NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Camelot (musical)

Camelot is a 1960 musical play by Alan Jay Lerner (book and lyrics) and Frederic Loewe (music). It is based on the King Arthur legend as adapted from the T. H. White novel The Once and Future King. The main conflict of the novel and the play is the affair between Arthur's wife, Guenevere, and his friend, Sir Lancelot. The original production, directed by Moss Hart, ran on Broadway for 873 performances, winning four Tony Awards and spawning several revivals, foreign productions and a film version.eat my shit Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Musical theater (or theatre) is a form of theatre combining music, songs, dance, and spoken dialogue. ... Alan Jay Lerner (August 31, 1918 â€“ June 14, 1986) was an American Broadway lyricist and librettist. ... Frederic Loewe (June 10, 1901 - February 14, 1988) was a highly successful Austrian-American composer. ... A bronze Arthur in plate armour with visor raised and with jousting shield wearing Kastenbrust armour (early 15th century) by Peter Vischer, typical of later anachronistic depictions of Arthur. ... Terence Hanbury White (May 29, 1906 â€“ January 17, 1964) was an English writer, born in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. ... The Once and Future King The Once and Future King is an Arthurian fantasy novel written by T.H. White. ... Queen Guinevere, by William Morris Guinevere was the legendary queen consort of King Arthur. ... For other uses, see Lancelot (disambiguation). ... Moss Hart (October 24, 1904 â€“ December 20, 1961) was an American playwright and director of plays and musical theater. ... What is popularly called the Tony Award (formally, the Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre) is an annual award celebrating achievements in live American theater, including musical theater, primarily honoring productions on Broadway in New York. ... Camelot is the 1967 film version of the successful musical of the same name. ...

Roles and original cast

A bronze Arthur in plate armour with visor raised and with jousting shield wearing Kastenbrust armour (early 15th century) by Peter Vischer, typical of later anachronistic depictions of Arthur. ... Richard Burton CBE (November 10, 1925 â€“ August 5, 1984) was a Welsh actor. ... Queen Guinevere, by William Morris Guinevere was the legendary queen consort of King Arthur. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Lancelot (disambiguation). ... Robert Gerard Goulet (b. ... Merlyn can refer to: T.H. Whites name for the wizard Merlin in his work, The Once and Future King The Book of Merlyn, the lost fifth book of The Once and Future King Baron Merlyn Rees, the 20th Century British politician This is a disambiguation page — a... King Pellinore of Listinoise is a minor character in Arthurian legend. ... Robert Coote (with Robert Ryan) in Berlin Express Robert Coote (February 4, 1909 - November 26, 1982) was a London-born film actor. ... Mordred or Modred (Welsh: Medraut) is a legendary figure of Britain, known in Arthurian legend as a notorious traitor who fought King Arthur at the Battle of Camlann, where he was killed and Arthur fatally wounded. ... McDowall as a child actor Roderick Andrew Anthony Jude McDowall (September 17, 1928 â€“ October 3, 1998) was a British actor. ... How King Makre and Sir Dinadan heard Sir Palomides makeing great sarrow and mourning for La Beale Isoud by Aubrey Beardsley Sir Dinadan is a Knight of the Round Table in Arthurian legend. ... John Cullum is an American actor and singer. ... Morgan le Fay, by Anthony Frederick Sandys (1829 - 1904), 1864 (Birmingham Art Gallery): A spell-brewing Morgaine distinctly of Tennysons generation In the mythology of King Arthur, Morgan le Fay, alternatively known as Morgaine, Morgain or Morgana and a slew of related name variants, is a powerful sorceress and...

