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My Fair Lady 1956

Ages: 8+
Opened: March 15, 1956

My Fair Lady - 1956 Broadway History , Info & More

Broadway Theatre (Broadway)
1681 Broadway New York, NY

Adapted from "Pygmalion" by George Bernard Shaw

My Fair Lady is a musical based upon George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The story concerns Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons from professor Henry Higgins, a phoneticist, so that she may pass as a well-born lady. The musical's 1956 Broadway production was a hit, setting what was then the record for the longest run of any major musical theatre production in history. It was followed by a hit London production, a popular film version, and numerous revivals. It has been called "the perfect musical".


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25 Great Audition Songs for Sopranos
by Sarah Lasko - Nov 20, 2024


Let us help you find some fresh audition material. These 25 soprano audition songs are a combination of greats and lesser knowns, so you can choose material that you love and knock that audition out of the park. Check out what made the list!

Bronx Opera Company Presents LADY IN THE DARK Beginning This Weekend
by Stephi Wild - Jan 27, 2023


The Bronx Opera Company will open its 56th season with the landmark musical LADY IN THE DARK, music by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and book by Moss Hart.    

Bronx Opera Company to Present LADY IN THE DARK Beginning This Month
by Blair Ingenthron - Jan 21, 2023


The Bronx Opera Company will open its 56th season with the landmark musical LADY IN THE DARK, music by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and book by Moss Hart.  Performances will be on Saturday & Sunday, January 28 & 29 Saturday & Sunday, February 4 & 5.

What Was the Golden Age of Broadway?
by Team BWW - Feb 19, 2022


We're studying up on musical theatre's most glorious time- the Golden Age. What was the Golden Age of Broadway all about and what years did it cover? Learn all about the period which began in the 1940s and produced some of the most iconic musicals.

BWW Review: MY FAIR LADY Brings the Best and Finest of Broadway to Houston
by Audrey Morabito - Sep 17, 2021


Last night I sat in a theatre for the first time in 557 days. I’m positive I wasn’t the only one holding a track record of that caliber, because the excitement in the Hobby Center was tangible. Theatre is back indeed. And what better way to welcome you than the visually stunning, lovely tale of Professor Higgins and his pupil Eliza Doolittle. MY FAIR LADY (1956) is as classic as it gets, the prime example of Broadway at its best and finest.

UN DÍA COMO HOY: OKLAHOMA! se estrenaba en Broadway
by Cristina Martinez - Apr 7, 2021


La producción original de OKLAHOMA! en Broadway se estrenó el 31 de marzo de 1943 en el St. James Theatre de Nueva York. Fue dirigida por Rouben Mamoulian, coreografiada por Agnes de Mille y protagonizada por Alfred Drake.

BWW Blog: Ranking Lerner and Loewe Collaborations
by Student Blogger: Joey Tabasco - Nov 13, 2020


If you ask any theatre kid about the Golden Age of Musical Theatre, the first two people who come to mind are none other than Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.

The 101 Greatest Musical Theatre Characters (1940-2020)
by Peter Nason - Apr 30, 2020


BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the best musical theatre characters from 1940-2020; see if your favorites are on our list of the best characters from Broadway musicals.

Moss Hart Comedy LIGHT UP THE SKY to Open Citadel Theatre Season
by BWW News Desk - Sep 29, 2017


Citadel Theatre's will open its 2017-18 season with a revival of Moss Hart's 1948 comedy set behind the scenes of a Broadway-bound play during its Boston tryout.

Moss Hart Comedy LIGHT UP THE SKY to Open Citadel Theatre Season
by BWW News Desk - Aug 25, 2017


Citadel Theatre's will open its 2017-18 season with a revival of Moss Hart's 1948 comedy set behind the scenes of a Broadway-bound play during its Boston tryout.

VIDEO: Julie Andrews Reveals Secrets Behind Filming of Iconic SOUND OF MUSIC Hilltop Scene
by Caryn Robbins - Jul 5, 2017


During her recent appearance on THE TONIGHT SHOW, actress Julie Andrews revealed the complicated and messy way they filmed the iconic opening hilltop scene in THE SOUND OF MUSIC. 'We were out there for ages because the weather was not kind to us,' revealed the legendary star.

NCTC to Present West Coast Premiere of ON A CLEAR DAY
by Tyler Peterson - Mar 18, 2016


New Conservatory Theatre Center crowns its 2015-16 season with the West Coast premiere of a whimsical reimagining of On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, the classic American musical featuring music by Burton Lane, lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, and a new book by Peter Parnell, based on the original book by Lerner. This mesmerizing and enchanting new look at the classic musical is just your typical musical comedy - about hypnosis, a gay florist with commitment issues, a love triangle with a therapist, and past life as a 1940s chanteuse.

