-Notchers (Revue), 5/29/1942, 44th Street, 48
- By Jupiter, 6/3/1942, Shubert, 427
- Laugh, Town, Laugh! (Revue), 6/22/1942, Alvin, 65
- Chocolate Soldier (R), 6/23/1942, Carnegie Hall, 24
- Star and Garter (Revue), 6/24/1942, Music Box, 605
- Stars on Ice (Revue), 7/2/1942, Center, 827
- This Is the Army (Revue), 7/4/1942, Broadway, 113
- Merry Widow (R), 7/15/1942, Carnegie Hall, 39
- New Moon (R), 8/18/1942, Carnegie Hall, 24
- New Priorities of 1943 (Revue), 9/15/1942, 46th St., 54
- Show Time (Revue), 9/16/1942, Broadhurst, 342
- Let Freedom Sing (Revue), 10/5/1942, Longacre, 8
- Count Me In, 10/8/1942, Ethel Barrymore, 61
- Oy Is Due a Lebeni, 10/12/1942, Molly Picon, 139
- Beat the Band, 10/14/1942, 46th St, 67
- Time Place and the Girl, 10/21/1942, Mansfield, 13
- DuBarry Was a Lady (London), 10/22/1942, His Majesty's, 178
- Rosalinda, 10/28/1942, 44th Street, 521
- Once Over Lightly, 11/19/1942, Alvin, 6
- Let's Face It! (London), 11/19/1942, Hippodrome, 348
- New Faces of 1943 (Revue), 12/22/1942, Ritz, 94
1943
- Something for the Boys, 1/7/1943, Alvin, 422
- For Your Pleasure (Revue), 2/5/1943, Mansfield, 11
- Old Chelsea (London), 2/17/1943, Prince's, 95
- Lady in the Dark (Return), 2/27/1943, Broadway, 113
- Merry Widow, The (London-R), 3/4/1943, His Majesty's, 302
- Chauve-Souris 1943 (Revue), 3/12/1943, Royale, 12
- La-Di-Da-Di-Da (London), 3/30/1943, Victoria Palace, 318
- Oklahoma!, 3/31/1943, St. James, 2212
- Ziegfeld Follies (Revue), 4/1/1943, Winter Garden, 553
- Student Prince (R), 6/8/1943, Broadway, 153
- Early to Bed, 6/17/1943, Broadhurst, 380
- Lisbon Story, The (London), 6/17/1943, Hippodrome, 492
- Vagabond King (R), 6/29/1943, Shubert, 55
- Merry Widow (R), 8/4/1943, Majestic, 321
- Blossom Time (R), 9/4/1943, Ambassador, 47
- Laugh Time (Revue), 9/8/1943, Shubert, 126
- Porgy and Bess (R), 9/13/1943, 44th Street, 24
- Heaven on Earth, 9/16/1943, New Century, 12
- Bright Lights of 1944 (Revue), 9/16/1943, Forrest, 4
- Hairpin Harmony, 10/1/1943, National, 3
- One Touch of Venus, 10/7/1943, Imperial, 567
- Love Racket, The (London), 10/21/1943, Victoria Palace, 324
- Panama Hattie (London), 11/4/1943, Piccadilly, 308
- Artists and Models (Revue), 11/5/1943, Broadway, 27
- Arc De Triomphe (London), 11/9/1943), Phoenix, 6 months
- What's Up, 11/11/1943, National, 63
- Connecticut Yankee, A (R), 11/17/1943, Martin Beck, 135
- Carmen Jones, 12/2/1943, Broadway, 502
1944
- Jackpot, 1/13/1944, Alvin, 67
- Mexican Hayride, 1/28/1944, Winter Garden, 479
- Porgy and Bess (R), 2/7/1944, New York City Center, 16
- Mikado (R), 2/11/1944, Ambassador, 6
- Trial by Jury/HMS Pinafore (R), 2/14/1944, Ambassador, 7
- Pirates of Penzance/Cox and Box (R), 2/17/1944, Ambassador, 8
- Gondoliers (R), 2/21/1944, Ambassador, 4
- Iolanthe (R), 2/22/1944, Ambassador, 6
- Patience (R), 2/25/1944, Ambassador, 4
- Porgy and Bess (R), 2/28/1944, New York City Center, 48
- Ruddigore (R), 3/2/1944, Ambassador, 3
- Yeomen of the Guard (R), 3/3/1944, Ambassador, 1
- Follow the Girls, 4/8/1944, Century, 882
- Meet Me Victoria (London), 4/8/1944, Victoria Palace, 251
- Allah Be Praised, 4/20/1944, Adelphi, 20
- Helen Goes to Troy, 4/24/1944, Alvin, 96
- Dream with Music, 5/13/1944, Majestic, 28
- Maid as Mistress/The Secret of Suzanne, 5/14/1944, Alvin, 2
- New Moon (R), 5/17/1944, New York City Center, 45
- Take a Bow (Revue), 6/15/1944, Broadhurst, 12
- Hats Off To Ice (Ice Revue), 6/22/1944, Center, 889
- Wild Rose (London - aka Sally), 8/6/1942, Prince's, 205
