St. Louis Woman is a 1946 American
musical by Arna Bontemps and Countee Cullen, with music by
Harold Arlen and lyrics by
Johnny Mercer. It is based on the novel
God Sends Sunday by African-American writer
Arna Bontemps. The musical opened at the
Martin Beck Theatre in New York on March
30, 1946, and ran for 113 performances. The original cast included Robert Pope (Badfoot),
Harold Nicholas (Little Augie),
Fayard Nicholas (Barney), June Hawkins (Lilli),
Pearl Bailey (Butterfly), Ruby Hill (Della Green),
Rex Ingram (Biglow Brown), and Milton J. Williams (Mississippi). The production's scenic designer and costume designer was
Lemuel Ayers. This photographic portrait, taken in 1946 by
Carl Van Vechten, shows Pearl Bailey posing in costume as Butterfly in
St. Louis Woman.
Photograph credit: Carl Van Vechten; restored by Adam Cuerden
