Born Yesterday Tickets : The Golden Age Of Comedy Proves That Times Haven't Changed

Born Yesterday is a play written and first directed by Garson Kanin and adapted into a successful 1950 film of the same name. It was remade in 1993 with the same name.

Actress and comedian Judy Holliday originated the role of Billie Dawn on Broadway, as well as the George Cukor adaptation made by Columbia Pictures. The remake, directed by Luis Mandoki and released through Buena Vista Pictures, starred Melanie Griffith as the central character and updated the plot. A 1989 revival of the play starred Madeline Kahn.

Born Yesterday is one of America's original screwball comedies! Harry Brock is a business tycoon who goes to Washington trying to break into the "special interest" business with an ethically-challenged senator. He realizes that his fiancee, Billie Dawn, may need a makeover to fit his new inside-the-beltway image.

To ensure that Billie gets properly "culturefied," Brock hires a D.C. journalist to give the seemingly dim-witted blonde a crash course in politics, history, literature, and of course true love. The Golden Age of comedy proves that times haven't changed. Washington pay-for-play, All-American humor and true love weren't born yesterday, they are stronger than ever!

An uncouth, corrupt tycoon, Harry Brock, brings his showgirl mistress Billie Dawn with him to Washington, D.C. When Billie's ignorance becomes a liability to Brock's business dealings, he hires a journalist, Paul Verrall, to educate his girlfriend.

In the process of learning, Billie Dawn realizes how corrupt her boyfriend is and begins interfering with his plans to bribe a Congressman into passing legislation that would allow Brock's business to make more money.

The stage production of the play opened on February 4, 1946 at the Lyceum Theater, where it began the first of 1,642 performances. Directed by its writer, Garson Kanin, and starring Judy Holliday (Dawn), Paul Douglas (Brock), and Gary Merrill (Verrall), the play opened to rave reviews. After over two years at the Lyceum, the play moved to the larger Henry Miller's Theatre with the same cast, where it finished its run on Christmas Eve of 1950.

For his performance as Harry Brock, Paul Douglas was awarded the 1946 Clarence Derwent Award for the most promising male.The first Broadway revival began previews on January 18, 1989 at the 46th Street Theatre; opening night was January 29, 1989.

The play ran for 153 performances, closing on June 11, 1989. It was directed by Josephine R. Abady and starred Edward Asner and Madeline Kahn, who received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Play for her portrayal of Billie Dawn.

The second Broadway revival will be mounted in 2011. Previews begin at the Cort Theatre on March 31, 2011; opening night is scheduled for April 24, 2011.Directed by Tony Award winner Doug Hughes (Doubt), the play stars Emmy Award nominee Jim Belushi as Harry Brock; Nina Arianda will make her Broadway debut as Billie Dawn and Tony Award winner Robert Sean Leonard (Invention of Love) as Billie's teacher, Paul Verrall.

Over fifty years ago, Judy Holliday won the Best Actress Oscar in this comic fable, confounding her competition, Bette Davis in All About Eve and Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard. She plays Billie Dawn, the unruly mistress of millionaire junk dealer Harry Brock.

Afraid she'll embarrass him in front of the congressman he is planning to bribe, Harry hires a tweedy tutor (William Holden) to smooth her rough edges.Of course, everyone gets the education they deserve.

Comedy heroines can get away with plenty that dramatic heroines cannot. But, unlike the madcap heiresses of 1930s screwball comedy, the wacky behavior of the 1950s dumb blonde is linked to dimness, rather than a liberating eccentricity.

Holliday was a comedienne of shrewd intelligence and exuberant talent. Her not-so-dumb blondes enjoy a superior detachment from the world and were a model for the slightly later comic characters of Marilyn Monroe.