During the tryout, three principal players — Kay Thompson, Hannah Williams, and Roy Roberts — were fired. They were replaced by, respectively, Vivian Vance, June Clyde, and Jack Whiting. A couple of days before the Broadway opening, which was on December 1, 1937, Whiting took ill, missing not only the single preview and opening night, but almost two weeks of performances. He did not return to the cast till December 13. He was replaced during this time by Roy Roberts, who must have been a good sport.