| Dear Ruth | |
| Setting: | The living-room of the Wilkins home, Kew Gardens, Long Island. Late Summer, 1944. |
| Premiere: | December 13, 1944 |
| Place: | Henry Millers Theatre, Broadway |
| Orig Lang: | English |
| Genre: | Comedy |
Dear Ruth is a successful 1944 Broadway play written by Norman Krasna. It ran for 680 performances.
Krasna wrote a serious play, The Man with Blond Hair, which received a tepid response. He said that Moss Hart suggested he write a commercial comedy instead along the lines of Junior Miss. Krasna based the family in the play on that of Groucho Marx, who was a good friend and occasional collaborator.[1] [2]
The play was named in honor of Krasna's first wife, Ruth.[3]
The original production of the play was directed by Moss Hart and starred John Dall. It was a big success, running for 680 performances.[4]
Film rights were sold for a reported $450,000 with the proviso that a movie not be made until the play finished a two-year run.[5] [6] The film, also titled Dear Ruth, premiered on June 10, 1947.
Dear Ruth was also published as an Armed Services Edition, distributed to American servicemen during World War II.