Calamity Jane (musical)
| Calamity Jane | |
|---|---|
| (A Musical Western) | |
| Music | Sammy Fain |
| Lyrics | Paul Francis Webster |
| Book | Ronald Hanmer and Phil Park |
| Basis | 1953 film Calamity Jane |
| Premiere | May 27, 1961: Casa Mañana, Fort Worth, Texas |
Calamity Jane (A Musical Western) is a stage musical based on the historical figure of frontierswoman Calamity Jane. The non-historical, somewhat farcical plot involves the authentic Calamity Jane's professional associate Wild Bill Hickok, and presents the two as having a contentious relationship that ultimately proves to be a facade for mutually amorous feelings. The Calamity Jane stage musical originated as a live adaption of Calamity Jane, the 1953 Warner Bros. movie musical with Doris Day. First produced in 1961, the stage musical Calamity Jane features six songs not heard in the movie. According to Jodie Prenger, star of the Calamity Jane 2014 - 15 UK tour, the songs added for the stage musical had been written for but not included in the Calamity Jane movie ("Love You Dearly" had been used in the 1954 Doris Day musical film Lucky Me).
Adapted by Ronald Hanmer and Phil Park from the stage play by Charles K. Freeman, after the Warner Bros. film, written by James O'Hanlon
Songs by Paul Francis Webster (lyrics) and Sammy Fain (music)
Deadwood City's two most famous peace officers, Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickock, get involved in saving the neck of Henry Miller, the local saloon operator. It seems that "Millie" has been promoting a beautiful actress named Frances Fryer, but Frances turns out to be a boy, Francis. Millie's attempt to cover up is soon unmasked by the angry miners, and only Calamity can cool the crowd with her trusty pistols. To keep the peace, Calamity sets out for Chicago to bring back the miner's real heart-throb, Adelaide Adams. In Chicago Calamity mistakes Adelaide's maid, Katie Brown, for the actress and hauls her back to Deadwood. Onstage Katie is greeted warmly, but breaks down and confesses that she is not the famous star. Calamity once more has to restore order and persuades the audience to give Katie a chance. They do, and she wins the heart of every male in town including Calamity's dashing love hope, Lt. Danny Gilmartin. Calamity reluctantly overcomes her jealousy over losing Danny and discovers her true love for Wild Bill.
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