Word: willson
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...Willson lugged his memory-bag of "innocent Iowa" around for years, discussing it with producers, writing new material, throwing away songs, dashing off new ones. In 1956 Producer Bloomgarden told him that he would like to see the script. A year later, Willson called Bloomgarden from Hollywood. Says Bloomgarden: "I said to myself, 'Willson? Who the hell...
...Willson?' But I told him that if I could hear it the next day I'd be free." Willson and his wife Rini took a plane for New York. Next night they met Bloomgarden at the apartment of Conductor Herbert Greene, who is a co-producer and musical director of the show. Willson played the piano and sang the male parts while Rini sang the female roles. They wound up at 5 a.m. At 9 a.m. Bloomgarden called Willson at his hotel and said: "May I have the honor of producing your beautiful play...
...work casting the show. Barbara Cook (Plain and Fancy') had just the right sweet voice to play Marian; Comedian David Burns was a natural for the wacky mayor; an international championship barbershop quartet, the Buffalo Bills, was signed to harmonize the Sweet Adeline-style love songs that reminded Willson of Mason City days; a ten-year-old charmer named Eddie Hodges took on the role of Marian's shy little brother...
Preston tried out first for Da Costa and Bloomgarden, and his version of Trouble-the toughest song in the show -sold them. Next, they had to sell Willson. Willson heard Trouble and bought...
...Shape. With money and a cast, the show still had a long way to go. Willson's script needed cutting and shaping to give it a nonstop lilt and easy movement. Director Da Costa, a craftsman who has worked quietly in the theater for more than 20 years, buckled down. Says he: "I thought the time had come to send the public out of the theater light-hearted instead of depressed. I wanted this to come off as a story about a charming renegade who reforms, a show with a lot of love and no hate, one that...