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The Oxford Companion to American Theatre A Dictionary of First Names Further reading

Roberta

The Oxford Companion to American Theatre | 2004 | | Copyright

Roberta (1933), a musical comedy by Otto Harbach (book, lyrics), Jerome Kern (music). [New Amsterdam Theatre, 295 perf.] When all‐American fullback John Kent ( Ray Middleton) inherits the exclusive Paris dress shop “Roberta” from his Aunt Minnie ( Fay Templeton), he and his pal Huckleberry Haines ( Bob Hope) go to Europe to take charge. John allows his aunt's young assistant Stephanie ( Tamara) to run the shop, and soon a romance blossoms between the two. The appearance of John's old flame, Sophie ( Helen Gray), nearly destroys the affair, but John recollects that Sophie deserted him before and could do it again. He settles for Stephanie, who turns out to be a Russian princess. Notable songs: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes; The Touch of Your Hand; Yesterdays; You're Devastating. Derived from Alice Duer Miller's novel, Gowns by Roberta, the musical exemplifies the ability a single hit song once had to turn a potential failure into a success. Critics lambasted the Max Gordon show, especially its dull book, but the raging popularity of “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” turned its fate around.

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Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "Roberta." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "Roberta." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O149-Roberta.html

Gerald Bordman and Thomas S. Hischak. "Roberta." The Oxford Companion to American Theatre. 2004. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O149-Roberta.html

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Roberta

A Dictionary of First Names | 2006 | | Copyright

Roberta ♀ Latinate feminine form of Robert.

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PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Roberta." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 1 Jun. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Roberta." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (June 1, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Roberta.html

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Roberta." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved June 01, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Roberta.html

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