After appearing in "The Heat's On" in 1943, West returned to a very active career on stage and in swank clubs. Among her popular new stage performances was the title role in "Catherine Was Great" (1944) on Broadway, in which she penned a spoof on the story of Catherine the Great of Russia, surrounding herself with an "imperial guard" of tall, muscular young actors. The play was produced by theater and film impresario Mike Todd ("Around The World in 80 Days") and ran for 191 performances and then went on tour.