Musicals in History (Part 5)

Events in Music

Events 801 - 1,000 of 2,036

"Canterbury Tales"

1969-02-03 Musical adaptation of Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales", opens at Eugene O'Neill Theater, NYC; runs for 121 performances

1969-02-06 Jerry Herman's "Dear World" opens at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC for 132 performances
1969-03-01 "Red, White, & Maddox" closes at Cort Theater NYC after 41 performances
1969-03-16 Sherman Edwards' historical musical "1776", starring William Daniels and Ken Howard, opens at 46th St Theater (transferring to the St. James, and later the Majestic), NYC; runs for 1217 performances, winning 3 Tony Awards
1969-03-18 "Come Summer" opens at Lunt Fontanne Theater NYC for 7 performances
1969-03-22 "Come Summer" closes at Lunt Fontanne Theater NYC after 7 performances
1969-04-26 "Celebration" closes at Ambassador Theater NYC after 110 performances

Music History

1969-04-26 Musical "George M!", based on the life and songs of George M. Cohen, starring Joel Grey and Bernadette Peters, closes at Palace Theater, NYC, after 435 performances, and a Tony Award for choreography

1969-04-29 "Trumpets of the Lord" opens at Brooks Atkinson NYC for 7 performances
1969-05-03 "Trumpets of the Lord" closes at Brooks Atkinson NYC after 7 performances
1969-05-18 "Canterbury Tales" closes at Eugene O'Neill Theater NYC after 122 performances
1969-05-31 "Dear World" closes at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC after 132 performances
1969-08-09 Kander and Ebbs' musical "Zorba" closes at Imperial Theater, NYC, after 305 performances

Music History

1969-09-06 John Kander and Fred Ebb's "Cabaret" closes at Broadhurst Theater, NYC, after 1166 performances and 8 Tony Awards

Musical Theater and Film Composer John Kander

1969-10-19 Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick's musical "The Rothschilds", starring Halden, Jill Clayburgh, and Robby Benson opens at Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, NYC; runs for 505 performances, winning 2 Tony Awards
1969-10-23 "Jimmy" opens at Winter Garden Theater NYC for 84 performances

Buck White

1969-12-02 Oscar Brown, Jr's musical "Buck White", starring Muhammad Ali, opens at George Abbott Theatre, NYC, runs for 7 performances

Heavyweight Boxing Champion Muhammad Ali

1969-12-06 Oscar Brown, Jr's musical "Buck White", starring Muhammad Ali, closes at George Abbott Theatre, NYC, after 7 performances
1969-12-14 One of the most catastrophic flops in the history of showbusiness - the musical "La Strada" opens and closes at Lunt Fontanne NYC after 1 performance

Coco

1969-12-18 André Previn and Alan Jay Lerner's musical "Coco", inspired by the life of Coco Chanel, and starring Katharine Hepburn, opens at Mark Hellinger Theatre, NYC; runs for 329 performances, wins 2 Tony Awards

1970-01-02 Dutch premiere of Galt MacDermot, Gerome Ragni and James Rado's hippie musical "Hair" in Amsterdam
1970-01-03 Bill Jacob and Patti Jacob's musical "Jimmy", starring Frank Gorshin and Anita Gillette, loosely based on the life of NYC mayor Jimmy Walker (1926-32). closes at Winter Garden Theater NYC after 84 performances
1970-01-03 Jerry Herman's musical "Mame" closes at The Broadway Theater, NYC, after 1508 performances and 3 Tony Awards
1970-02-04 "Charles Aznavour" opens at Music Box Theater NYC for 23 performances
1970-02-04 "Gantry" opens at George Abbott Theater NYC for 1 performance
1970-02-14 Stanley Lebowsky and Fred Tobias' musical "Gantry", based on Sinclair Lewis novel "Elmer Gantry", opens and closes at George Abbott Theater, NYC. after 1 performance
1970-02-22 "Charles Aznavour" closes at Music Box Theater NYC after 23 performances
1970-02-26 Carole Bayer (Sager) and George Fischoff's musical "Georgy" opens at Winter Garden Theater, NYC; runs for 4 performances
1970-02-28 Carole Bayer (Sager) and George Fischoff's musical "Georgy" closes at Winter Garden Theater, NYC, after 4 performances
1970-03-15 Gary Geld and Peter Udell's musical "Purlie", based on Ossie Davis' "Purlie Victorious", opens at the Broadway Theater, NYC; runs for 689 performances

