Two Gentlemen of Verona (musical)

Two Gentlemen of Verona
Original Cast Recording
Music	Galt MacDermot
Lyrics	John Guare
Book	John Guare Mel Shapiro
Basis	William Shakespeare's The Two Gentlemen of Verona
Productions	1971 Broadway 1973 West End 2005 Shakespeare in the Park 2011 St. Louis
Awards	Tony Award for Best Musical Tony Award for Best Book Drama Desk Outstanding Book Drama Desk Outstanding Music Drama Desk Outstanding Lyrics

Two Gentlemen of Verona is a rock musical, with a book by John Guare and Mel Shapiro, lyrics by Guare and music by Galt MacDermot, based on the Shakespeare comedy of the same name.

The original Broadway production, in 1971, won the Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Book. A London production followed in 1973. The Public Theater revived the piece in 2005.

Lifelong friends Proteus and Valentine leave their rural hometown to experience life in urban Milan. Valentine falls in love with Sylvia, whose father has betrothed her against her will to the wealthy but undesirable Thurio, and plots to win her hand. Disregarding his loyalty to Valentine and Julia, his sweetheart back home, Proteus also sets his sights on Sylvia. He plans to expose his friend's intentions to her father, have Valentine banished from Milan, and claim her for himself.

After tryouts at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park in the summer of 1971 and twenty previews, the Broadway production, directed by Mel Shapiro and choreographed by Jean Erdman, opened on December 1, 1971 at the St. James Theatre, where it ran for 614 performances. The cast included Raul Julia, Clifton Davis, Jonelle Allen and Diana Davila in the leads; and Jeff Goldblum were in the chorus.