La Belle Paree is a 1911 American musical comedy revue that premiered on Broadway. The production is notable for being one of the early Broadway successes of entertainer Al Jolson and for featuring early work by composer Jerome Kern. Set in a stylized version of Paris, the revue combined comedic sketches, dance numbers, and popular songs of the era.
Production history
- Premiere: 1911, Winter Garden Theatre, New York City.
- Genre: Musical comedy revue.
- Setting: A fictionalized Parisian milieu.
- Key performers: Al Jolson (principal performer), with supporting cast members typical of early 20th‑century Broadway revues.
- Creative contributors: Music contributed by Jerome Kern among other composers; lyrics and book were created by a team of writers associated with Broadway revues of the period.
Significance
- The show is frequently cited as a milestone in Al Jolson’s career, marking his transition from vaudeville and touring acts to a prominent Broadway presence.
- It represents an early example of Jerome Kern’s work on the New York stage, preceding his later fame for composing full‑length musical scores.
Legacy
- While the original production ran for a limited engagement, its impact is reflected in historical accounts of early Broadway revues and the development of American musical theatre during the 1910s.
- The title “La Belle Paree” (a phonetic spelling of the French phrase “la belle Paris”) has occasionally been used in later cultural references to evoke a nostalgic, romanticized vision of Paris in early American entertainment.
References
- Contemporary newspaper reviews and Broadway playbills from 1911 documenting the opening at the Winter Garden Theatre.
- Biographical works on Al Jolson and Jerome Kern that reference their involvement with the production.
No further verifiable information regarding subsequent revivals, recordings, or adaptations of La Belle Paree is currently available.
