Abie's Irish Rose

by Anne Nichols

Now Playing at a Theatre Near You

An Irish Catholic girl and Jewish man marry despite the objections of their families.

Story:

Jewish Abe "Abie" Levy, brings home as his bride Rosemary Murphy, whom he met in France during the war. To appease his father, Abie introduces Rosemary as "Rosie Murphyski". Papa Levy is fooled until Rosie's father, Patrick Murphy, arrives. A comic war erupts. Abie and Rose, having been married by a Methodist minister, are married again by a rabbi to please Papa, and a third time by a Catholic priest to satisfy the Irish contingent. The subsequent birth of twins- a girl named Rebecca and a boy named Patrick- brings the warring factions to a peaceable cease fire.

Fun Fact

The play inspired the weekly NBC radio series, Abie's Irish Rose, which ran from January 24, 1942, through September 2, 1944.
Billboard

: Playwright
Anne Nichols

Broadway Premiere

Theatre: Fulton Theatre, Theatre Republic

Opening Night: May 23, 1922

Total Performances: 2,327

Original Cast: Jack G. Bertin, Harry Bradley, Anne Bronaugh, Marie Carroll, John Cope, Helen Corbin, Mathilde Cottrelly, Bernard Gorcey, Dorothy Grau, David Herblin, Ione Hull, Ida Kramer, Howard Lang, Andrew Mack, Nathalian Moorhead, Evelyn Nicholas, Dorothy Pitou, Milton Wallace, Alfred White, Robert B. Williams, Alfred Wiseman

Director: Laurence Marston

1937 Broadway Revival

Theatre: Little Theatre

Opening Night: May 12, 1937

Total Performances: 46

Original Cast: Barbara Beech, Jack G. Bertin, E. J. Blunkall, Richard Bond, Hope Chandler, Shannon Dean, Billy Fay, Bernard Gorcey, Ethel McKenzie, June Miley, Marian Shockley, Lorraine Teatom, Bertha Walden, Alfred H. White

Director: Anne Nichols

Scenic Design: Cirker & Robbins

1954 Broadway Revival

Theatre: Holiday Theatre

Opening Night: Nov 18, 1954

Total Performances: 46

Original Cast: Anna Appel, Roger De Koven, Ludwig Donath, Val Dufour, Neil Fitzgerald, Lou Gilbert, Jean Lamont, Marianne Marshall, Maggi McDonnell, Virginia McMahon, Marion Myser, Judith Paige, Woody Parker, Douglas Rutherford