Minnie's Boys

1970-03-26 Musical "Minnie's Boys", starring Shelley Winters as the mother of the Marx Brothers, and Drama Desk Award winner Lewis J. Stadlen as Groucho, opens at the Imperial Theater, New York City; runs for 80 performances

Look to the Lilies

1970-03-29 Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn's musical "Look to the Lilies", based on the novel and film "Lilies of the Field", starring Shirley Booth and Al Freeman, opens at Lunt-Fontanne Theater, NYC; runs for 25 performances

Applause

1970-03-30 Strouse, Adams, Comden & Green's musical "Applause", an adaptation of the 1950 film "All About Eve", starring Lauren Bacall, opens at the Palace Theatre, NYC; runs for 896 performances, and wins 4 Tony and 3 Drama Desk Awards

1970-04-08 Mitch Leigh, William Alfred and Phyllis Robinson's musical melodrama "Cry for Us All" opens at Broadhurst Theater, NYC; runs for 9 performances
1970-04-14 Revival of Sandy Wilson's musical "The Boy Friend", starring Judy Carne and Sandy Duncan, opens at Ambassador Theater, NYC; runs for 111 performances
1970-04-15 Mitch Leigh, William Alfred and Phyllis Robinson's musical melodrama "Cry for Us All" closes at Broadhurst Theater, NYC, after 9 performances
1970-04-19 "Look to the Lilies" closes at Lunt-Fontanne NYC after 25 performances
1970-04-22 Lance Mulcahy and Paul Cherry's musical "Park" opens at John Golden Theater, NYC; runs for 5 performances
1970-04-25 Lance Mulcahy and Paul Cherry's musical "Park" closes at John Golden Theater, NYC, after 5 performances

Company

1970-04-26 Stephen Sondheim's musical "Company", directed by Hal Prince, opens at Alvin Theater NYC; runs for 705 performances, wins 6 Tony Awards

1970-05-30 "Minnie's Boys" closes at Imperial Theater NYC after 80 performances
1970-07-18 Revival of Sandy Wilson's musical "The Boy Friend", starring Judy Carne and Sandy Duncan, closes at Ambassador Theater, NYC, after 111 performances

Coco

1970-10-03 André Previn and Alan Jay Lerner's musical "Coco", inspired by the life of Coco Chanel, and starring Katharine Hepburn, closes at Mark Hellinger Theatre, NYC, after 329 performances, and 2 Tony Awards

1970-10-27 Musical "Light, Lively & Yiddish" opens at Belasco Theater, NYC; runs for 87 performances
1970-11-03 Murray Rumshinsky and Jacob Jacobs' musical "The President's Daughter" opens at Billy Rose Theater, NYC; runs for 72 performances
1970-11-07 Gary Geld and Peter Udell's musical "Purlie", based on Ossie Davis' "Purlie Victorious", closes at the Broadway Theater, NYC, after 689 performances

Two by Two

1970-11-10 Richard Rodgers and Martin Charnin's musical "Two by Two" opens at Imperial Theater, NYC; runs for 343 performances

