- Performances: 1,404.
- Open / Close: September 22, 1938 – December 17, 1941
- Theater: The Winter Garden Theatre.
- Tony Awards: Predates the Tonys and wouldn’t have won any if it was in the running!
- Fun Fact: Though the brainchild of comedians John “Ole” Olsen and Harold “Chic” Johnson, many more famous performers would ultimately be associated with the show. Jackie Gleason, Soupy Sales and Jerry Lewis all appeared in productions throughout its various iterations.
Podcast
Think “Blazing Saddles” but on Broadway and with 1930s era sensibilities. That’s what “Hellzapoppin'” was and, honestly, for the times it was pretty cutting-edge stuff. Weird running gags, satirical songs lampooning contemporary issues, risqué and ribald jokes, and even fourth-wall breaking hilarity. Sure, it was silly but it was smart silly, not stupid silly. At least most of the time.
While it was impossible to find an extant expert who could give me the low-down on this crazy show, I found something much better. The young actor August Hundley starred as Louise in a stage play set in the 1930s, “Dear Jack, Dear Louise,” before he transitioned. His character was an actress who auditions for, and ultimately lands, a role in the “Hellzapoppin’.” While it didn’t make him an expert, it made him much more familiar with the show than any other human in my theater circle and perhaps on the planet.
“Dear Jack, Dear Louise” was August’s last role as a female-presenting character and the show stands as a landmark for him in his journey of self-discovery. It’s a somewhat mind-bending conversation, zigzagging between talking about his heartfelt personal journey and the bonkers nature of “Hellzapoppin'” but that’s part of what makes it fun.