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 novel had already been adapted into a straight theatrical stage play by Bontemps and poet Countee Cullen in the early 1930s.

Although Arlen and Mercer created what some consider to be their best score, the musical suffered from many misfortunes during production.

The correct balance for a musical comedy was never achieved, and a book that could have become an opera was treated neither humorously nor dramatically.

Lena Horne agreed with this assessment and refused to star in the show saying she had no intention of portraying "a flashy lady of easy virtue".

When the show eventually opened there were several protests by African Americans outside the theatre, which negatively affected sales.

Little Augie, a jockey who is on a winning streak, is enamoured of Della Green, the belle of St Louis.

Brown believing he has been shot by Augie swears a curse on him although it was, in fact, Lila who fired the gun.