BACKGROUND OF MY FAIR LADY

BACKGROUND OF MY FAIR LADY

The musical MY FAIR LADY was written by Alan Jay Lerner and based on the play Pygmalion by Bernard Shaw. The music was written by Frederick Loewe. The team of Lerner and Loewe was also responsible for several other hit Broadway shows including Brigadoon and Camelot.

STAGE PRODUCTION
The first production of My Fair Lady was staged by Moss Hart at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on March 15, 1956, with Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins, Julie Andrews as Liza Doolittle and Stanley Holloway as Alfred P. Doolittle. The show ran for 2,717 performances making it the longest running musical up to that time surpassing the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical play, Oklahoma!, which had held that record up to then. It also ran for 2,281 performances in London at the Drury Lane Theatre. Several New York revivals including 1976 with 377 performances and 1981 with 119 performances. The 1981 revival once again starred Rex Harrision.

MOVIE
The 1964 movie, directed by George Cukor, starred Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn with Stanley Holloway reviving his role as Alfred P. Doolittle. Audrey Hepburn's singing in the film was done by Marni Nixon (also dubbed the singing for Natalie Wood in West Side Story).

AWARDS
1955-1956

The New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical
The Outer Critics Circle Award for Musical

1956-1957

6 Tony Awards for Musical, Director, Conductor and Musical Director,
Costume Designer, Scenic Designer and Actor
The Outer Critics Circle Award for Musical

1975-1976

The Tony Award for Actor - 2 Drama Desk Awards for Actor and Featured Actor

		BACKGROUND OF MY FAIR LADY The musical *MY FAIR LADY* was written by Alan Jay Lerner and based on the play *Pygmalion* by Bernard Shaw. The music was written by Frederick Loewe. The team of Lerner and Loewe was also responsible for several other hit Broadway shows including *Brigadoon* and *Camelot. STAGE PRODUCTION* The first production of My Fair Lady was staged by Moss Hart at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on March 15, 1956, with Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins, Julie Andrews as Liza Doolittle and Stanley Holloway as Alfred P. Doolittle. The show ran for 2,717 performances making it the longest running musical up to that time surpassing the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical play, Oklahoma!, which had held that record up to then. It also ran for 2,281 performances in London at the Drury Lane Theatre. Several New York revivals including 1976 with 377 performances and 1981 with 119 performances. The 1981 revival once again starred Rex Harrision. MOVIE The 1964 movie, directed by George Cukor, starred Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn with Stanley Holloway reviving his role as Alfred P. Doolittle. Audrey Hepburn's singing in the film was done by Marni Nixon (also dubbed the singing for Natalie Wood in *West Side Story). AWARDS 1955-1956 The New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical The Outer Critics Circle Award for Musical 1956-1957* 6 Tony Awards for Musical, Director, Conductor and Musical Director, Costume Designer, Scenic Designer and Actor The Outer Critics Circle Award for Musical 1975-1976 The Tony Award for Actor - 2 Drama Desk Awards for Actor and Featured Actor