First produced in 1951, the musical is based on Smith's autobiographical novel A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (1943), but when Shirley Booth was cast as Aunt Cissy (spelled Sissy in the book), a secondary character in the novel, the prominence of this role was expanded and tailored to Booth's comedic talents, diminishing the relative importance of other characters, in particular young Francie, through whose eyes the plot of the novel unfolds.

After two previews, the Broadway production, directed by Abbott and choreographed by Herbert Ross, opened on April 19, 1951, at the Alvin Theatre, where it ran for 267 performances.

[1] Booth's performance proved to be both an asset and detriment to the production, since it was an audience pleaser but detracted from what should have been the story's primary focus, the struggles faced by Johnny and Katie as their marriage slowly crumbles.

"[3] Goodspeed Opera House mounted a revised production relegating Aunt Cissy to a supporting role in 2003.

staged concert production at New York City Center in 2005 starred Emily Skinner as Cissy, Jason Danieley as Johnny and Sally Murphy as Katie.

Meanwhile, Cissy, Katie's sister, hopes to marry Oscar, who would be her tenth husband, all of who she calls Harry after her first who left when he had to go back to his other wife.

Cissy pretends she is pregnant and has Johnny and Katie smuggle in an adopted baby while she sends Oscar away repeatedly to fetch food (Love is the Reason).

Cissy is excited to meet her first husband after his other wife has died, and narrates his qualities to Francie (He Had Refinement).