A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart.

Related Topics:
Musical - Stephen Sondheim - Burt Shevelove - Larry Gelbart

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Based on the comedies of the ancient Roman playwright Plautus, it tells the story of a slave named Pseudolus and his attempts to win his freedom by encouraging the romance between his master's son Hero and a young virgin named Philia who is owned by Marcus Lycus, a dealer in courtesans, and promised to a swaggering soldier named Miles Gloriosus. The humor is broad and bawdy and fast-paced.

Related Topics:
Ancient Roman - Plautus - Slave - Courtesan - Miles Gloriosus

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Sondheim's score was coolly received when Forum opened on Broadway on May 8, 1962, at the Alvin Theatre, and was not even nominated for a Tony Award even though the show won the award for Best Musical. Starring Zero Mostel, Jack Gilford, David Burns, Ruth Kobart, and John Carradine, the original production was directed by Broadway legend George Abbott.

Related Topics:
Broadway - May 8 - 1962 - Alvin Theatre - Tony Award - Best Musical - Zero Mostel - Jack Gilford - David Burns - Ruth Kobart - John Carradine - George Abbott

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A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum was made into a film in 1966 with Zero Mostel, Jack Gilford, Buster Keaton, a very young Michael Crawford and Phil Silvers (who also starred in a critically well-received Broadway revival in 1972). It was also revived with great success in 1996 with Nathan Lane as Pseudolus, replaced later in the run by Whoopi Goldberg, and also David Alan Grier.

Related Topics:
Zero Mostel - Jack Gilford - Buster Keaton - Michael Crawford - Phil Silvers - Revival - 1972 - 1996 - Nathan Lane - Whoopi Goldberg - David Alan Grier

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