A Yankee Circus on Mars is a musical in two scenes with music by Manuel Klein and Jean Schwartz, lyrics by Harry Williams, and a book by George V. Hobart.[1] It was one of four works presented together for the grand opening of Broadway's New York Hippodrome; the others being a collection of circus acts known as Circus Tournament, the ballet Dance of the Hours, and the war drama The Raiders by playwright Carroll Fleming.[2][3] These four works were performed together for the Hippodrome's first public performance on April 12, 1905.[4] Produced by Frederic W. Thompson and Elmer S. Dundy, A Yankee Circus on Mars continued to play together with these other works at the Hippodrome for 296 performances; closing on December 9, 1905.[5] These works then toured the United States together; beginning a national tour in Chicago in February 1906.[6]
The cast of A Yankee Circus on Mars included Felix Haney as King Borealis, Benjamin F. Grinnell as the Messenger from Mars, and Albert Hart as Signor Thunderairo among others.[7]
Plot
editThe Yankee Circus is in financial trouble and may be forced to close. When King Borealis of Mars, a fan of earthly entertainments, discovers this, he sends a messenger from Mars to Earth with the offer to rescue the circus with the financial backing providing the circus will travel to the planet Mars to perform for the martians. A gigantic spaceship transports the Yankee Circus to Mars, and they perform for King Borealis and the martians.
References
editCitations
edit- ^ Gänzl, p. 782
- ^ Bloom, 119-120
- ^ Dietz, p. 281-283
- ^ "The New Hippodrome Opens". New York Sun. April 13, 1905. p. 5.
- ^ Dietz, p. 281
- ^ "HIPPODROME CIRCUS SETS OFF FOR CHICAGO; Let's Hope the Elephants Won't Heel the Cars Over. BIG TRAIN FULL OF WONDERS 310 People, 8 Elephants, 18 Lions, and Ponies Innumerable Start to Astonish the West". The New York Times. February 19, 1906. p. 9.
- ^ Dietz, p. 282
Bibliography
edit- Bloom, Ken (2013). Routledge Guide to Broadway. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 9781135871161.
- Dietz, Dan (2022). "A Yankee Circus on Mars". The Complete Book of 1900s Broadway Musicals. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. ISBN 9781538168943.
- Gänzl, Kurt (1994). The Encyclopedia of the Musical Theatre, Volume 1. Schirmer Books.
External links
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