Philly Saw It First

A list of seminal shows that opened in Philadelphia theaters.

In the days of pre-Broadway tours, Philly was one of the big three cities (along with Boston and New Haven) that got plays and musicals in their tryout period. Here are some shows that opened in a Philadelphia theater — before they hit the Great White Way:

• 'A Streetcar Named Desire' (with the legendary original cast: Marlon Brando, Jessica Tandy)
• 'A Raisin in the Sun' (Sidney Poitier)
• 'Mister Roberts' (Henry Fonda)
• 'Gigi' (the non-musical version starring Audrey Hepburn, who would make her Broadway debut in the role)
• 'Member of the Wedding' (Julie Harris, Ethel Waters)
• 'Diary of Anne Frank' (Susan Strasberg, daughter of the famous Lee)
• 'The Rainmaker' (Geraldine Page)
• 'Bus Stop' (Kim Stanley, Elaine Stritch)

• By Cole Porter: 'Kiss Me, Kate', 'Out of this World', 'Can Can', 'Silk Stockings
• By Frank Loesser: 'Guys and Dolls', 'Most Happy Fella', 'Greenwillow', 'How to Succeed in Business
• By George and Ira Gershwin: 'Funny Face', 'Oh! Kay', 'Girl Crazy', 'Strike Up the Band
• By Irving Berlin: 'Annie, Get Your Gun
• By Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim: 'Gypsy

• An important house for Rodgers and Hart, including 'Pal Joey', which introduced Gene Kelly as a leading performer and paved the way for "dark" musicals like 'Cabaret 'and 'Chicago'; also the revised 'A Connecticut Yankee', the team's last project together
• Irving Berlin's 'As Thousands Cheer', a revolutionary revue with songs that included "Supper Time" and "Heat Wave," both introduced by Ethel Waters; also 'Miss Liberty
• Sondheim's 'Anyone Can Whistle', which would become a famous Broadway failure (12 previews, nine performances, then out) — but a cult favorite. 'Whistle 'was Angela Lansbury's first Broadway musical.