Harry, we hardly knew thee

At last, an unsung songwriter gets his due.

Harry Warren, the Brooklyn Heights native behind the classics “That’s Amore,” “I Only Have Eyes For You,” and “At Last,” had more Top 10 hits than Irving Berlin. But, unlike his contemporary, Warren’s name is virtually unknown.

Julia Riva hopes to change that with “Introducing Harry Warren: The Tin Pan Alley Years,” a new musical presented by the Ryan Repertory Theatre at (fittingly) the company’s Harry Warren Theatre in Bath Beach.

Riva, the granddaughter of the late composer (picture with him at left when she was about 2 years old), examines Warren’s start in the music business, from his days at the Vitagraph Studios in Midwood, as well as his relative obscurity in the songbooks.

Riva has vivid memories as a child of Warren complaining that nobody knew who he was.

“He was very Italian — he liked to complain, but not take action,” joked Riva. “He didn’t sing or dance like some of the other songwriters of the time. He just didn’t put himself out there.”

In the show, which opens tonight, actor John Sannuto brings Warren to life to tell his side of the story. The multimedia production also features photos and video of the late composer, as well as, of course, music, as Riva pulls from Warren’s early gems from the 1920s.

There’s “I Love My Baby”; “I Found a Million Dollar Baby (In a Five and Ten Cent Store),” a staple of crooner Bing Crosby at the time; “Home in Pasadena”; and “You’re My Everything.” To examine Warren’s relationship with Fred Astaire, whom he loved to write for, the cast will also sing “This Heart of Mine” from the 1945 film “Zeigfeld Follies.”

“I’m trying to emulate a big-stage show feel, with lots of singing, dancing and beautiful girls,” said Riva. “I want people to have a good time, because Harry liked to entertain people with his music. That’s what he loved to do.”

“Introducing Harry Warren: The Tin Pan Alley Years” at the Harry Warren Theatre [2445 Bath Ave. at Bay 38th Street in Bath Beach, (718) 996-4800], June 19-30. Tickets $20, $18 for students and seniors. For info, visit www.ryanrep.org.