| Shangri-La | |
|---|---|
 Poster for 1956 Broadway production | |
| Music | Harry Warren |
| Lyrics | James Hilton Jerome Lawrence Robert E. Lee |
| Book | James Hilton Jerome Lawrence Robert E. Lee |
| Basis | Hilton's novelLost Horizon |
| Productions | 1956Broadway 1960US television |
Shangri-La is amusical with a book and lyrics byJames Hilton,Jerome Lawrence, andRobert E. Lee and music byHarry Warren.[1]
Based on Hilton's classic 1933 novelLost Horizon, it focuses on Hugh Conway, a veteran member of theBritishdiplomatic service, who stumbles across autopianlamasery high in theHimalayas inTibet after surviving a plane crash in the mountainous terrain. When the dying HighLama asks him to take charge after his death, Conway must decide between embracing the inner peace, love, and sense of purpose he has discovered in this mysterious world or attempt to return to civilization as he knows it.
After a try-out in Boston, the show opened in Philadelphia for a try-out at theForrest Theatre starting Wednesday, May 23, 1956, for two and a half weeks.[2] TheBroadway production, directed byAlbert Marre andchoreographed byDonald Saddler, opened on June 13, 1956 at theWinter Garden Theatre, where it ran for only twenty-one performances.[3] The cast includedDennis King,Shirley Yamaguchi,Martyn Green,Jack Cassidy,Alice Ghostley,Carol Lawrence,Berry Kroeger,Harold Lang, andRobert Cohan.
Irene Sharaff was nominated for theTony Award for Best Costume Design.
An audiotape of the show was recorded live during a performance, but anoriginal cast album never was released. The show was mounted for a 1960television production as part of theHallmark Hall of Fame, with several new songs, starringRichard Basehart,Claude Rains,Gene Nelson,Helen Gallagher, and Ghostley reprising her Broadway role.
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