Background and original production

In his 1978 book, The Street Where I Live, Alan Jay Lerner wrote extensively about the background and history of Camelot. ^[1]

In 1959, Alan Lerner and Moss Hart decided to adapt T. H. White's Once and Future King as their next project. Frederick Loewe, who had no interest in the project, agreed to write music, but he said to Lerner that if things went badly, it would be his last score (Lerner, p. 190). After the tremendous success of My Fair Lady, expectations were high for a new Lerner and Loewe musical. However, the show's production met several obstacles. Lerner writes of his wife leaving him during the writing process (Lerner, p. 204), causing him to seek medical attention, and which caused a delay. When the production began rehearsals, it still needed considerable work. However, the producers were able to secure a strong cast including Andrews, Burton and McDowall, as well as Robert Goulet in his first Broadway role. John Cullum, also making his Broadway debut, later replaced McDowall during the Broadway run. ... Moss Hart (October 24, 1904 â€“ December 20, 1961) was an American playwright and director of plays and musical theater. ... Frederic Loewe, an Austrian-American composer (June 10, 1901 - February 14, 1988) worked with lyricist Alan J. Lerner in musical theater. ... My Fair Lady is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe, based on George Bernard Shaws Pygmalion. ... Lerner and Loewe is a designation for the musical comedy writing team of lyricist and librettist Alan Jay Lerner and composer Frederick Loewe. ... Robert Gerard Goulet (b. ... John Cullum is an American actor and singer. ...

The show first played in Toronto, at the O'Keefe Centre. The opening night script was very long. Lerner later noted that "Only Tristan and Isolde equaled it as a bladder endurance contest." (Lerner, p. 214) The curtain came down at twenty minutes to one in the morning. The morning papers, though kind, hinted that the show needed much work in order to succeed. Lerner was hospitalized with a bleeding ulcer and had to withdraw from preparations for a time. Hart then suffered a heart attack, and Lerner stepped in as temporary director for the rest of the out of town run. Camelot then moved to Boston, nearly an hour and a half shorter, but still running very long. They tried to find another director, even phoning Jose Ferrer, who could not undertake the job. (Lerner, p. 223) Lerner and Loewe disagreed on what to do, as Loewe did not want to make any major changes without Hart's guidance. Lerner writes: "God knows what would have happened had it not been for Richard Burton." Accepting cuts and changes, he radiated a "faith and geniality" and calmed the fears of the cast. (Lerner, pp. 230-31) The Hummingbird Centre The Hummingbird Centre is a major performing arts venue in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... Tristan und Isolde (Tristan and Isolde) is an opera in three acts by Richard Wagner to a German libretto by the composer, based largely on the romance by Gottfried von Strassburg, which in turn was based on the story of Tristan and Iseult as told in French by Thomas of... José Vicente Ferrer de Otero y Cintron, known as José Ferrer (January 8, 1912-January 26, 1992), was an actor and director, born in Santurce, Puerto Rico. ...

On December 3, 1960, after two previews, the show opened on Broadway at the Majestic Theater. Guenevere's song "The Lusty Month of May" was given to Andrews at the last minute before the first New York preview, which provoked her famous quote, "Of course darling, but do try to get it to me the night before." (Lerner, p. 232) The New York critics' reactions were mixed.^[2] Finally, however, Hart was released from the hospital, and he and Lerner began cutting the play even further. Two songs, "Take me to the Fair" and "Fie on Goodness" were cut. December 3 is the 337th (in leap years the 338th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... Majestic Theater - Wikipedia /**/ @import /w/skins-1. ...

Fortunately for the show, Ed Sullivan approached Lerner and Loewe to create a segment for his TV show "Toast of the Town," celebrating the fifth anniversary of My Fair Lady. They decided to do very little from their previous hit and instead to perform four highlights from Camelot. The show stimulated ticket sales. It was also publicized, just after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, that the show's original cast recording had been favorite bedtime listening in the White House, and that Kennedy's favorite lines were in the final number (in which Arthur knights a young boy and tells him to pass on the story of Camelot to future generations): This article includes a list of works cited but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ... A cast recording or original cast recording is a recording of a musical that is intended to document the songs as they were performed in the show and experienced by the audience. ... For other uses, see White House (disambiguation). ... The silver Anglia knight, commissioned as a trophy in 1850, intended to represent the Black Prince. ... Gustave DorÃ©â€™s illustration of Camelot from â€œIdylls of the Kingâ€, 1868 Camelot is the most famous fictional castle associated with the legendary King Arthur. ...