1970-12-15 Robert Wilson and Alan Lloyd's musical theatre work "Deafman Glance" first performance at Center for New Performing Arts in Iowa City, Iowa
1970-12-18 "Me Nobody Knows" opens at Helen Hayes Theater NYC for 587 performances
1970-12-24 Walt Disney releases animated musical "The Aristocats" featuring voices of Phil Harris, Eva Gabor, Hermione Baddeley, Sterling Holloway, and Scatman Crothers
1970-12-27 Jerry Herman's musical "Hello, Dolly!", starring Carol Channing, closes at the St. James Theatre, NYC, after 2844 performances and 10 Tony Awardwins
1970-12-28 Stan Freeman and Franklin Underwood's musical "Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen", based on John Patrick's novel "The Teahouse of the August Moon", opens at the Majestic Theatre, NYC; runs for 19 performances
1971-01-03 Murray Rumshinsky and Jacob Jacobs' musical "The President's Daughter" closes at Billy Rose Theater, NYC, after 72 performances
1971-01-09 "Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen" closes at Majestic Theater, NYC, after 19 performances
1971-01-10 Musical "Light, Lively & Yiddish" closes at Belasco Theater, NYC, after 87 performances
1971-01-12 Joseph Kookoolis and Scott Fagan's rock opera musical "Soon" opens at Ritz Theater, NYC; runs for 3 performances
1971-01-13 Joseph Kookoolis and Scott Fagan's rock opera musical "Soon" closes at Ritz Theater, NYC, after 3 performances
1971-01-15 Walt Smith and Leon Uris' musical "Ari", based on Uris' novel "Exodus", opens at Mark Hellinger Theater, NYC; runs for 19 performances
1971-01-19 "No, No Nanette" opens at 46th St Theater NYC for 861 performances
1971-01-30 Walt Smith and Leon Uris' musical "Ari", based on Uris' novel "Exodus", closes at Mark Hellinger Theater NYC after 19 performances

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

1971-02-14 Clark Gesner's musical "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown", based on characters from Charles M. Schulz's' "Peanuts", and starring Gary Burghoff, closes at Theatre 80 in the East Village, NYC, after 1597 performances

Oh! Calcutta! - The Bare Facts

1971-02-25 "Oh! Calcutta!" moves to Belasco Theater in NYC; runs for 1,316 performances

A brief cover-up by the cast of "Oh! Calcutta!"

1971-03-27 David Heneker and John Taylor's musical "Charlie Girl" close at the Adelphi Theatre, London, after 2,202 performances
1971-04-04 Stephen Sondheim's "Follies" opens at Winter Garden Theater, NYC; runs for 524 performances, then most expensive Broadway musical at the time
1971-04-15 John Kander and Fred Ebbs' musical "70, Girls, 70", starring Hans Conried and Mildred Natwick, opens at Broadhurst Theater, NYC; runs for 35 performances
1971-04-24 Skip Redwine and Larry Frank's musical "Frank Merriwell" opens and closes at Longacre Theater, NYC (1 performance only)
1971-05-05 Courtney, Courtney, and Link's musical "Earl of Ruston" opens at Billy Rose Theater, NYC, runs for 5 performances
1971-05-08 Courtney, Courtney, and Link's musical "Earl of Ruston" closes at Billy Rose Theater, NYC, after 5 performances
1971-05-15 John Kander and Fred Ebbs' musical "70, Girls, 70", starring Hans Conried and Mildred Natwick, closes at Broadhurst Theater, NYC, after 35 performances
1971-05-17 Stephen Schwartz' musical "Godspell" premieres off-Broadway
1971-06-01 "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" opens at the John Golden Theatre, NYC; runs for 31 performances
1971-06-26 "Man of La Mancha" closes at ANTA Wash Sq Theater NYC after 2329 performances
1971-06-27 "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" closes at the John Golden Theatre, NYC, after 31 performances
1971-09-11 Richard Rodgers and Martin Charnin's musical "Two by Two", starring Danny Kaye, closes at Imperial Theater, NYC, after 343 performances

Music History

1971-10-12 Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar", starring Jeff Fenholt and Ben Vereen opens at Mark Hellinger Theatre, NYC; runs for 711 performances

Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death

1971-10-20 Melvin Van Peebles' musical "Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death" opens at Barrymore Theater, NYC; runs for 325 performances

Actor, Filmmaker, Playwright and Composer Melvin Van Peebles

1971-10-21 "To Live Another Summer" opens at Helen Hayes NYC for 173 performances

200 Motels

1971-10-29 Frank Zappa's musical mockumentary "200 Motels", starring The Mothers of Invention, Theodore Bikel, and Ringo Starr premieres in Beverly Hills, California

Guitarist, Singer, and Composer Frank Zappa

Beatles Drummer, Singer, and Actor Ringo Starr

On the Town

1971-10-31 Revival of Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden and Adolph Green's musical "On the Town" opens at Imperial Theater, NYC; runs for 65 performances

Conductor and Composer Leonard Bernstein

The Grass Harp

1971-11-02 Claibe Richardson and Kenward Elmslie's musical "The Grass Harp", based on the novel by Truman Capote, opens at Martin Beck Theater, NYC; runs for 7 performances

1971-11-06 Claibe Richardson and Kenward Elmslie's musical "The Grass Harp", based on the novel by Truman Capote, closes at Martin Beck Theater, NYC, after 7 performances
1971-11-22 English translation of Dan Almagor's Israeli musical "Only Fools Are Sad" opens at Edison Theater, NYC; runs for 144 performances
1971-11-28 "Me Nobody Knows" closes at Helen Hayes Theater, NYC, after 587 performances

Two Gentlemen of Verona

1971-12-01 Galt MacDermot and John Guare's musical adaptation of William Shakespeare's "Two Gentlemen of Verona", starring Clifton Davis and Raul Julia, opens at St James Theater, NYC; runs for 614 performances and wins 2 Tony Awards

1971-12-07 Musical "Wild and Wonderful" opens and closes at the Lyceum Theater, NYC, after 1 performance
1971-12-19 Helen Miller and Eve Merriam's musical "Inner City" opens at Barrymore Theater, NYC; runs for 97 performances
1972-01-01 "Company" closes at Alvin Theater NYC after 690 performances
1972-01-01 "On the Town" closes at Imperial Theater NYC after 65 performances

"Promises, Promises"

1972-01-01 Burt Bacharach and Hal David's musical "Promises, Promises", based on the 1960 Billy Wider film "The Apartment", closes at Shubert Theater, NYC, after 1281 performances, winning a Grammy and 2 Tony Awards

1972-01-02 "Rothschilds" closes at Lunt-Fontanne Theater NYC after 505 performances

Cabaret

1972-02-13 Film adaptation of "Cabaret", directed by Bob Fosse, based on John Kander and Fred Ebb's musical of the same name, starring Liza Minnelli, Michael York, and Joel Grey is released

1972-02-13 Sherman Edwards' historical musical "1776", starring William Daniels and Ken Howard, closes at Majestic Theater, NYC, after 1,217 performances and 3 Tony Award wins
1972-02-14 Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey's musical "Grease" starring Barry Bostwick, Carole Demas, and Adrienne Barbeau, opens at the Eden Theatre (later transferring to the Broadhurst, the Royale, and the Majestic), NYC; runs for 3,388 performances
1972-03-11 "Inner City" closes at Barrymore Theater NYC after 97 performances
1972-03-19 Israeli musical revue "To Live Another Summer, To Pass Another Winter" closes at the Helen Hayes Theatre, NYC. after 173 performances
1972-03-22 Musical "The Selling of the President" opens at Shubert Theater, NYC; runs for 5 performances
1972-03-25 "Selling of the President" closes at Shubert Theater NYC after 5 performances
1972-03-26 English translation of Dan Almagor's Israeli musical "Only Fools Are Sad" closes at Edison Theater, NYC, after 144 performances

A Funny Thing

1972-03-30 Revival of Stephen Sondheim's musical-comedy "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", starring Phil Silvers, opens at Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, NYC; runs for 156 performances and wins 2 Tony Awards

