- Performances: 1,157.
- Open / Close: February 18, 1948 – January 6, 1951
- Theater: Alvin Theatre.
- Tony Awards: Nominated for 5 and won all of them, including Best Play. Henry Fonda won Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play, Leland Hayward won Best Producer, Joshua Logan won Best Director and Thomas Heggen and Joshua Logan shared the award for Best Author.
- Fun Fact: There was only one female role in the play, Lieutenant Ann Girard, and it was played on Broadway by Marlon Brando’s older sister, Jocelyn. The role was originally going to be played by Eva Marie Saint but she was fired because she was “too nice” for the role. Ironically, her movie premiere would be in “On the Waterfront” in 1954, playing opposite Marlon Brando!
Podcast
On the week of Veteran’s Day, my friend Jesse and I dig into “Mister Roberts,” a show about sailors during World War II and humble hero who was an example of (mostly) passive resistance to a petty tyrant. When we recorded this episode, I had no idea how appropriate it would be to air during this week. Don’t get me wrong – as a 1940s era comedy, it’s not a great show by any means. But still, in these times in particular, it does offer some intriguing ideas about what service and leadership look like.
Jesse and I have a good time comparing and contrasting the play and movie versions of “Mister Roberts” as well as the not-really-surprisingly despicable depiction of women (or really just “woman” in the play). And how in the hell did Jack Lemon get an Oscar for his work in the movie? So many mysteries to talk about when it comes to “Mister Roberts” – we hope you enjoy the ride!