Babes in Toyland

Anna Alice Chapin (1880-1920) was an American writer and playwright who mainly focused on creating fairy tales and other stories for children. After receiving a private education in music throughout her childhood, Chapin published her first work, The Story of the Rhinegold (1897), at seventeen. In 1904, Chapin collaborated with Glen MacDonough to produce what became arguably her most famous work: a children's book adaptation of the operetta Babes in Toyland. She continued to write until her death, due to a short illness in 1920 and Glen MacDonough (1870-1924) was originally an American journalist, but after quickly progressing in status, he turned his attention to writing plays, his true passion. MacDonough wrote several plays before collaborating with Anna Alice Chapin to create Babes in Toyland, which became one of, if not the most, famous works of both their careers. In 1914 he became one of the founding members of The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers and continued to write until his death ten years later.