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Virginia Commonwealth University

The Inspiration of Imogene Coca: A Biography and Original Musical

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

Imogene Coca was a pioneer of comedy for women on stage and television. Her career in performance spanned the twentieth century. In the 1950s she was known as America’s funnyfaced little imp and “Imogene Coca” was a household name. Today that name is getting lost amidst a sea of male clowns and her funny faces are nearly forgotten. Imogene’s contributions to theatre, television, and comedy are too important to forget. This thesis includes a biography of her work in vaudeville, Broadway, television, and film, and an original musical inspired by that body of work. Coca’s comedy is timeless and the next generation deserves an opportunity to know her.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Fine Arts
Level thesis:degree_level
Thesis
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Theatre
Year dc:date.available
2014

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Guida, Marisa
Contributors dc:contributor
  • Noreen Barnes

Subjects

dc:subject × 4

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • © The Author

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:scholarscompass.vcu.edu:etd-1601

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Commonwealth University
Base URL
scholarscompass.vcu.edu/do/oai/
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Guida, Marisa. The Inspiration of Imogene Coca: A Biography and Original Musical. Thesis thesis, 2014. https://doi.org/10.25772/5JP9-MK79