Evangeline (1874 musical)

[1] Rice funded the musical's original production at Niblo's Garden in New York City, premiering on July 27, 1874, which played for a limited run of 16 performances, followed by a successful tour.

Young comedians Henry E. Dixey and Richard Golden achieved their breakthroughs as the two halves of the dancing heifer, and Lillian Russell was in the chorus in 1880.

[2][5] The show continued to be revived and toured throughout the late 19th century, accumulating a total of more than 3,000 performances; the only musical that fared better during that period was The Black Crook.

She comes to harbor some deserting sailors, and she and her companions are arrested for this crime by Captain Dietrich of the British Army, who intends to send her to France by ship for imprisonment in the Bastille.

The ship carrying her, her companions and her beautiful, dancing heifer runs aground off the coast of a diamond-rich African country, ruled by savage King Boorioboola Gha.

A series of lovesick wanderings and episodes ensue, including a meeting with a monster whale and a balloon flight to Arizona's uncharted Indian territory.