Dear Ruth#Play
{{Short description|1944 Broadway play by Norman Krasna}}
{{About|the Broadway play|the film adaptation|Dear Ruth (film)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox play
| name = Dear Ruth
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| writer = Norman Krasna
| characters =
| setting = The living-room of the Wilkins home, Kew Gardens, Long Island. Late Summer, 1944.
| premiere = December 13, 1944
| place = Henry Millers Theatre, Broadway
| orig_lang = English
| subject =
| genre = Comedy
}}
Dear Ruth is a successful 1944 Broadway play written by Norman Krasna. It ran for 680 performances.
History
Krasna wrote a serious play, The Man with Blond Hair, which received a tepid response. He said that Moss Hart suggested he write a commercial comedy instead along the lines of Junior Miss. Krasna based the family in the play on that of Groucho Marx, who was a good friend and occasional collaborator.McGilligan, Patrick, "Norman Krasna: The Woolworth's Touch", Backstory: Interviews with Screenwriters of Hollywood's Golden Age, University of California Press, 1986. pp. 218, 226{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hHcFrwffiXIC&q=krasna&pg=PP97| title=Columbia vs Krasna|website=Supreme Court Appellate Division-First Department| last1=Davis| first1=George Kidder}}
The play was named in honor of Krasna's first wife, Ruth.{{cite news |title=Norman Krasna's Wife Is Awarded Divorce |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=April 28, 1950}}
The original production of the play was directed by Moss Hart and starred John Dall. It was a big success, running for 680 performances.[http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/13545/Dear-Ruth Dear Ruth] at Playbill
Film rights were sold for a reported $450,000 with the proviso that a movie not be made until the play finished a two-year run.{{cite news |title=Screen News: 'Dear Ruth' Is Bought For Reported $450,000 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 8, 1945}}{{cite news |title=Biggest Film Firm: Paramount's Puzzler: Will Attendance Slide Be Brief or Prolonged? Takes Precautions: Markets Borderline Movies, Keeps Best in 9-Month Backlog Televised Newsreels Tried Paramount Pictures' Puzzler: Will Drop In Attendance Be Brief Or Prolonged? Company Is Taking Precautions Markets Borderline Movies, Keeps Best in 9-Months Backlog; Pre-Tests Films |author=Joseph W. Taylor |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=July 21, 1947}} The film, also titled Dear Ruth, premiered on June 10, 1947.
Dear Ruth was also published as an Armed Services Edition, distributed to American servicemen during World War II.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IBDB title}}
- [https://archive.org/details/variety156-1944-11/page/n249 Review of Broadway production] at Variety
{{Norman Krasna}}
Category:Plays by Norman Krasna