A Yankee Circus on Mars is a musical in two scenes with music by Manuel Klein and Jean Schwartz, lyrics by Harry Williams, and a book by George V. Hobart.[1] It was one of four works presented together for the grand opening of Broadway's New York Hippodrome; the others being a collection of circus acts known as Circus Tournament, the ballet Dance of the Hours, and the war drama The Raiders by playwright Carroll Fleming.[2] [3] These four works were performed together for the Hippodrome's first public performance on April 12, 1905.[4] Produced by Frederic W. Thompson and Elmer S. Dundy, A Yankee Circus on Mars continued to play together with these other works at the Hippodrome for 296 performances; closing on December 9, 1905.[5] These works then toured the United States together; beginning a national tour in Chicago in February 1906.[6]
The cast of A Yankee Circus on Mars included Felix Haney as King Borealis, Benjamin F. Grinnell as the Messenger from Mars, and Albert Hart as Signor Thunderairo among others.[7]
The Yankee Circus is in financial trouble and may be forced to close. When King Borealis of Mars, a fan of earthly entertainments, discovers this, he sends a messenger from Mars to Earth with the offer to rescue the circus with the financial backing providing the circus will travel to the planet Mars to perform for the martians. A gigantic spaceship transports the Yankee Circus to Mars, and they perform for King Borealis and the martians.