Musicals & Plays
1949 Season

Although "Show Boat" (1927), "Oklahoma!" (1943), "Carousel" (1945), and "South Pacific" (1949) had forever changed the style of the Broadway show, the Music Circus' first season offered mostly an older style musical, the operetta. Only "Up in Central Park" (1945), about political corruption in New York, with music by Sigmund Romberg, lyrics by Dorothy Fields, and book by Herbert & Dorothy Fields hinted at the Music Circus the new direction the American Musical had taken. Even so, Sigmund Romberg was the prince of the operetta, having written music for over 5 successful ones, including "Desert Song." "Up in Central Park" was his last successful show.

Below is from the 1952 Season Souvenir Program.
By Gordon Allison.
Reprinted from Theatre Arts Magazine.
The opening night [July 2, 1949] had a sort of electric effect on the audience. Broadwayites who went to Lambertville to see it were immediately struck by the air of success the place had about it. It was a click. A natural

The second night was just as great. Then the bottom fell out. For three weeks there wasn't a corporal's guard in the place. But when people began to hear about it, business built steadily. The first year Terrell played to 55,000 theatregoers: and the third year to 160,000.

Information in the 1949 Season Souvenir Program indicates that the first season of the Music Circus had a resident company, that performed all the leading roles, supporting roles, and the singers and dancers. In later years, stars would be brought in for each show with the resident company comprised of singers and dancers who sometimes played supporting and minor roles.