Sweet Mystery

Rida Johnson Young (ca. 1869-1926) was one of the most prolific female playwrights of her time as well as a lyricist and librettist in the musical theater. She wrote more than thirty full-length plays operettas and musical comedies 500 songs and four novels including <em>Naughty Marietta </em> <em>Lady Luxury The Red Petticoat</em> and <em>When Love is Young</em> . Despite her extensive output no significant study of her work has been produced. This book looks at her musical theater works with in-depth analyses of her librettos and lyrics as well as her working relationships with other writers performers and producers particularly Lee and J. J. Shubert. Using archival materials such as original typescripts correspondence and reviews the book contextualizes her work in the early twentieth century professional theater and provides a window into the standard practices of writing and production of the era.<br>