- Song of Norway, 8/21/1944, Imperial, 860
- Star Time (Revue), 9/12/1944, Majestic, 120
- Bloomer Girl, 10/5/1944, Shubert, 654
- Merry Widow (R), 10/7/1944, New York City Center, 32
- Robin Hood (R), 11/7/1944, Adelphi, 15
- Sadie Thompson, 11/16/1944, Alvin, 60
- Rhapsody, 11/22/1944, Century, 13
- Seven Lively Arts (Revue), 12/7/1944, Ziegfeld, 182
- Spook Scandals (Revue), 12/8/1944, President, 2
- Laffing Room Only (Revue), 12/23/1944, Winter Garden, 232
- Sing Out Sweet Land (Revue), 12/27/1944, International, 102
- On the Town, 12/28/1944, Adelphi, 462
1945
- Lady Says Yes, A, 1/10/1945, Broadhurst, 117
- Up in Central Park, 1/27/1945, Century, 504
- Firebrand or Florence, 3/22/1945, Alvin, 43
- Carousel, 4/19/1945, Majestic, 890
- Perchance to Dream (London), 4/21/1945, Hippodrome, 1022
- Carmen Jones (R), 5/2/1945, New York City Center, 21
- Blue Holiday (Revue), 5/21/1945, Belasco, 5
- Memphis Bound!, 5/24/1945, Broadway, 36
- Hollywood Pinafore, 5/31/1945, Alvin, 52
- Concert Varieties (Revue), 6/1/1945, Ziegfeld, 36
- Sweet Yesterday (London), 6/21/1945, Adelphi, 196
- Marinka, 7/18/1945, Winter Garden, 165
- Mr. Strauss Goes to Boston, 9/6/1945, Century, 12
- Merrie England (London-R), 9/6/1945, Prince's, 365
- Carib Song, 9/27/1945, Adelphi, 36
- Polonaise, 10/6/1945, Alvin, 113
- Red Mill, The (R), 10/16/1945, Ziegfeld, 531
- Follow the Girls (London), 10/25/1945, His Majesty's, 572
- Girl from Nantucket, The, 11/8/1945, Adelphi, 12
- Are You With It?, 11/10/1945, Century, 266
- Day Before Spring, The, 11/22/1945, National, 165
- Under The Counter (London), 11/22/1945, Phoenix, 665
- Billion Dollar Baby, 12/21/1945, Alvin, 220
- La Belle De Cadix (Paris), 12/24/1945, Casino Montparnasse, 2 seasons
1946
- Show Boat (R), 1/5/1946, Ziegfeld, 418
- Desert Song (R), 1/8/1946, New York City Center, 45
- Nellie Bly, 1/21/1946, Adelphi, 16
- Lute Song, 2/6/1946, Plymouth, 142
- Duchess Misbehaves, The, 2/13/1946, Adelphi, 5
- Three To Make Ready (Revue), 3/7/1946, Adelphi, 327
- St. Louis Woman, 3/30/1946, Martin Beck, 113
- Carmen Jones (R), 4/7/1946, New York City Center, 32
- Call Me Mister, 4/18/1946, National, 734
- Pirates of Penzance (R), 5/12/1946, New York City Center, 4
- Annie Get Your Gun, 5/16/1946, Imperial, 1147
- Around the World in Eighty Days, 5/31/1946, Adelphi, 75
- Icetime (Revue), 6/20/1946, Center, 405
- Tidbits of 1946, 7/8/1946, Plymouth, 8
- Sweetheart Mine (London), 8/1/1946, Victoria Palace, 323
- Yours Is My Heart, 9/5/1946, Shubert, 36
- Gypsy Lady, 9/17/1946, Century, 79
- Naughty Naught '00, 10/19/1946, Old Knickerbocker Music Hall, 21
- Park Avenue, 11/4/1946, Shubert, 72
- If the Shoe Fits, 12/5/1946, Century, 21
- Pacific 1860 (London), 12/19/1946, Theatre Royal, 129
- Toplitzky of Notre Dame, 12/26/1946, Century, 60
- Beggar's Holiday, 12/26/1946, Broadway, 111
1947
- Bloomer Girl (R), 1/6/1947, New York City Center, 48
- Street Scene, 1/9/1947, Adelphi, 148
- Finian's Rainbow, 1/10/1947, 46th St, 725
- Sweethearts (R), 1/21/1947, Shubert, 288
- Maurice Chevalier (Concert), 3/10/1947, Henry Miller's, 46
- Chocolate Soldier (R), 3/12/1947, Century, 69
- Brigadoon, 3/13/1947, Ziegfeld, 581
- Great Campaign, 3/30/1947, Princess, 5
- Barefoot Boy With Cheek, 4/3/1947, Martin Beck, 108
- Our Lan', 4/18/1947, Henry Street Playhouse, 12
- Bless The Bride (London), 4/26/1947, Adelphi, 886
- Oklahoma! (London), 4/29/1947, Drury Lane, 1548
- Telephone, The/The Medium, 5/1/1947, Ethel Barrymore, 212
- Up in Central Park (R), 5/19/1947, New York City Center, 16
