The Firebrand of Florence: History and Key Facts

The Firebrand of Florence is a Broadway operetta in two acts, written by Kurt Weill (music), Ira Gershwin (lyrics), and Edwin Justus Mayer and Gershwin (book), based on Mayer's play. The show opened at the Alvin Theatre (now the Neil Simon) on March 22, 1945, and closed on April 28 that year after 43 performances. The original production was directed by John Murray Anderson, choreographed by Catherine Littlefield, and conducted by Maurice Abravanel; it featured Lotte Lenya as Duchess.

In 2017, Kim H. Kowalke and John Baxindine conceived a suite of dances from The Firebrand of Florence named Much Ado about Love (the original title of the show) which was performed at the Brevard Music Center, conducted by Keith Lockhart.

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