| The Vagabond King | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Music | Rudolf Friml |
| Lyrics | Brian Hooker William H. Post |
| Book | Brian Hooker William H. Post |
| Basis | If I Were King by Justin Huntly McCarthy |
| Productions | 1925 Broadway 1927 West End 1943 Broadway revival |
The Vagabond King is a 1925 operetta by Rudolf Friml in four acts, with a book and lyrics by Brian Hooker and William H. Post, based upon Justin Huntly McCarthy's 1901 romantic novel and play If I Were King. The story is a fictionalized episode in the life of the 15th-century poet and thief François Villon, centering on his wooing of Katherine De Vaucelles (the cousin of King Louis XI), and relating how he becomes “king for a day” and defends France against the invading forces of the Duke of Burgundy.
The original production opened on Broadway in 1925, starring Dennis King and ran for 511 performances. The operetta then played in London, toured extensively and enjoyed revivals and two film adaptations, including one with King and Jeanette MacDonald.