1972-04-09 Jule Styne and Bob Merrill's musical "Sugar", a musical adaptation of 1959 film "Some Like It Hot" starring Robert Morse, Tony Roberts, and Elaine Joyce, opens at Majestic Theater, NYC; runs for 506 performances
1972-04-14 Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz's musical review "That's Entertainment" opens at Edison Theater, NYC; runs for 4 performances
1972-04-16 Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz's musical review "That's Entertainment" closes at Edison Theater, NYC, after 4 performances

Lost in the Stars

1972-04-18 Revival of Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson's musical "Lost in the Stars" based on the novel "Cry the Beloved Country" by Alan Paton, opens at Imperial Theater, NYC; runs for 39 performances

Author and Apartheid Activist Alan Paton

1972-04-19 "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope" opens at Playhouse NYC for 1,065 performances
1972-05-01 "Different Times" opens at ANTA Theater NYC for 24 performances
1972-05-15 "Hard Job Being God" opens at Edison Theater, NYC; runs for 6 performances
1972-05-16 Melvin Van Peebles' musical "Don't Play Us Cheap" opens at Barrymore Theater, NYC; runs for 164 performances
1972-05-20 "Different Times" closes at ANTA Theater NYC after 24 performances
1972-05-20 "Hard Job Being God" closes at Edison Theater NYC after 6 performances

Lost in the Stars

1972-05-21 "Lost in the Stars" based on the novel "Cry the Beloved Country" by Alan Paton closes at Imperial Theater NYC after 39 performances

Applause

1972-05-27 Charles Strouse, Lee Adams, Betty Comden and Adolph Green's musical "Applause", starring Lauren Bacall, closes at Palace Theater, NYC, after 896 performances, winning 4 Tony Awards

1972-06-07 Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey's musical "Grease" starring Barry Bostwick, Carole Demas, and Adrienne Barbeau, opens at Broadhurst Theater, NYC; runs for 3,388 performances
1972-06-22 "Man of La Mancha" opens at Beaumont Theater NYC for 140 performances
1972-07-01 Galt MacDermot, Gerome Ragni and James Rado's hippie musical "Hair" closes at Biltmore Theater, NYC, after 1750 performances
1972-07-01 Stephen Sondheim's "Follies" closes at Winter Garden Theater, NYC, after 524 performances

Musical Finale

1972-07-02 Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick's musical "Fiddler on the Roof" with Zero Mostel, closes at the Broadway Theater, NYC, after 3,242 performances and 9 Tony Award wins

Musical Theater Lyricist Sheldon Harnick

1972-07-30 "Ain't Supposed to Die Death" closes at Barrymore NYC after 325 performances
1972-08-12 "Oh! Calcutta!" closes at Belasco Theater in NYC after 1316 performances
1972-08-12 Revival of Stephen Sondheim's musical-comedy "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", starring Phil Silvers, closes at Lunt-Fontanne Theater, NYC, after 156 performances
1972-10-01 "Don't Play Us Cheap" closes at Barrymore Theater NYC after 164 performances
1972-10-02 "From Israel with Love" opens at Palace Theater NYC for 8 performances
1972-10-08 International music revue "From Israel with Love" closes limited run at Palace Theater, NYC, after 8 performances
1972-10-09 "Dude" opens at Broadway Theater, NYC; runs for 16 performances
1972-10-12 "Hurry, Harry" opens at Ritz Theater NYC for 2 performances
1972-10-13 "Hurry, Harry" closes at Ritz Theater NYC after 2 performances
1972-10-16 "Pacific Paradise" opens at Palace Theater NYC for 5 performances
1972-10-19 "Mother Earth" opens at Belasco Theater NYC for 12 performances
1972-10-21 "Dude" closes at Broadway Theater NYC after 16 performances
1972-10-21 "Man of La Mancha" closes at Beaumont Theater NYC after 140 performances
1972-10-21 "Pacific Paradise" closes at Palace Theater NYC after 5 performances

