The show’s hit song, “I’m Just Wild About Harry”, was an instant success for decades forward. Though the show featured blackface performances, the audience widely accepted the cultural aspect of the show, feeding into the humor and purpose behind the plot and performances. Some even believe it was a significant launch for the Harlem Renaissance.
After the success of Shuffle Along, nine additional Broadway plays with African American casts were born, including “Blackbirds” starring Bill “Bojangles” Robinson.
The theater featuring Shuffle Along in 1921, Dalys 63rd Street Theater, was demolished in 1957. However, additional theaters featuring the work of black playwrights like the August Wilson Theater, have become a must-see on New York’s historic Broadway tour.
