Little Johnny Jones — George M. Cohan

Hailed as the first American musical Little Johnny Jones changed musical theatre history. George M. Cohan, displeased that Broadway musicals at the time were European based, set out to write a truly American musical. Using the story of an American jockey, Cohan legitimized the use of American narratives for the musical theatre. While not a darling of the critics, the musical was a tremendous crowd pleaser and give Cohan his first break out hits with Give My Regards to Broadway and The Yankee Doodle Boy. Theatre Arts Press is proud to publish the first printed libretto of this classic American musical.