Dame Julie Andrews To Direct Recreation Of The Original 1956 Broadway Production of MY FAIR LADY For Opera Australia and The Gordon Frost Organisation
by Jade Kops - Nov 12, 2015


To celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's MY FAIR LADY and the 60th Anniversary of Opera Australia, Opera Australia and The Gordon Frost Organisation are collaborating to recreate the original production Broadway production.  Multiple Award Winning star of stage and screen, Dame Julie Andrews, the first Eliza Doolittle, will share her knowledge with a new generation of performers as she directs this production.  Andrews was joined by Opera Australia's CEO Craig Hassell, Artistic Director Lyndon Terrancini AM, The Gordon Frost Organisation Managing Director John Frost AM and NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres to give the media an insight into what audiences can when the show opens at the Sydney Opera House on 30 August 2016. 

Theatre Group at SBCC Continues Season with LIGHT UP THE SKY, Now thru 3/21
by BWW News Desk - Mar 4, 2015


The Theatre Group at SBCC will present the hilarious comedy by Moss Hart, LIGHT UP THE SKY, directed by R. Michael Gros, in the Garvin Theatre, tonight, March 4-21, 2015.

Theatre Group at SBCC to Continue Season with LIGHT UP THE SKY, 3/4-21
by Anna Bencivengo - Feb 18, 2015


The Theatre Group at SBCC will present the hilarious comedy by Moss Hart, LIGHT UP THE SKY, directed by R. Michael Gros, in the Garvin Theatre, March 4-21, 2015.

Not So Happy Valentine's Day? Broadway's Most Anti-Love Songs
by BWW Special Coverage - Feb 14, 2015


Happy Valentine's Day! Oh, it's not a happy Valentine's Day for you? Well, I'm sorry, but as you are probably all to aware of then, misery loves COMPANY; and yes, I am talking about the revolutionary 1970 Sondheim musical. Like all things, the lonliness, anger, and depression that is sometimes associated with being alone on this most Hallmark of holiudays is always made better by show tunes.

STAGE TUBE: TODAY SHOW Travels to Florida's Costume World!
by Nicole Rosky - Mar 22, 2012


'The Today Show' just featured a special segment in which correspondents Jenna Bush Hager and Sara Haines visited Costume World of Pompano Beach, Florida. While they were there, they checked out the hundreds of thousands of old Broadway costumes that have found a home there. Click below to check out the video!

MONSTER AT THE DOOR, PYGMALION Finish The Alley Theatre's '10-'11 Season
by BWW News Desk - May 29, 2011


The Alley Theatre was founded over sixty years ago as Houston's theatre company. It exists to provide audiences with the highest quality theatre, offering a wide variety of work including new plays, classics, the re-discovered and the rarely-performed, and new musical theatre, with an emphasis on new American works - to provide the inspirational and the provocative - to make our audiences think, feel, dream and be entertained. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Gregory Boyd and Managing Director Dean Gladden, the Alley is committed to moving forward to increase its reach into the community, to further its collaboration with the best theatre artists working today, and to encourage and cultivate the new voices, new work, new artists of the American theatre. For more information call 713-220-5700.

Photo Flash: Alley Theatre's PYGMALION
by Nicole Rosky - May 24, 2011


A unique masterpiece, Pygmalion is one of Bernard Shaw's most popular plays. It is the story of phonetics professor Henry Higgins who bets that he can transform Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle into a lady and pass her off in high society. Pygmalion is a modern myth and also a strikingly contemporary view of sexual politics and the science of romance. The story inspired the well-known Lerner and Loewe musical My Fair Lady (1956). Recommended for general audiences.

Alley Theatre Announces Cast and Creative Team for Pygmalion
by Gabrielle Sierra - May 19, 2011


A unique masterpiece, Pygmalion is one of Bernard Shaw's most popular plays.

SPOKANE, CARNAGE et al. to Play The Alley Theatre in '10-'11
by BWW News Desk - May 1, 2011


The Alley Theatre was founded over sixty years ago as Houston's theatre company. It exists to provide audiences with the highest quality theatre, offering a wide variety of work including new plays, classics, the re-discovered and the rarely-performed, and new musical theatre, with an emphasis on new American works - to provide the inspirational and the provocative - to make our audiences think, feel, dream and be entertained. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Gregory Boyd and Managing Director Dean Gladden, the Alley is committed to moving forward to increase its reach into the community, to further its collaboration with the best theatre artists working today, and to encourage and cultivate the new voices, new work, new artists of the American theatre. For more information call 713-220-5700.

