Sweet Mystery: The Musical Works of Rida Johnson Young [Hardcover]

Sweet Mysteryprovides a new look into early twentieth century American theatre through one of its most prolific playwrights. The story of Rida Johnson Young (ca. 1869-1926) is told here in full by author Ellen Peck, who uses original typescripts, correspondence, reviews, and other archival materials to contextualize her work and its influence on her time and ours.Rida Johnson Young (ca. 1869-1926) was one of the most prolific female playwrights of her time, as well as a lyricist and librettist in the musical theater. She wrote more than thirty full-length plays, operettas, and musical comedies, 500 songs, and four novels, includingNaughty Marietta, Lady Luxury, The Red Petticoat, andWhen Love is Young. Despite her extensive output, no significant study of her work has been produced. This book looks at her musical theater works with in-depth analyses of her librettos and lyrics, as well as her working relationships with other writers, performers, and producers, particularly Lee and J. J. Shubert. Using archival materials such as original typescripts, correspondence, and reviews, the book contextualizes her work in the early twentieth century professional theater and provides a window into the standard practices of writing and production of the era.List of IllustrationsList of BoxesAcknowledgmentsPreface1: The Women Who Wrote2: An Old Story in a New Dress: The Emerging Playwright3: Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life: Naughty Marietta4: The Old-Fashioned Things Must Go: Musical Comedies5: Just One of the Boys: Young as Co-Writer6: Will You Remember?: Operetta in Wartime7: Dream Girl: End of a CareerAppendix: List of Works by Rida Johnson YoungSelected BibliographyIndexEllen M. Peckis Associate Professor of Drama at Jacksonville State University, where she teaches theatre history, dramatic literature, stage management, and musical theatre history. She has worked as a freelance Stage Manager for several theatres and opera companies aroulƒ+