How well do you know *The Secret Garden* musical? Based on the beloved 1911 novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, this Tony Award-winning production has captured audiences since its Broadway debut in 1991. Test your knowledge of this enchanting show, from the set design inspired by Joseph Cornell's artwork to Daisy Eagan becoming the youngest female Tony Award winner. Dive into fascinating trivia surrounding its adaptations and record-breaking performances!
International Productions
- The original London production of 'The Secret Garden' was partially reworked by the Royal Shakespeare Company to shift focus back towards the child characters, similar to the original novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett.
- A highlights album from the Australian cast of 'The Secret Garden' was released in 1995 by Polydor Records Australia featuring eight songs.
- The Secret Garden has been produced worldwide, including a heavily revised version by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2000 that broke box office records in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Musical Composition
- The original Broadway production of 'The Secret Garden' received a full cast recording released on CD by Columbia Records in 1991.
- Marsha Norman wrote the script and lyrics, while Lucy Simon composed the music for The Secret Garden.
Notable Tours
- A planned 25th-anniversary production in Australia, set to star Anthony Warlow, was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- A concert version of The Secret Garden was held at the London Palladium on August 28, 2022, delayed twice due to COVID-19, marking the original Broadway version's long-awaited U.K. premiere.
Production Facts
- Costumes from the original Broadway production are preserved at the Costume World Broadway Collection in Florida.
- The character of Dr. Neville Craven in the musical is significantly altered from the original book; he is Archibald's brother and directly opposed to Colin's recovery due to his love for Lily and desire for inheritance.
- In the musical adaptation of 'The Secret Garden', the name of Archibald's wife is changed from Lilias to Lily, and she is made the sister of Mary Lennox's mother Rose, unlike in the original novel where Lilias was Mary's father's sister.
- The Secret Garden was staged in the Norfolk Botanical Gardens by the Virginia Stage Company in 2019, marking the first time since its world premiere in 1989.
- The Secret Garden celebrated its 25th anniversary with a concert at Lincoln Center on February 21 and 22, 2016, featuring Sydney Lucas as Mary Lennox.
- The Secret Garden musical is based on the 1911 novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett and premiered on Broadway in 1991.
- The Secret Garden was staged as a World AIDS Day Benefit Concert in New York City in 2005, featuring stars like Laura Benanti and Steven Pasquale.
- The musical was nominated for multiple Tony Awards in 1991, winning for Best Book of a Musical, Best Featured Actress in a Musical, and Best Scenic Design.
- The original Broadway production ran for 709 performances, closing in 1993.
- The original Broadway production featured an elaborate set design that included elements resembling the collages of artist Joseph Cornell.
- Daisy Eagan, who played Mary Lennox on Broadway, was the youngest female to win a Tony at age 11.
