Swingin' the Dream, the Lost Musical |
An excerpt from the Shakespeare in American Life documentary tells the story of the one-time promise of Swingin’ the Dream.
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Not every American musical inspired by Shakespeare has been a smash hit. Like most new musicals on any subject, many have closed their doors forever not long after opening night. But few of these lost musicals had as much apparent potential—or as much star power—as the failed show Swingin’ the Dream, which closed after thirteen performances in late 1939.
With performers such as Louis Armstrong, Butterfly McQueen, and the Dandridge Sisters and music by such composers as Count Basie and Benny Goodman, the show looked ready to make the characters from A Midsummer Night’s Dream jitterbug and happy audiences swing in their seats. Unfortunately, the reality was less successful.
© Lucien Aigner/CORBIS