Dear Ruth

This article is about the Broadway play. For the film adaptation, see Dear Ruth (film).

Dear Ruth is a successful 1944 Broadway play written by Norman Krasna. It ran for 680 performances.

Dear Ruth
Written by	Norman Krasna
Date premiered	December 13, 1944
Place premiered	Henry Millers Theatre, Broadway
Original language	English
Genre	Comedy
Setting	The living-room of the Wilkins home, Kew Gardens, Long Island. Late Summer, 1944.

History

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.^{[citation needed]}