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Overview

Synopsis

With the backing of the National Campaign Committee, John P. Wintergreen runs for President on a platform based in love. The committee sponsors a beauty pageant in Atlantic City and Wintergreen promises to marry the winner! However, before “Miss White House” can be crowned, Wintergreen scuppers the committee’s plans by falling in love with pageant secretary Mary Turner who woos him and the committee with her delectable corn muffins. After wooing Mary throughout each of the 48 states, Wintergreen wins the election in a landslide victory. However, his presidency is almost thwarted by Diana Devereaux, the bitter and vengeful winner of the beauty pageant. With France on her side (claiming Diana to be the illegitimate daughter of an illegitimate son of an illegitimate nephew of Napoleon), the committee now pressure Wintergreen to leave Mary and marry Diana. But with the arrival of twins in the White House, Mary saves the day by giving birth to the perfect, newborn distraction from the political onslaught.

Of Thee I Sing was the first musical to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1934 and seems as relevant as ever in today’s political climate.

Show Information

Book
Morrie Ryskind , George S. Kaufman
Music
George Gershwin
Lyrics
Ira Gershwin
Category
Musical
Age Guidance
Youth (Y)/General Audiences (G)
Number of Acts
2
First Produced
1931
Genres
Comedy, Satire
Settings
Period, Multiple Settings
Time & Place
Washington D.C., Atlantic City, 1930s
Cast Size
medium
Orchestra Size
Medium
Dancing
Musical Staging
Licensor
See CONTEXT AND/OR LINKS TAB
Ideal For
College/University, Community Theatre, High School, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Late Teen Characters, Medium Cast

Context

Plot


Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

John P. Wintergreen

Lead

Male

Tenor

Mary Turner

Lead

Female

Soprano

The French Ambassador

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Diana Devereaux

Supporting

Female

Soprano

Matthew Arnold Fulton

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Senator Robert E. Lyons

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Louis Lippman

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Francis X. Gilhooley

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Alexander Throttlebottom

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Sam Jenkins

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Miss Benson

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Senator Carver Jones

Featured

Male

Baritone

Photographers, Policemen, Supreme Court Justices, Secretaries, Sightseers, Newspapermen, Senators, Flunkeys, Guests

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Songs

Act One

  • Wintergreen for President* – Ensemble
  • Who is the Lucky Girl to Be? – Diana Devereaux and Ensemble
  • The Dimple on My Knee – Diana, Sam Jenkins and Ensemble
  • Because, Because – Diana, Sam and Ensemble
  • As the Chairman of the Committee – Matthew Arnold Fulton and Company
  • How Beautiful – Company
  • Never Was There a Girl So Fair – Company
  • Some Girls Can Bake a Pie – John P. Wintergreen, Mary Turner and Company
  • Love is Sweeping the Country – Sam, Emily Benson and Ensemble
  • Of Thee I Sing – Wintergreen, Mary and Company
  • Here's a Kiss for Cinderella – Wintergreen and Ensemble
  • I Was the Most Beautiful Blossom – Diana
  • Some Girls Can Bake a Pie (Reprise) – Wintergreen, Diana, Judges and Ensemble

Act Two

  • Hello, Good Morning – Sam, Emily and Secretaries
  • Who Cares? – Wintergreen, Mary and Reporters
  • Garçon, S'il Vous Plaît** – French Soldiers
  • The Illegitimate Daughter – The French Ambassador and Ensemble
  • We'll Impeach Him – Senator Robert E. Lyons, Francis X. Gilhooley and Ensemble
  • Who Cares? (Reprise) – Wintergreen and Mary
  • The (Senatorial) Roll Call – Alexander Throttlebottom and Ensemble
  • Jilted – Diana and Company
  • Who Could Ask for Anything More? – Mary and Company
  • Posterity – Wintergreen and Company
  • Trumpeter, Blow Your Horn – Ensemble
  • Finale – Company

A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.

Monologues

All monologues are the property and copyright of their owners.. Monologues are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this monologue, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Scenes

All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners. Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.

Key Terms

    An award for an achievement in American journalism, literature, or music

    A form of comedy that presents ridiculous extremes in order to make a point about society or human nature.

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Guide Written By:

Alexandra Appleton

Alexandra Appleton

Writer, editor and theatre researcher