By Coral Gables Gazette staff
Coral Gables Art Cinema will screen the 1950 musical comedy Tea for Two on Tuesday, September 16, at 7:30 p.m., as part of its ongoing Musicals for Members series. The program highlights classic American musicals presented in restored digital formats and is offered as a free benefit to Gables Cinema members. Starring Doris Day and Gordon MacRae, Tea for Two blends backstage farce, romantic mix-ups, and jazz-age charm, all packed into a tight 98-minute running time.
The screening is made possible through the Harry & Mary Perrin Fund and the Slesnick Family Fund of the Coral Gables Community Foundation, and is proudly hosted by former Coral Gables Mayor Don Slesnick, a longtime arts advocate and champion of the local cultural scene.
Member-focused programming with deep roots
Musicals for Members is an exclusive Coral Gables Art Cinema initiative that offers free admission to select repertory musicals for current members. Tickets must be reserved in person at the box office, and seating is available on a first-come basis. The series showcases enduring examples of the American musical film tradition, from big-studio Technicolor productions to lesser-known gems, all screened with high-quality digital restoration and contextual framing.
Slesnick often introduces the films, offering historical notes, production insights, and anecdotes that connect the movies to Coral Gables’ cultural heritage. Past entries in the series have included The Band Wagon, Funny Face, Easter Parade, and Singin’ in the Rain, each carefully selected for its storytelling, choreography, or star power.
A Broadway plot with Hollywood gloss
Directed by David Butler and adapted from the Broadway hit No, No, Nanette!, Tea for Two reimagines a 1920s stage story for postwar audiences. The film follows Nanette Carter (Doris Day), a bright-eyed actress who’s promised a Broadway debut if she can say “no” to everything for 24 hours—a challenge set by her eccentric millionaire uncle. What follows is a tangle of crossed signals, romantic confusion, and musical interludes that balance charm with farce.
The screenplay plays with theatrical conventions while maintaining brisk pacing and warm character chemistry. Songs like “I Want to Be Happy” and the title number “Tea for Two” evoke both nostalgia and narrative movement, delivered with vocal ease by Day and her co-star Gordon MacRae.
Doris Day and Gordon MacRae in harmony
The film is one of several collaborations between Doris Day and Gordon MacRae, a pairing that became a hallmark of Warner Bros.’ musical output during the early 1950s. Day, then rising rapidly in Hollywood, brings a mix of comic timing and vocal polish to her role, while MacRae’s baritone and understated performance style make for an ideal counterpart. Their dynamic earned praise at the time, including from The New York Times critic Bosley Crowther, who described their pairing as “complementary as peanut butter and jelly.”
Though Tea for Two lacks the budget of MGM’s most lavish musicals, its tight structure, strong cast, and musical highlights have earned it a place in the canon of mid-century studio musicals. The Coral Gables screening will present the film in 2K DCP, offering clean visuals and restored sound.
Screening details and member perks
- Date: Tuesday, September 16
- Time: 7:30 p.m.
- Venue: Coral Gables Art Cinema, 260 Aragon Avenue
- Film: Tea for Two (1950), directed by David Butler
- Runtime: 98 minutes
- Format: 2K DCP
- Admission: Free for Gables Cinema members (in-person reservation required); standard pricing for non-members
- Distributor: Warner Bros.
- Language: English
- Rating: Not Rated
Cinema members will receive complimentary popcorn, and the Art Cinema’s wine bar will remain open before and after the screening. Doors open at 7 p.m., and patrons are encouraged to arrive early to secure seats.
For a full list of upcoming musicals in the Perrin/Slesnick series visit gablescinema.com.
