Park Avenue
(1946)
Book by George S. Kaufman and Nunnally Johnson
Music by Arthur Schwartz
Lyrics by Ira Gershwin
An unusual and sophisticated show, written by some of the finest talents of the musical theater, with material far ahead of its time. Park Avenue is a small-scale farce involving the dangers of apparent serial monogamy among New York’s upper classes.
Manuscript only; contact: laurence.maslon@nyu.edu
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The Plot
Set in the Hamptons, Park Avenue involves a series of mistaken identities and misbegotten marriages and love affairs. A brittle musical comedy that was overlooked in the middle of the post-war return to homespun values, the show nevertheless deserves another viewing, especially with such witty songs as “Don’t Be a Woman if You Can,” by Schwartz and Gershwin.
About The Play
An unusual and sophisticated show, written by some of the finest talents of the musical theater, with material far ahead of its time. Park Avenue is a small-scale farce involving the dangers of apparent serial monogamy among New York’s upper classes.
Other Plays in the Catalogue
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.
George Washington Slept Here opened at the Lyceum Theater on October 18, 1940. It ran 173 performances, but has never had a Broadway revival.
Kaufman had always been a Gilbert and Sullivan fan and when a fellow card-player once murmured a bit of doggerel to a bit of HMS Pinafore—"He nodded his head and never said no,/And now he's the head of the studio"—Kaufman was inspired. He used the tunes of Sir Arthur Sullivan and, for the first time in his career, wrote the lyrics as well as the libretto to a new musical.
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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 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
