Call Me Madam

Call Me Madam is a musical by Irving Berlin. The book of the musical is by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The premiere took place on October 12, 1950 at the Imperial Theatre in New York. The piece was produced by Leland Hayward, directed by George Abbott and choreographed by Jerome Robbins; the role of Sally Adams played Ethel Merman. The opening in the West End was on 15 March 1952 at the Coliseum Theatre.

Content

Post-war period: the United States have just a reconstruction program for the destroyed Europe launched - the Marshall Plan. Part of the plan is to supply the European economies with loans. But not all countries want to be able or allowed to participate in this program.

This is a kind of A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's court history in a Lehár-/-Kálmán-Operetten-Kulisse. Sally Adams is millionaire's widow ( in his prime ) and organizer ( hostess) of soirees, where present him the entire Washington political celebrities. This circumstance she owes it that she (? " Where the hell is this " ) is U.S. Ambassador to the small European duchy of Lichtenburg. There is now a matter of whether the country should adopt a U.S. loan or not. Just Foreign Minister and Prime Minister -in-law Cosmo Constantine, the man on whom she has a crush, rejects this. Until now Lichtenburg his credit, Sally her Cosmo and Sally's young, handsome adjutant gets his princess Mary, there is thanks to Sally some upsets at court and the first free elections in 20 years.

Well-known musical numbers

• The Hostess With the musts ' on the ball
• It's a Lovely Day Today
• You're Just in Love

Filming

The musical was in 1953, a film also titled Call Me Madam by Walter Lang. The German film title is Madame makes history ( n ).

Others

• The plot was inspired by the American socialite and political hostess Perle Mesta, 1949 appointed President Harry S. Truman as Ambassador to Luxembourg. This also had a decisive title: On the question of which form of address they prefer, they said to have replied: "Call me Madam Minister ". This was then shortened to "Call Me Madam".

• The musical was adapted to the big Broadway musical star Ethel Merman, who in 1953 took over the lead role in the film adaptation of the same name.

Awards

• Best Leading Actress in a Musical ( Ethel Merman )
• Best Supporting Actor in a Musical ( Russell Nype )
• Best Original Score ( Irving Berlin)

• Best Stage Technology ( Pete Feller )

• Russel Nype