Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen

Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen is a musical with a book by John Patrick and music and lyrics by Stan Freeman and Franklin Underwood.

Based on Patrick's play and screenplay The Teahouse of the August Moon, it focuses on Capt. Fisby who, assigned the task of Americanizing the village of Tobiki on Okinawa following World War II, encourages the residents to build a school. They would prefer a traditional teahouse instead, and when Fisby discovers the potent alcoholic beverage they brew is popular with the American GIs and a big money-maker, he falls in with their plans. Helping him become assimilated to the local mores are local interpreter Sakini and geisha Lotus Blossom.

After three previews, the Broadway production, directed by Lawrence Kasha and choreographed by Marc Breaux, opened on December 28, 1970 at the Majestic Theatre, where it ran for only 19 performances. The cast included Kenneth Nelson, David Burns, Ron Husmann, and Eleanor Calbes.

Burns was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical, and Freddy Wittop was nominated for Best Costume Design.

Song list

Awards and honors

Original Broadway production

Further reading

• Sneider, Vern J. (1951). The Teahouse of the August Moon. New York: Putnam. OCLC 429098. 

External links

• Lovely Ladies, Kind Gentlemen at the Internet Broadway Database
• The Teahouse of the August Moon (1953 play) at the Internet Broadway Database
• The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956 film) on IMDb