description The Last Night of Ballyhoo Overview
Alfred Uhry's play *The Last Night of Ballyhoo* is a dramatic comedy set in Atlanta, Georgia, in December 1939. It explores themes of assimilation, anti-Semitism, and cultural identity within the German-Jewish community, specifically during the week of the premiere of the film *Gone with the Wind*. The narrative centers around the Freitag family as they prepare for Ballyhoo, a lavish social event held at an exclusive Jewish country club. The play premiered on Broadway in 1997 and won the Tony Award for Best Play.
help The Last Night of Ballyhoo FAQ
Where and when is The Last Night of Ballyhoo set?
Alfred Uhry's play is set in Atlanta, Georgia, in December 1939. The Freitag family prepares for Ballyhoo, an elite social ball, while the premiere of Gone with the Wind and news from Europe shape the background. [Concord Theatricals](https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/14588/the-last-night-of-ballyhoo)
Why does Gone with the Wind matter in The Last Night of Ballyhoo?
The play takes place during the Atlanta premiere of Gone with the Wind, which gives its characters a local cultural event to discuss. That excitement contrasts with the family's arguments about German-Jewish identity, assimilation, and anti-Semitism. [IBDB production record](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-last-night-of-ballyhoo-4736)
When did The Last Night of Ballyhoo reach Broadway?
The play premiered in Atlanta in 1996 as part of the Olympic Arts Festival and opened on Broadway at the Helen Hayes Theatre on February 27, 1997. Its Broadway production won the 1997 Tony Award for Best Play. [IBDB production record](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-last-night-of-ballyhoo-4736)
How large is a typical cast for The Last Night of Ballyhoo?
The licensed play is written for four women and three men, with a running time of more than two hours. Its central family group includes Lala Levy, Sunny Freitag, Boo Levy, Adolph Freitag, Reba Freitag, and Joe Farkas. [Concord Theatricals](https://www.concordtheatricals.com/p/14588/the-last-night-of-ballyhoo)
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