Julie Andrews Adapts MOUSICAL Book for the Stage
by Nicole Rosky - Apr 18, 2011


Julie Andrews is adapting her book, 'The Great American Mousical,' for the stage at Goodspeed Opera House. Dates for the production have not yet been announced. Andrews co-wrote the book with daughter Emma Walton Hamilton.

SPOKANE, CARNAGE et al. to Play The Alley Theatre in '10-'11
by BWW News Desk - Mar 13, 2011


The Alley Theatre was founded over sixty years ago as Houston's theatre company. It exists to provide audiences with the highest quality theatre, offering a wide variety of work including new plays, classics, the re-discovered and the rarely-performed, and new musical theatre, with an emphasis on new American works - to provide the inspirational and the provocative - to make our audiences think, feel, dream and be entertained. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Gregory Boyd and Managing Director Dean Gladden, the Alley is committed to moving forward to increase its reach into the community, to further its collaboration with the best theatre artists working today, and to encourage and cultivate the new voices, new work, new artists of the American theatre. For more information call 713-220-5700.

SPOKANE, CARNAGE et al. to Play The Alley Theatre in '10-'11
by BWW News Desk - Feb 27, 2011


The Alley Theatre was founded over sixty years ago as Houston's theatre company. It exists to provide audiences with the highest quality theatre, offering a wide variety of work including new plays, classics, the re-discovered and the rarely-performed, and new musical theatre, with an emphasis on new American works - to provide the inspirational and the provocative - to make our audiences think, feel, dream and be entertained. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Gregory Boyd and Managing Director Dean Gladden, the Alley is committed to moving forward to increase its reach into the community, to further its collaboration with the best theatre artists working today, and to encourage and cultivate the new voices, new work, new artists of the American theatre. For more information call 713-220-5700.

SPOKANE, CARNAGE et al. to Play The Alley Theatre in '10-'11
by BWW News Desk - Jan 30, 2011


The Alley Theatre was founded over sixty years ago as Houston's theatre company. It exists to provide audiences with the highest quality theatre, offering a wide variety of work including new plays, classics, the re-discovered and the rarely-performed, and new musical theatre, with an emphasis on new American works - to provide the inspirational and the provocative - to make our audiences think, feel, dream and be entertained. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Gregory Boyd and Managing Director Dean Gladden, the Alley is committed to moving forward to increase its reach into the community, to further its collaboration with the best theatre artists working today, and to encourage and cultivate the new voices, new work, new artists of the American theatre. For more information call 713-220-5700.

My Fair Lady History

Other Productions of My Fair Lady

1956   Broadway Original Broadway Production
Broadway
1957   US Tour 1st National Tour
US Tour
1958   West End London Production
West End
1964   Broadway City Center Revival
Broadway
1964   Regional (US) Regional Revival
Regional (US)
1968   Off-Broadway City Center Revival
Off-Broadway
1976   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1977   Milburn, NJ (Regional) Paper Mill Production
Milburn, NJ (Regional)
1979   West End London Revival
West End
1981   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
1993   Milburn, NJ (Regional) Paper Mill Production
Milburn, NJ (Regional)
1993   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
2001   West End Royal National Theatre Production
West End
2002   Milburn, NJ (Regional) Paper Mill Production
Milburn, NJ (Regional)
2005   UK Tour National Tour
UK Tour
2018   Broadway Broadway Revival
Broadway
2019   US Tour Revival Tour
US Tour
2022   West End London Production
West End
2022   US Tour US Tour
US Tour

My Fair Lady - 1956 Broadway Awards and Nominations

Note: Award winners will appear on a background
Year Ceremony Category Nominee
1976 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical Ian Richardson
1976 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical George Rose
1957 Tony Awards Best Choreography Hanya Holm
1957 Tony Awards Best Conductor and Musical Director Franz Allers
1957 Tony Awards Best Costume Design Cecil Beaton
1957 Tony Awards Best Costume Design Cecil Beaton
1957 Tony Awards Best Direction Moss Hart
1957 Tony Awards Best Musical Frederick Loewe
1957 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical Rex Harrison
1957 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical Stanley Holloway
1957 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical Robert Coote
1957 Tony Awards Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical Julie Andrews
1957 Tony Awards Best Scenic Design Oliver Smith
1957 Tony Awards Best Scenic Design Oliver Smith
1956 New York Drama Critics Circle Awards Best Musical Frederick Loewe
1956 New York Drama Critics Circle Awards Best Musical Alan Jay Lerner
1956 Theatre World Awards Performance John Michael King

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