Henry Pettitt

Who was Henry Pettitt?

Henry Alfred Pettitt, was a British actor and dramatist.

With Augustus Harris, he wrote the play Burmah, produced on Broadway in 1896. With G. R. Sims, he created a substantial body of very successful works, including In the Ranks and The Harbour Lights. Their Gaiety Theatre musical burlesques included Faust up to date, which remained a hit for several years and coined a new meaning for the phrase "up-to-date", meaning "abreast" of the latest styles and facts. Their next hit was Carmen up to Data. Both of these were composed by the Gaiety's music director, Meyer Lutz.

Pettitt died in Fulham and is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London.