The 1 Jun 1929 Hollywood Filmograph announced that Alice White would star in the film adaptation of Viña Delmar’s short story “Sheba,” to be released as Playing Around by First National Pictures, Inc. One week earlier, the 22 May 1929 Var had reported that Clara Bow would appear in a Paramount Publix Corp. release, also titled Playing Around, but that film was soon retitled True to the Navy (1930, see entry).
       Ted Wilde was named as the director in the 10 Jul 1929 FD, but the 22 Jul 1929 issue stated that Mervyn LeRoy would direct. Meanwhile, Wilde was transferred to another First National picture, Loose Ankles (1930, see entry), according to the 18 Aug 1929 FD.
       On 12 Aug 1929, FD announced that Adele Commandini was currently writing the adaptation. Although the 11 Sep 1929 Var indicated that writer Robert Lord was also contributing to the scenario, onscreen credit went to Commandini and Frances Nordstrom.
       Principal photography began on 9 Sep 1929 at First National Studios in Burbank, CA, as noted in the 26 Oct 1929 Exhibitors Herald-World. On 23 Oct 1929, Var listed the picture as “finished but not yet generally released.” The 26 Oct 1929 Exhibitors Herald-World confirmed that principal photography had ended earlier that week.
       The 18 Sep 1929, 25 Sep 1929, and 9 Oct 1929 issues of Var named Helen Wehrle, Kernan Cripps, and Maxine Cantwell as cast members. The 19 Oct 1929 Exhibitors Herald-World stated that Humphrey Pearson and Harvey Thew were collaborating on the dialogue, but only Pearson received onscreen credit.
       A release date of 19 Jan 1930 was cited in the 29 Dec 1929 FD. Playing Around later opened in New York City at the Mark Strand Theatre on 28 Mar 1930, according to the 2 Apr 1930 Var review. The 30 Mar 1930 FD review deemed the picture a “good programmer” and praised the “well handled” direction.