- Icetime of 1948 (Revue), 5/28/1947, Center, 422
- Louisiana Lady, 6/2/1947, Century, 4
- Our Lan' (Moved), 9/27/1947, Royale, 41
- Music in My Heart, 10/2/1947, Adelphi, 124
- Under the Counter, 10/3/1947, Shubert Theatre, 27
- High Button Shoes, 10/9/1947, Century, 727
- Allegro, 10/10/1947, Majestic, 315
- Finian's Rainbow (London), 10/21/1947, Palace, 55
- Andalouise (Paris), 10/25/1947, Gaite-Lyric, 12 months
- Edith Piaf (Concert), 10/30/1947, Playhouse, 49
- Caribbean Carnival (Revue), 12/5/1947, International, 11
- Angel in the Wings (Revue), 12/11/1947, Coronet, 308
- Cradle Will Rock (R), 12/26/1947, Mansfield, 21 (see 1/28/1948)
- D'Oyly Carte Opera Company (Repertory), 12/29/1947, Century, 136
1948
- Make Mine Manhattan (Revue), 1/15/1948, Broadhurst, 429
- Cradle Will Rock (R-Moved), 1/28/1948, Broadway, 13
- Look, Ma, I'm Dancin'!, 1/29/1948, Adelphi, 188
- Tonight at 8:30 (One Acts-R), 2/20/1948, National, 26
- Maurice Chevalier (Concert), 2/29/1948, John Golden, 33
- Billie Holiday on Broadway (Concert), 4/27/1948, Mansfield, 6
- Inside U.S.A. (Revue), 4/30/1948, Century, 339
- Hold It!, 5/5/1948, National, 46
- Bob's Your Uncle (London), 5/5/1948, Saville, 363
- Sally (R), 5/6/1948, Martin Beck, 36
- Ballet Ballads, 5/9/1948, Maxine Elliott's, 69
- Sleepy Hollow, 6/3/1948, St. James, 12
- Cage Me a Peacock (London), 6/18/1948, Strand, 337
- Howdy, Mrs. Ice! (Revue), 6/24/1948, Center, 406
- Show Boat (R), 9/7/1948, New York City Center, 15
- Hilarities (Revue), 9/9/1948, Adelphi, 18
- Small Wonder (Revue), 9/15/1948, Coronet, 134
- Magdalena, 9/20/1948, Ziegfeld, 188
- Love Life, 10/7/1948, 46th St., 252
- Where's Charley?, 10/11/1948, St. James, 792
- Lute Song (London), 10/11/1948, Winter Garden, 24
- My Romance, 10/19/1948, Shubert, 95
- As the Girls Go, 11/13/1948, Winter Garden, 414
- Telephone, The/The Medium (R), 12/7/1948, NY City Center, 40
- Lend an Ear (Revue), 12/16/1948, National, 460
- High Button Shoes (London), 12/22/1948, Hippodrome, 291
- Kiss Me, Kate, 12/30/1948, New Century, 1077*
1949
- Along Fifth Avenue (Revue), 1/13/1949, Broadhurst, 180
- All for Love (Revue), 1/22/1949, Mark Hellinger, 121
- Carousel (R), 1/25/1949, New York City Center, 48
- South Pacific, 4/7/1949, Majestic, 1,925*
- Brigadoon (London), 4/14/1949, His Majesty's, 685
- Howdy Mr. Ice of 1950 (Revue), 5/26/1949, Center, 430
- Cabalgata (Revue), 7/7/1949, Broadway, 76
- Miss Liberty, 7/15/1949, Imperial, 308
- Ken Murray's Blackouts of 1949 (Revue), 9/6/1949, Ziegfeld, 51
- King's Rhapsody (London), 9/15/1949, Palace, 839
- Chartock's Gilbert & Sullivan Repertory Company, 10/4/1949, Mark Hellinger, 23
- Touch and Go (Revue), 10/13/1949, Broadhurst, 176
- Lost in the Stars, 10/30/1949, Music Box, 281
- Regina, 10/31/1949, 46th Street, 56
- Texas, Lil' Darlin', 11/25/1949, Mark Hellinger, 293
- Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, 12/8/1949, Ziegfeld, 740
Go to: 1950s
| (R) | Revival |
| (Return) | A production that closes or tours, then reopens |
| (London) | London production |
| (City) | Other non-US production |
| * | Tony Award winner for Best Musical - The Theatre Wing's Antoinette Perry Awards were first given in 1947, but the category for Best Musical was not created until the 1948-49 season. Because the Tony committee has varied the season cutoff date over the years, it is not uncommon for shows that opened in the same year to qualify as part of different seasons. That is why some years have two winners listed while others list none at all. |