Today In Theatre History: MAY 11

By Anne Bradley
May 11, 2008

1903 In The Runaways with a book by Addison Brukhardt and a score by Raymond Hubbell, the hero is transported to a tropical island and will be made a king. The catch? He must marry the queen. The show will run nearly 21 weeks at Broadway's Casino Theater.

1914 Actress Ruth Donnelly makes her Broadway debut in Owen Davis and Arthur Somers Roche's A Scrap of Paper at the Criterion Theater.

1920 American author, critic and playwright William Dean Howells dies today in New York City. In his criticism he championed the work of James A. Herne and Clyde Fitch. His plays include Yorick's Love, The Garroters and The Mouse Trap (not to be confused with Agatha Christie's play of the same name). He was 83 years old.

1938 Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart contribute music and lyrics for I Married an Angel at the Shubert Theater on Broadway. George Balanchine choreographs this story of a banker who looks for Ms. Right from above. Dennis King and Vera Zorina are featured for this 42-week run.

1994 A revival of the musical Grease!opens on Broadway at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre. Featured in director-choreographer Jeff Calhoun's cast are Megan Mullally and film star Rosie O' Donnell.

1999 Speaking of non-stage stars on Broadway, Gladys Knight joins the cast of the Leiber and Stoller revue, Smokey Joe's Cafe. The singer will end her stint in the stageshow May 22 but will return for another go at it Aug. 17-29.

2002 The original London production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's and T.S. Eliot's Cats closes after a record run of 21 years, on the anniversary of its opening night.

2005 Opening night for smash London musical Billy Elliot with a score by Elton John.

Today's Birthdays: George Grossmith 1874. Irving Berlin 1888. Martha Graham 1894. Phil Silvers 1911. Mort Sahl 1927. Boyd Gaines 1953. George Dvorsky 1959. Natasha Richardson 1963.