During the years of World War II in Europe, Lichine and his second wife, ballerina Tatiana Riabouchinska, remained mostly in the United States, performing with Ballet Theatre (later renamed American Ballet Theatre) and finding occasional work in New York City and Hollywood. On Broadway, Lichine choreographed dances for the short-lived "Beat the Band" (1942), after which he directed and choreographed the operetta "Rhapsody" (1944), with music by Fritz Kriesler. His ballet numbers for this show earned high praise from the critics, but the show was a flop, closing after only thirteen performances. He had not much better luck with the operetta "Polonaise" (1945), set to the music of Chopin, which lasted longer but was panned by the critics.