Dear World

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Original cast recording
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Original cast recording

Dear World is a Broadway musical with a book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee and music and lyrics by Jerry Herman.

Based on Jean Giraudoux's play The Madwoman of Chaillot, it focuses on Countess Aurelia, Constance, and Gabrielle, who deviously scheme to stop businessmen from drilling for oil in the Parisian neighbourhood of Chaillot. Eventually the forces of poetry, love, and idealism win over those of materialism, science, and greed.

After a notably troubled preview period that included multiple changes to the script and score, the production - directed and choreographed by Joe Layton - opened on February 6, 1969 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre, where it ran for only 132 performances. The cast included Angela Lansbury (who won her second Tony Award for her performance), Milo O'Shea, and Jane Connell. With its opening, the show made Herman the only composer-lyricist in history to have three productions running simultaneously on Broadway.

Originally conceived as a chamber musical, Dear World fell victim to a massive production that effectively overwhelmed the simplicity of the original tale. After the Broadway closing, Herman, Lawrence, and Lee rewrote the show, restoring the intimacy they felt had been undermined on Broadway.

[edit] Song List

  • "The Spring Of Next Year"
  • "Each Tomorrow Morning"
  • "I Don't Want To Know"
  • "I've Never Said I Love You"
  • "Garbage"
  • "Dear World"
  • "Kiss Her Now"
  • "The Tea Party"
  • "And I Was Beautiful"
  • "One Person"

[edit] External link

Internet Broadway Database listing