Call Me Madam (Musical)

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Call Me Madam is a musical by Irving Berlin . The book for the musical is by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse . It premiered on October 12, 1950 at the Imperial Theater in New York .
The piece was produced by Leland Hayward , directed by George Abbott , and choreographed by Jerome Robbins ; Ethel Merman played the role of Sally Adams .
It opened in London's West End on March 15, 1952 at the Coliseum Theater .

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Post-war period : The United States has just launched a rebuilding program for a devastated Europe - the Marshall Plan . Part of the plan is to provide loans to European economies. But not all states want, can or are allowed to participate in this program.

These are a type A Yankee in King Arthur's court credit history in a Lehár - / - Kálmán - operetta -Kulisse. Sally Adams is a millionaire's widow (in her prime) and hostess of soirées , which are attended by all of Washington’s political celebrities. It is thanks to this fact that she becomes the US ambassador to the small European duchy of Lichtenburg (“where the hell is that?”). The question now is whether the country should accept a US loan or not. Foreign minister and future prime minister Cosmo Constantine, the man she has her eye on, rejects this. Until Lichtenburg gets his credit, Sally gets her Cosmo and Sally's young, good-looking adjutant gets his Princess Maria, thanks to Sally there are some upsets at court and the first free elections for 20 years.

Well-known music numbers

  • The Hostess With the Mostes' on the Ball
  • It's a Lovely Day Today
  • You're just in love

filming

The musical was made into a film by Walter Lang in 1953, also under the title Call Me Madam . The German film title is Madame Makes History (s) .

Others

  • The plot was inspired by the American society lady and political host Perle Mesta , who was appointed ambassador to Luxembourg by President Harry S. Truman in 1949. This also gave the title: When asked which form of address she preferred, she is said to have answered: “ Call me Madam Minister ”. This was then shortened to " Call Me Madam ".
  • The musical was tailored to the great Broadway musical star Ethel Merman , who also starred in the film adaptation of the same name in 1953.

Awards

Tony Award 1951
  • Best Actress in a Musical (Ethel Merman)
  • Best Supporting Actor in a Musical (Russell Nype)
  • Best Original Music (Irving Berlin)
Tony Award 1952
  • Best stage technology (Pete Feller)
Theater World Award 1951
  • Russel Nype

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