Pippin

1972-10-23 Stephen Schwartz' musical "Pippin", starring Ben Vereen; Irene Ryan, and Jill Clayburgh, and directed by Bob Fosse, opens at Imperial Theater, NYC; runs for 1944 performances, winning 5 Tony Awards

1972-10-28 "Mother Earth" closes at Belasco Theater NYC after 12 performances
1972-11-16 "Dear Oscar" opens at Playhouse Theater NYC for 5 performances
1972-11-19 "Ambassador" opens at Lunt-Fontanne Theater NYC for 9 performances
1972-11-19 "Dear Oscar" closes at Playhouse Theater NYC after 5 performances
1972-11-25 "Ambassador" closes at Lunt-Fontanne Theater NYC after 9 performances
1972-11-28 Galt MacDermot and Christopher Gore's futuristic rock musical "Via Galactica" opens at Uris Theater, NYC; runs for 7 performances
1972-12-02 Galt MacDermot and Christopher Gore's futuristic rock musical "Via Galactica" closes at Uris Theater, NYC, after 7 performances

"The Sunshine Boys"

1972-12-20 Neil Simon's play "The Sunshine Boys" starring Jack Albertson and Sam Levene, and directed by Alan Arkin, opens at Broadhurst Theater (later transferring Shubert, then the Lunt-Fontanne), NYC; runs for 538 performances, winning 2 Tony Awards

Equus

1973-07-26 Peter Shaffer's musical "Equus" premieres in London

Irene

1974-09-07 Revival of Harry Tierney and Joseph McCarthy's 1919 musical "Irene", starring Debbie Reynolds, closes at Minskoff Theater, NYC, after 605 performances

Gypsy

1974-09-23 Revival of Jules Styne and Stephen Sondheim's musical "Gypsy" opens at Winter Garden Theater, NYC; runs for 120 performances, Angela Lansbury wins Tony Award for her role as Mama Rose

Music History

1974-10-06 Jerry Herman's musical "Mack & Mabel", about the romance between silent film figures Mack Sennett and Mabel Normand, starring Robert Preston and Bernadette Peters, opens at Majestic Theater, NYC; runs for 66 performances

1974-10-17 "Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope" closes at Playhouse NYC after 1065 per
1974-10-20 Bard's presentation of "Richard III" opens at Lincoln Center NYC
1974-11-03 Jules Styne, Betty Comdem & Adolph Green's musical "Lorelei", starring Carol Channing, closes at the Palace Theatre, NYC, after 320 performances
1974-11-30 "Good Evening" closes at Plymouth Theater NYC after 438 performances

Mack & Mabel

1974-11-30 Jerry Herman's musical "Mack & Mabel", about the romance between silent film figures Mack Sennett and Mabel Normand, starring Robert Preston and Bernadette Peters, closes at Majestic Theater, NYC, after 66 performances

1974-12-23 Revival of Ray Henderson, B.G. DeSylva, and Lew Brown's musical "Good News" opens at St James Theater, NYC; runs for 16 performances
1975-01-04 "Good News" closes at St James Theater NYC after 16 performances

On This Day

Musicals in History (Part 5)

Events in Music

"Canterbury Tales"

Music History

Music History

Buck White

Coco

Minnie's Boys

Look to the Lilies

Applause

Company

Coco

Two by Two

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

Oh! Calcutta! - The Bare Facts

Music History

Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death

200 Motels

On the Town

The Grass Harp

Two Gentlemen of Verona

"Promises, Promises"

Cabaret

A Funny Thing

Lost in the Stars

Lost in the Stars

Applause

Musical Finale

Pippin

"The Sunshine Boys"

Equus

Irene

Gypsy

Music History

Mack & Mabel

Famous Composers

Famous Opera Singers

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