The obstacles encountered in producing Camelot were difficult on the creative partnership of Lerner and Loewe. Camelot was also Hart's last Broadway show. He died of a heart attack in Palm Springs, California on December 20, 1961.^[4] Lerner and Loewe is a designation for the musical comedy writing team of lyricist and librettist Alan Jay Lerner and composer Frederick Loewe. ...

Subsequent productions

A U.S. tour followed the Broadway closing. The London production opened in August 1964 and featured Laurence Harvey as Arthur, Elizabeth Larner as Guenevere and Barry Kent as Lancelot. It played for 518 performances. The film version was made in 1967. Laurence Harvey in the Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode Arthur Laurence Harvey (October 1, 1928 â€“ November 25, 1973) was a Lithuanian-born actor who achieved fame in British and American films. ... Elizabeth Larner was a British actress and a singer with a powerful soprano voice. ... Camelot is the 1967 film version of the successful musical of the same name. ...

Richard Burton reprised his role as Arthur in a revival that ran during the summer of 1980 at the New York State Theater at Lincoln Center. Christine Ebersole played Guenevere, and Richard Muenz was Lancelot. , The New York State Theater at Lincoln Center, seen from the Lincoln Center Plaza. ... The Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center. ... Christine Ebersole Christine Ebersole (b. ...

The show was revived on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theater in November 1981 and broadcast on HBO a year later, starring Richard Harris as Arthur, Meg Bussert as Guenevere, and Richard Muenz as Lancelot. Harris, who had starred in the film, and Muenz also took the show on tour nationwide. Another Broadway revival played in June 1993 for 56 performances at the George Gershwin Theatre, with Robert Goulet cast in the role of Arthur. The Winter Garden Theatre is located at Broadway and 50th Street in New York City. ... See also: Musical groups established in 1981 Record labels established in 1981 other events of 1981 list of years in music 1980s in music // January 10 - Revival of the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta The Pirates of Penzance opens at Broadways Uris Theatre, starring Linda Ronstadt and Rex Smith February... HBO (Home Box Office) is an American premium cable television network. ... Richard St. ... The George Gershwin Theatre, located at 222 West 51st Street in New York City, was originally built as the Uris Theatre in 1972. ... Robert Gerard Goulet (b. ...

A U.S tour, starring Michael York as Arthur, James Barbour as Lancelot and Rachel York as Guenevere, kicked off on January 9, 2007. Alan Jay Lerner's son, Michael Lerner, has contributed changes to the libretto, and Glenn Casale directed. The tour is scheduled to play at least 25 weeks in the first season, with more in a second season. The cast also includes Shannon Stoeke as Mordred and Eric Anderson as Merlyn.^[5] Michael York (born March 27, 1942, Fulmer, England) is a prolific actor now resident in California. ... James Barbour (June 10, 1775-June 7, 1842) was an American lawyer, a member and speaker of the Virginia house of delegates, the 19th Governor of Virginia, and United States Secretary of War from 1825-1828. ... Rachel York (born Rachel Lemanski on August 7, 1971 in Orlando, Florida) is an American actress and singer. ... January 9 is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini era. ... Michael Lerner is the name of several notable people from the Americans: Michael Lerner, rabbi and left-wing political activist Michael Lerner, actor Michael Lerner, retailer with Lerner Stores This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Eric Anderson (14 December 1972- ) is an American professional actor. ...

Synopsis

Guenevere arrives in Camelot on a wintry morning to marry King Arthur and is greeted festively by the Court. Arthur, shy and nervous, hides in the nearby woods ("I Wonder What the King is Doing Tonight?"). Guenevere comes to the woods, uncertain about herself and her future ("Simple Joys of Maidenhood"). She stumbles into Arthur, who tells her about life in Camelot ("Camelot"), and then discloses his identity. They are each happily charmed by the other.

