Hailed as one of the finest musical comedies of its era, Babes in Arms introduced several songs into the American Songbook, including “My Funny Valentine,” “The Lady is a Tramp,” “Where or When,” “Johnny One-Note” and “I Wish I Were in Love Again.” The quintessential “let’s put on a show” musical was adapted into a hit MGM film starring Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney and is still performed regularly in adaptations by lauded playwrights John Guare and George Oppenheimer.

The original Broadway production opened at the Shubert Theatre on April 14, 1937, starring Ray Heatherton, Wynn Murray, Alfred Drake, Mitzi Green and the Nicholas Brothers. The show later transferred to the Majestic Theatre, playing a total of 289 performances.

In 1959, under the supervision of Richard Rodgers, George Oppenheimer revised the script for a production mounted at the Royal Poinciana Playhouse in Palm Beach, starring Julie Wilson. That revision became the officially licensed script presented through the decades. Boasting one of the best scores of Broadway’s Golden Age, Babes in Arms has seen success at such prestigious venues as the Goodspeed Opera House (featuring Andrea McArdle) in 1979, City Center in 1999, and at countless high schools, colleges and regional theatres across the country.