First Lady
(1935)
By Katharine Dayton and George S. Kaufman
Cast size: 14 men, 11 women (doubling possible); 2 interiors
First Lady opened November 26, 1935 at the Music Box Theatre and ran 246 performances. It was filmed by Warner Bros in 1937. Aside from a 1996 revival at the Yale Repertory Theatre, it has not had a recent first-class production.
For performance rights, contact: Dramatists
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The Plot
Set among the elegant townhouses of Georgetown, this political comedy focuses on the intrigues that go on among the elite “power” hostesses of Washington DC and their ambitions. A feud has existed for years between the manipulative Irene Hibbard and her rival, Lucy Chase Wayne, one of the capital’s most elegant and quick-witted hostesses and wife of a Cabinet official. When both women try to put forward the men in their lives as a possible presidential candidate, the feud becomes all-out war. Irene wants to back a handsome bachelor Senator (and divorce her husband after the election), while Lucy hopes to become First Lady by supporting her own husband; complicated negotiations and false rumors erupt into an all-out scandal that consumes the social life of Washington and changes the fate of the nation.
About the Play
For this play, Kaufman entered into his first and only collaboration with Katharine Dayton, a Washington columnist. Ever since the early teens, when Kaufman served as a reporter in Washington, the nation’s political shenanigans had always fascinated him. This drawing-room comedy tinged with political satire was a decent-sized hit when it opened, and was subsequently filmed with Kay Francis as the clever Lucy Chase Wayne. Time has proven that “behind closed doors” intrigues of Washington are more pertinent than ever, and this play—which provides two fantastic roles for leading character actresses—is worth a revival.
Stage history
First Lady opened November 26, 1935 at the Music Box Theatre and ran 246 performances. It was filmed by Warner Bros in 1937. Aside from a 1996 revival at the Yale Repertory Theatre, it has not had a recent first-class production.
Other Plays in the Catalogue
The original 1922 production of Merton ran for 398 performances, at a time when half that number of performances could make a hit. It has been rarely revived, although a production at Minneapolis' Guthrie Theater in 1974 starred Michael Moriarty and a successful version was performed in Los Angeles' Geffen Theater in 1998, directed by John Rando.
First Lady opened November 26, 1935 at the Music Box Theatre and ran 246 performances. It was filmed by Warner Bros in 1937. Aside from a 1996 revival at the Yale Repertory Theatre, it has not had a recent first-class production.
The Butter and Egg Man opened on September 23, 1925 at the Longacre Theatre. It ran for 243 performances. There have been several film versions and revivals at regional theaters. It was revived in 2000 at the Atlantic Theatre Company, directed by David Pittu and featuring Michael McGrath and John Ellison Conlee.
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Contact Us Today
Interested in bringing George S. Kaufman’s timeless plays to your stage?
Please refer to the contact information for each specific play on the various collection pages for direct amateur and professional licensing information.
Plays are represented by Concord Theatricals, Broadway Dramatic Licensing, and Music Theatre International respectively
If you are interested in first-class performance or film/television rights:
In the US, George S. Kaufman’s plays are represented by:
CPK Artists, LLC
In the UK, George S. Kaufman’s plays are represented by:
Alan Brodie Representation
For more information about George S. Kaufman or this website, contact:
Laurence Maslon
Literary Trustee, George S. Kaufman Estate
