The Royal Family

A play by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber, The Royal Family lampooned the famous Barrymore acting clan. A hit, the show ran for 345 performances, the prolific and successful Kaufman's longest running (and hence most successful) show to that time.

Related Topics:
George S. Kaufman - Edna Ferber - Barrymore

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The most severely ridiculed Barrymores were John and Ethel. The character Tony Cavendish, a heavy-drinking womanizer, represents John Barrymore. Julie Cavendish is the primadonna Broadway star Ethel Barrymore.

Related Topics:
Character - Womanizer - John Barrymore - Broadway - Ethel Barrymore

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The Royal Family was made into a motion picture feature, The Royal Family of Broadway, released in 1930 by Paramount Pictures.

Related Topics:
Motion picture - The Royal Family of Broadway - 1930 - Paramount Pictures

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In England, Noel Coward directed the West End version of the play in 1934, a cast which included Laurence Olivier as Tony.

Related Topics:
England - Noel Coward - West End - 1934 - Laurence Olivier

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Before moving to Broadway, the play had successful out-of-town try-outs in Newark and Atlantic City.

Related Topics:
Newark - Atlantic City

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The Royal Family opened one day after the revolutionary musical Show Boat, based on Ferber's novel of the same title.

Related Topics:
Musical - Show Boat - Novel - Title

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The Royal Family is also the name of a 1991-1992 sitcom starring Redd Foxx and Della Reese. It was supposed to be a comeback vehicle for Foxx (best known for Sanford and Son), but he died of a heart attack on the set on October 11, 1991, and the series did not get renewed for a second season.

Related Topics:
1991 - 1992 - Sitcom - Redd Foxx - Della Reese - Sanford and Son - Heart attack - October 11

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