Kate Smith, the Original American Idol
Kathryn, better known as Kate Smith, was not lonely even though she spent all of her life as a single woman. She accepted her fate with the same realism and resolve that she did everything else in her life, including her career.
While this Original American Idol of the 1930's, 40's, and 50's captured the hearts of millions of fans on radio and television; she never captured the one heart that would have saved her from a life of unrequited love.
Success is a double-edged sword, a successful career requires sacrifices in one's personal life.
Kate Smith loved her partner Ted Collins as much as she loved her country. "But does one have to sacrifice their personal life to have a great success professionally?"
In this musical drama, we will show the relationship between Kate Smith and Ted Collins, as a relationship that triumphs professionally, but not personally, the way Kate Smith would have have liked it to be.
Kate Smith is a woman torn by her strong moral values and was emotionally crippled by the deep love she had for Ted Collins and could not express it publicly because he was a married man. We see and feel her emotions through her songs that she sings.
When I mention the name Kate Smith, "the first thing people ask me is, "do you think Kate Smith was involved romantically with Ted Collins?" "I wondered why that was always the first question on everyone's mind."
No one knows for sure, but I know that Kate Smith couldn't possibly sing the way she sang, without having experienced great love, pain and compassion for Ted Collins, as well as for her country and humanity.
Kate Smith is one of the greatest singers of all time. She had the most successful radio shows during the 30's and 40's. Kate Smith was not only the first woman pioneer in radio and television, but she strongly advocated women's rights. Her "God Bless America" transcends generations that have always kept her in the public eye, but she has had many great successes throughout her career.
Book by:
Karen King, James Merrill & Vincent Scarza
Musical Arrangements by:
Angelo Di Pippo
Introducing
Karen King as Kate Smith
Music by 'The Greatest American Songwriters'
