Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious was written by the Sherman brothers for the Disney movie Mary Poppins. Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke sing the song in the movie. The Oxford English Dictionary estimates the word was first used in the 1940s. According to Wikipedia, columnist Helen Herman muses about her made up word, Supercaliflawjalisticexpialidoshus, in her A-Muse-ings column Read More
Category: Broadway
In the Good Ole Summertime
In the Good Ole Summertime is a Tin Pan Alley song that was first published in 1902. The song was written by George Evans and Ren Shields. The duo had a difficult time selling the song to publishers. At the suggestion of actress Blanche Ring, the song was added to the 1902 musical comedy, The Read More
Younger than Springtime
With the approach of spring, the song Younger Than Springtime came to mind. This song is a Rodgers and Hammerstein song that was written for their musical, South Pacific. The song is performed in the first act by Lieutenant Cable when he makes love to his adored Liat, to whom he was only recently introduced Read More
Showboat
The musical theater in the 1920s was comparable to Vaudeville with comedic routines and sideshow attractions. However, Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II had an idea for a revolutionary new approach. Now the daunting task of choosing their work. They decided on Edna Ferber’s novel, Showboat. This was a most unconventional topic and she was skeptical Read More
Till There Was You
Meredith Wilson wrote the song for his 1957 musical, The Music Man. In the musical, the librarian, Marion Paroo, sings the song to Professor Harold Hill near the end of Act II. The first release of the song appeared before the first cast album was release in November 1957. The Broadway production of The Music Read More
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma! transformed the world of musical theater in more ways than one. Richard Rodgers was interested in adapting the 1931 play Green Grow the Lilacs by Lynn Riggs into a piece for musical theater. However, his writing partner Lorenz Hart had no interest in the project. Oscar Hammerstein II expressed interest, but his writing partner Read More
Profile of a Composer: Rodgers & Hammerstein
Rodgers and Hammerstein gave us many wonderful songs including, “Shall We Dance,” “Some Enchanted Evening,” “Oh, What A Beautiful Morning,” and “Younger Than Springtime.” They also wrote the songs to The Sound of Music, including My Favorite Things and Edelweiss. The team of Rodgers and Hammerstein consist of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, both Read More
Profile of a Performer: Mary Martin
The Sound of Music was originally conceived and developed as a project for the popular Broadway actress Mary Martin. So, who was Mary Martin? Mary Virginia Martin was born December 1, 1913, in Weatherford, Texas. According to her autobiography, her childhood was “happy and secure.” She was a tomboy and enjoyed keeping her family entertained. Read More
The Sound of Music
Theaters this week are celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Sound of Music. The film version, starring a then-unknown Julie Andrews and primarily stage performer Christopher Plummer, of the musical first hit theaters in 1965. The stage version first premiered six years earlier in 1959, with Mary Martin and Theodore Bikel, in the title roles. Read More
Behind the Song: Edelweiss
Edelweiss is the popular ballad from the musical The Sound of Music. This was the last song written for the musical. Edelweiss is a white flower found high in the Austrian Alps and was the inspiration for the waltz. The song was written as a vehicle for Captain Von Trapp, played by Theodore Bikel in Read More