Template:POTD/2026-03-30
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