A TRUSTED THEATRE RESOURCE SINCE 1884
Broadway Shows
News
Jobs
Build-Your-Own Playbill
Win Free Tickets
Playbill Store
DiscoverNYC
Site Navigation
Broadway Shows
News
Jobs
Build-Your-Own Playbill
Win Free Tickets
Playbill Store
DiscoverNYC
What’s Playing on Broadway and Beyond
Broadway Shows
Off-Broadway Shows
Broadway Weekly Schedule
Broadway Rush, Lotto, SRO Policies
Upcoming Broadway Shows
Playbill Ticket Discounts
Playbill's Ultimate Guide to Broadway Ticket Buying
Playbill Editorial
News — Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Beyond
Special Features
Photo Galleries
Videos - My Life in the Theatre, Getting Ready, More
Seth Rudetsky’s Column
Classic Arts
Industry Resources
Jobs
Broadway Grosses
Playbill Vault - Shows, Actors, and More
Current and Future Broadway Theatre Bookings
Upcoming Cast Recordings
More from Playbill
Build-Your-Own Playbill
Playbill Emails
Playbill Store
Playbill Travel & Cruises
Playbill Podcast
DiscoverNYC
Games
Advertise with Us
Broadway Shows
News
Jobs
Build-Your-Own Playbill
Win Free Tickets
Playbill Store
DiscoverNYC
0 Related Articles
Lin-Manuel Miranda Named Recipient of Julie Andrews Lifetime Achievement Award
Video: See a Clip From
Suffs
, to Air on PBS'
Great Performances
Mexodus
,
Prince Faggot
Lead 2026 Lucille Lortel Nominations; Read the Full List Here
Photos: Julie Halston, Stephanie Pope, Jay Armstrong Johnson Attend Opening of
Gotta Dance
After
Chess
, Lea Michele Wants to Do
Cabaret
and Fantine in
Les Miz
0 New
Search
What a Life
Broadway
Original
close gallery
What a Life Playbill - April 1938
What a Life Playbill - Feb 1939
More Playbill Covers
What a Life
Broadway
Original
Biltmore Theatre
261 W. 47th St., New York, NY
SYNOPSIS:
playwright:
Clifford Goldsmith
People (32)
Joyce Arling
Miss Wheeler
(Original)
Ralph Bell
Student
(Original)
Eddie Bracken
Bill
(Original)
Jack Byrne
Mr. Ferguson
(Original)
James Corner
George Bigelow
(Original)
Betty Field
Barbara Pearson
(Original)
Blaine Fillmore
Student
(Original)
Vaughan Glaser
Mr. Bradley
(Original)
Teresa Keane
Student
(Original)
Marguerite Lodge
Student
(Original)
Kay Loring
Miss Johnson
(Original)
Ruth Matteson
Miss Shea
(Original)
Butterfly McQueen
Mary
(Original)
William Mendrek
Mr. Patterson
(Original)
Mitzi Miller
Student
(Original)
Daniel Ocko
Mr. Vecchitto
(Original)
Lea Penman
Mrs. Aldrich
(Original)
Arthur Pierson
Mr. Nelson
(Original)
Elena Salvatore
Gertie
(Original)
Ezra Stone
Henry Aldrich
(Original)
Maidel Turner
Miss Eggleston
(Original)
Isla Vaile
Student
(Original)
Edith Van Cleve
Miss Pike
(Original)
Inge Hardison
Performer
(Replacement)
Sarah Burton
Miss Wheeler
(Replacement)
Irving Morrow
Mr. Nelson
(Replacement)
View All Current Cast
Joyce Arling
Miss Wheeler
(Original)
Ralph Bell
Student
(Original)
Eddie Bracken
Bill
(Original)
Jack Byrne
Mr. Ferguson
(Original)
James Corner
George Bigelow
(Original)
Betty Field
Barbara Pearson
(Original)
Blaine Fillmore
Student
(Original)
Vaughan Glaser
Mr. Bradley
(Original)
Teresa Keane
Student
(Original)
Marguerite Lodge
Student
(Original)
Kay Loring
Miss Johnson
(Original)
Ruth Matteson
Miss Shea
(Original)
Butterfly McQueen
Mary
(Original)
William Mendrek
Mr. Patterson
(Original)
Mitzi Miller
Student
(Original)
Daniel Ocko
Mr. Vecchitto
(Original)
Lea Penman
Mrs. Aldrich
(Original)
Arthur Pierson
Mr. Nelson
(Original)
Elena Salvatore
Gertie
(Original)
Ezra Stone
Henry Aldrich
(Original)
Maidel Turner
Miss Eggleston
(Original)
Isla Vaile
Student
(Original)
Edith Van Cleve
Miss Pike
(Original)
View All Cast
Clifford Goldsmith
Writer
George Abbott
Director
Producer
Cirker & Robbins
Scenic Design
George W. Smith
Stage Manager
Carl Fisher
Business Manager
Barclay McCarty
Press Representative
View All Production Team
Pro Info
Opening Date
Apr
13
1938
Closing Date
Jul
8
1939
Performances
538
as of Apr 01, 2026
Inside The Playbill
close gallery
Zoom In
Zoom Out
Reset
What A Life - Opening Night
What A Life - Opening Night
What A Life - Opening Night
What A Life - Opening Night
What A Life - Opening Night
Find Theatre Souvenirs Here
The Playbill Store
Click to Shop Now