Animal Crackers 1928

Opened: October 23, 1928

Animal Crackers - 1928 - Broadway History , Info & More

44th Street Theatre
216 W. 44th St. New York, NY

In Animal Crackers, chaos ensues at the estate of Mrs. Rittenhouse when a celebrated sculpture is stolen during a party honoring the African explorer Captain Spaulding. A series of madcap Marx Brothers antics follows as the guests set out to find the burglar.

Get Animal Crackers Email Alerts

Be the first to get ticket offers, news, photos & more.

HOME AGAIN: THE MARX BROTHERS AND NEW YORK CITY to Stream on Groucho's 130th Birthday
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 14, 2020


Every fall, the State University of New York at Fredonia pays homage to the town's near-namesake, Freedonia-the mythical kingdom at the center of the Marx Brothers' 1933 classic Duck Soup. Since 1987, the Freedonia Marxonia festival has become a tradition for Marx Brothers fans.

BWW Exclusive: The 101 Greatest MOVIE MUSICALS of All Time
by Peter Nason - Mar 30, 2020


BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the best film musicals since the sound era began; see if your favorites made the list!

The Town Hall Presents Broadway By The Year: Broadway Musicals Of 1928 And 1935 On 2/25
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 22, 2019


The Town Hall presents Broadway By The Year©: Broadway Musicals of 1928 and 1935 on Monday, February 25 at 8pm. Created, written, hosted and directed by Scott Siegel for The Town Hall, the evening marks the beginning of Broadway By The Year©'s 19th season at The Town Hall (123 W. 43rd Street).  

Leigh Barrett to Lead SOUVENIR at the Lyric Stage; Cast, Creatives Set!
by BWW News Desk - Oct 20, 2017


Spiro Veloudos remounts one of his favorite productions in celebration of his 20 years as Producing Artistic Director.

Leigh Barrett to Lead SOUVENIR at the Lyric Stage; Cast, Creatives Set!
by BWW News Desk - Sep 18, 2017


Spiro Veloudos remounts one of his favorite productions in celebration of his 20 years as Producing Artistic Director.

Jessie Mueller and Jarrod Spector Set for Pasadena Pops' Salute to John Williams Tonight
by BWW News Desk - Sep 9, 2017


Michael Feinstein and the Pasadena POPS close out their popular outdoor summer concert series at the Los Angeles County Arboretum tonight, September 9, with Universal Studios Favorites!

Jessie Mueller and Jarrod Spector Set for Pasadena Pops' Salute to John Williams
by BWW News Desk - Aug 24, 2017


Michael Feinstein and the Pasadena POPS close out their popular outdoor summer concert series at the Los Angeles County Arboretum on Saturday, September 9 with Universal Studios Favorites!

BWW Review: ANIMAL CRACKERS at Mad Cow Theatre
by Clarissa Moon - Jun 17, 2017


Mad Cow Theatre continues its twentieth season with ANIMAL CRACKERS, a musical adapted from the Marx Brothers' film of the same name. The plot centers around a party honoring Captain Jeffrey T. Spaulding, which is attended by larger-than-life guests, originally played by the Marx Brothers. Mad Cow is known for producing lesser-known shows. ANIMAL CRACKERS  was originally produced on Broadway in 1928, before the Golden Age of musicals. It has a vaudeville feel--broad comedy, from puns to prop comedy to outrageous physical humor.

Photo Flash: Mad Cow Theatre presents The Marx Brothers Musical Comedy ANIMAL CRACKERS
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 7, 2017


Mad Cow Theatre is delighted to announce the cast and creative team for Animal Crackers, the rollicking Marx Brothers musical comedy opening June 2, 2017 as the seventh production of Mad Cow Theatre's Season 20.

Cygnet Theatre Launches Season 15 with ANIMAL CRACKERS
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 6, 2017


Cygnet Theatre will launch its 15th season with the musical comedy Animal Crackers, the hallmark of the Marx Brothers lunacy, based on the 1928 Broadway hit with book by Broadway masters George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind.  The success of the play was followed by the film version (1930), which launched the brothers into film stardom, never again appearing on Broadway. The Marx Brothers are commonly thought to be among the greatest and most influential comedians of the 20th century.

Cast, Creative Team Announced for ANIMAL CRACKERS at Mad Cow Theatre
by BWW News Desk - May 15, 2017


Mad Cow Theatre has announced the cast and creative team for Animal Crackers, the rollicking Marx Brothers musical comedy opening June 2, 2017 as the seventh production of Mad Cow Theatre's Season 20.

Liza Minnelli, Alan Cumming, Jessie Mueller and More to Join Michael Feinstein and the Pasadena POPS This Summer
by BWW News Desk - Mar 1, 2017


Principal Conductor Michael Feinstein leads the Pasadena POPS for its star-studded 2017 Summer Concert Series at the Los Angeles Arboretum with extraordinary multiple award winning guests artists Liza Minnelli, Alan Cumming, Joel Gray, Hair Spray Live's Madelyn Baillio, Beautiful's Jessie Mueller and Jarrod Spector, Grey Garden's Rachel York, Phantom of the Opera's Jordan Donica, the Midtown Men and Michael Feinstein in concert.

