Adonis (musical)


Adonis is an 1884 burlesque musical produced by Edward E. Rice who also composed the music along with John Eller. The book was written by William Gill.
After playing at Hooley's Opera House in Chicago in the summer of 1884, it debuted at the Bijou Theatre in New York on September 4, 1884. It there had a run of 603 consecutive performances, making it the longest-running show on Broadway during that period, and the longest Broadway run of all time until 1893. After the show successfully ran for 500 shows, a cocktail was created in its honor. It was co-written and directed by Henry E. Dixey who also starred as the titular Adonis. The Adonis cocktail was named in honor of the musical's 500th showing.
Adonis tells the story of a gorgeous male statue that comes to life and finds human ways so unpleasant that he chooses to turn back into stone – after spoofing several famous personalities.
The company traveled to London after the play closed in New York.

Character list and descriptions