Happy Birthday to the Father of the American Musical!

    Happy Birthday to the Father of the American Musical!

    Green-Wood Marks the 200th Birthday of William Wheatley,

    Famed Producer of the First American Musical

    December 3, 2016, 7:00 – 8:30 pm

    A birthday celebration for Green-Wood permanent resident William Wheatley (1816 – 1876) who produced The Black Crook, the first American musical. Think of it – the actors acted and sang, all in one show. Songs included the 19th-century mega-hit, “You Naughty, Naughty Men” performed by a singer in (gasp) flesh-colored tights. The New York Times reported “no similar exhibition has been made in an American stage that we remember.” What got audiences so excited? This is your chance to find out. Celebrate Wheatley’s 200th birthday with fun performances, birthday cake and a lot of good cheer. It’s a party not to be missed!

    The quirky Brooklyn-based band Coriander Suede and the Tombstones will revive a few of Wheatley’s greatest hits and also throw in some Green-Wood related songs, including a jingle for five-cent cigars, ballads from classic Broadway productions, and a few extra surprises. Be sure to save room for cake!

    Green-Wood – 25th Street at 5th Avenue, Brooklyn – Meet inside the Historic Chapel Take the “R” train to 25th Street in Brooklyn and walk up the hill one block and into the Cemetery. Free parking is available.

    The event is $35; $30 for members of the Green-Wood Historic Fund and members of the Brooklyn Historical Society.

    Reservations are recommended as seating is limited. If the event is not sold out, walk-ups will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis. To make an online reservation or to find out more information, visit www.green-wood.com/toursevents or call 718-210-3080.