Hunter Foster Will Return to Bucks County Playhouse to Direct NATIONAL PASTIME & COMPANY; Full Season Announced!
by Nicole Rosky - Feb 9, 2015


Three musicals and two plays - along with the return of the 2nd OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN FESTIVAL for lyricists - will comprise the historic BUCKS COUNTY PLAYHOUSE's 76th anniversary season in New Hope, Pa. starting in April, it has been announced by the Playhouse's producing team of Tony Award-winning producers, Alexander Fraser, Robyn Goodman, Stephen Kocis and Josh Fiedler.

STAGE TUBE: Meet the Cast of Denver Center Theatre's ANIMAL CRACKERS
by Diana Heisroth - May 7, 2014


This month marks the 100th Anniversary of the Marx Brothers debut in Vaudeville - which coincides with The Denver Center Theatre Company's hit revival of Animal Crackers, running now through May 11th! The Marx Brothers starred in the original Broadway production of Animal Crackers when it opened in 1928. The five Marx Brothers - Chico, Harpo, Groucho, Gummo, and Zeppo - are known for their talents in the world of vaudeville. Scroll down to meet the cast!

STAGE TUBE: Denver Center Theatre Company Celebrates Marx Brothers with ANIMAL CRACKERS
by Hilary Kelly - Apr 23, 2014


Next month marks the 100th Anniversary of the Marx Brothers debut in Vaudeville - which coincides with The Denver Center Theatre Company's hit revival of ANIMAL CRACKERS, running through May 11th! The Marx Brothers starred in the original Broadway production of ANIMAL CRACKERS when it opened in 1928. The five Marx Brothers - Chico, Harpo, Groucho, Gummo, and Zeppo - are known for their talents in the world of vaudeville.

ANIMAL CRACKERS Plays The Stage Theatre, Now thru 5/11
by BWW News Desk - Apr 4, 2014


ANIMAL CRACKERS, with Book by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, Music & Lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby, and Adapted by Henry Wishcamper with Original Orchestrations by Doug Peck, will run today, April 4 - May 11 in The Stage Theatre. Press night is Thursday, April 10 at 6:30pm.

ANIMAL CRACKERS to Play The Stage Theatre, 4/4-5/11
by BWW News Desk - Mar 21, 2014


ANIMAL CRACKERS, with Book by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, Music & Lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby, and Adapted by Henry Wishcamper with Original Orchestrations by Doug Peck, will run April 4 - May 11 in The Stage Theatre. Press night is Thursday, April 10 at 6:30pm.

BWW Reviews: ANIMAL CRACKERS at Center Stage - Groucho is Full of Gusto
by Charles Shubow - Sep 23, 2013


The histrionics of the amazing Marx Brothers are brought back to life with Bruce Randolph Nelson playing Groucho.

BWW Reviews: Center Stage's ANIMAL CRACKERS Is Right on the Marx
by Daniel Collins - Sep 16, 2013


It's 'Hooray for Captain Spaulding, The African Explorer!' and hooray for the entire cast of ANIMAL CRACKERS who pay (and play) fitting homage to the Brothers Marx in this comedy music production at Baltimore's Center Stage.

Kaufman and Hart's ONCE IN A LIFETIME Opens At A.C.T.
by BWW News Desk - Sep 22, 2011


The American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) 2011-12 season opens with a new revival of the dazzling George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart 1930 comedy Once in a Lifetime, which has been called 'a delicious Hollywood send up' (The New York Times) and 'a tinseltown satire [with] bite' (Newsday).

Kaufman and Hart's ONCE IN A LIFETIME Opens At A.C.T.
by Gabrielle Sierra - Aug 29, 2011


The American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) 2011-12 season opens with a new revival of the dazzling George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart 1930 comedy Once in a Lifetime, which has been called 'a delicious Hollywood send up' (The New York Times) and 'a tinseltown satire [with] bite' (Newsday).

Kaufman and Hart's ONCE IN A LIFETIME Opens At A.C.T.
by Gabrielle Sierra - Aug 1, 2011


The American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) 2011-12 season opens with a new revival of the dazzling George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart 1930 comedy Once in a Lifetime, which has been called 'a delicious Hollywood send up' (The New York Times) and 'a tinseltown satire [with] bite' (Newsday).

Groucho and Harpo Give 'Animal Crackers' Its Bite
by Nancy Grossman - May 18, 2011


Marx Brothers 1928 Broadway musical can still make 'em laugh, but is at its best when Minnie's boys are upstaging everyone else.

Goodman Theatre Extends ANIMAL CRACKERS Through 11/1
by BWW News Desk - Nov 1, 2009


Goodman Theatre proudly extends Animal Crackers through November 1, 2009. Director Henry Wishcamper's production of this rarely staged Marx Brothers classic musical has been hailed 'pure pleasure' (Time Out Chicago) in which 'not a minute goes by when the audience isn't being awed by the spectacle (and) astonished by the breakneck comic mayhem.' (Daily Herald).

Slotnick, Yazbeck, Davi & More Star In Goodman Theatre's ANIMAL CRACKERS, Plays 9/18-10/25
by BWW News Desk - Oct 25, 2009


Goodman Theatre launches its new 2009/2010 Season with tap dancing, acrobatics, tumbling, guitar- and ukulele-playing in an original take on the rarely-produced Marx Brothers classic musical Animal Crackers, written by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, with music and lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby

Animal Crackers FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What productions of Animal Crackers have there been?
Animal Crackers has had 5 productions including Broadway which opened in 1928, Broadway which opened in 1928, Regional (US) which opened in 1982, Milburn, NJ (Regional) which opened in 1993 and West End which opened in 1999.

Videos