Arthur learns from Merlyn the wisdom of peace and brotherhood before the Wizard is fatefully drawn into the cave of Nimue for his eternal sleep ("Come to Me"), and is inspired to establish the Round Table. The news of this reaches young Lancelot in France, who is determined to come to Camelot and join Arthur's knights ("C'est Moi"). A May Day celebration takes place on the castle grounds ("The Lusty Month of May"), where Arthur introduces his wife to Lancelot. Guenevere takes an instant dislike to the cocky young man and instigates him to engage three knights of the Round Table in a jousting match ("Then You May Take Me to the Fair"). Arthur is dismayed by this and at a loss to understand a woman's way ("How to Handle a Woman").

In the jousting match Lancelot easily defeats all three knights, drawing the admiration of all, including Guenevere. Lancelot falls in love with the Queen and is torn by the conflict between this love and his devotion to Arthur. He asks permission to leave Camelot for foreign conquests. Returning two years later, Arthur makes him a Knight of the Round Table. Arthur is painfully aware of the feelings between Lancelot and Guenevere but remains silent to preserve the tranquility of Camelot. Lancelot reveals his feelings to Guenevere ("If Ever I Would Leave You"). Nevertheless, she remains faithful to Arthur, and helps him in carrying out the affairs of State ("What Do Simple Folks Do").

Mordred, Arthur's illegitimate son, comes to Camelot to dishonour the King and try to gain the throne for himself. He schemes with his sorceress-aunt, Morgan le Fey, to trap Arthur in a forest one night. During this night, Lancelot visits Guenevere in her chambers, where she reveals her love for him ("I Loved You Once in Silence"). Mordred and some of the Knights of the Round Table interrupt, accuse Lancelot of treachery, and imprison him. Lancelot escapes, but Guenevere is sentenced to burn. ("Guenevere") At the last moment, Lancelot rescues her and takes her off with him to France.

For the sake of his own honour and that of Camelot, Arthur must now wage war on France. Just before the final battle, he meets Lancelot and Guenevere, and forgives them both. In camp, Arthur meets a young stowaway who wants to join the Round Table. Arthur knights him on the field of battle and sends him back to England to grow up there and pass on to future generations the ideals of Camelot.

Musical numbers

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... In Arthurian legend, The Lady of the Lake gave King Arthur the sword known as Excalibur. ... Bors chooses to save a maiden rather than his brother Lionel Sir Lionel is the younger son of King Bors of Gaunnes (or Gaul) and brother of Bors the Younger in Arthurian legend. ... Sir Sagramore is a Knight of the Round Table in the Arthurian legend. ... How King Makre and Sir Dinadan heard Sir Palomides makeing great sarrow and mourning for La Beale Isoud by Aubrey Beardsley Sir Dinadan is a Knight of the Round Table in Arthurian legend. ... Mordred or Modred (Welsh: Medraut) is a legendary figure of Britain, known in Arthurian legend as a notorious traitor who fought King Arthur at the Battle of Camlann, where he was killed and Arthur fatally wounded. ...

Awards

1961 Tony Awards for: What is popularly called the Tony Award (formally, the Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre) is an annual award celebrating achievements in live American theater, including musical theater, primarily honoring productions on Broadway in New York. ...

Notes

References

External links

Categories: 1960 musicals | American musicals | Arthurian theatre Lerner and Loewe is a designation for the musical comedy writing team of lyricist and librettist Alan Jay Lerner and composer Frederick Loewe. ... The Fantasticks is the longest-running musical in history. ... Whats Up? is a musical with a book by Alan Jay Lerner and Arthur Pierson, lyrics by Lerner, and music by Frederick Loewe. ... The Day Before Spring is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. ... DVD cover Brigadoon is a musical by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, first produced in 1947. ... Paint Your Wagon is a 1951 Broadway musical comedy, with book and lyrics by Alan J. Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe, set in a mining camp in Gold Rush-era California. ... My Fair Lady is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe, based on George Bernard Shaws Pygmalion. ... Gigi is a 1958 motion picture musical set in Paris, France. ... Gigi is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. ... DVD cover The Little Prince is a 1974 musical film based on the book of the same name by the French aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupery. ...

Contents

Roles and original cast GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");