Show Synopsis:
Fiorello LaGuardia is a successful lawyer in early twentieth-century New York City. He asks his secretary Marie to introduce him to Ben Marino, leader of the 14th district, so that he can run for Congress despite the corrupt Tammany hall politics at play. Marie?s friend Dora protest their factory work conditions and almost gets arrested until Fiorello supports them. Fiorello is about to ask Marie to dinner before Thea, a strike leader fresh out of jail, asks him first. A year later, Fioreloo campaigns for Congress and wins. A year later, Fiorello enlists in the Air Force and proposes to Thea, although Marie still has feelings for him. After the war, Fiorello returns and Thea accepts his proposal. Fiorello runs for New York City mayor in 1929 and Thea hides her illness from him. Dora has married the policeman who once almost arrested her, and they support Jimmy Walker, Fiorello?s competitor. During a meeting of his corrupt campaign backers in their apartment, the mobsters brainstorm killing Fiorello while he speaks to the public, and Dora tells Marie about it. Fiorello has recently fired his right-hand man and is worried about Thea?s health. During his speech, Thea dies, but Fiorello survives, though Jimmy Walker wins the race for mayor. In 1933, Marie decides to quit her job, after telling Ben he should help Fiorello win the next mayoral election. She convinces Fiorello to run again, and after he agrees, he also asks her to marry him. She accepts and Fiorello later becomes mayor of New York City.	

Character:
Thea Almerigatti, a strongly opinionated Italian woman who cares deeply about the people around her and longs to have a good life in America.

Song Context:
Thea has just had bad news from the doctor about her health and wants to shield Fiorello from it, because she cares for him deeply.	

Fun Facts:
1) This musical is loosely based on the life of Fiorello LaGuardia, a member of Congress and mayor of New York City. 2) The role of Thea was originally performed on Broadway by Ellen Hanley. 3) In a 2007 interview with Playbill.com, Tony Award winning actress Audra McDonald said that this song was her go-to audition song.