Clive Davis Reveals Why He's Bringing MY FAIR LADY Back to Broadway!

As a guest columnist for The Hollywood Reporter, legendary music exec Clive Davis reveals why he will bring the iconic Lerner and Loewe musical MY FAIR LADY back to Broadway. While no casting has been announced nor opening date set, Davis shares that it was his "frustration" with recent Broadway shows such as "The Producers," "Hairspray" and "The Book of Mormon" which inspired him to revive what he calls "the greatest musical of all time."

Explains Davis, "As Columbia [Records] general counsel, I was to do the contracts for Ebb and Kander's Cabaret, and Comden and Green's Subways Are for Sleeping, among many others. I was lucky to be invited to the opening nights -- and how I loved them! So, in 1974 when I founded Arista Records, I was determined that my new company would make its mark with original Broadway cast albums."

However over time, Davis recognized that Broadway musicals were undergoing a radical change. "...there was no new musical being written that contained a rich body of musical gems destined to be classics. Over the years, I grew more and more frustrated. I would listen to the songs of The Producers, Hairspray, The Book of Mormon, all promising to be hit Broadway shows, but none giving birth in profusion to songs that would be part of our generation's legacy."

After a period of frustration, the record exec realized that the chances of a new Oklahoma-like classic popping up were becoming slim to none. It was then that he decided the time had come to revive what he considers to be the greatest musical of all time. "My Fair Lady. What music!", he exclaims. "With that special combination of literate, incisive, penetrating lyrics and glorious, wonderful melodies."

After struggling for over a year to secure the rights to the musical, Davis joined forces with Roger Berlind, Scott Landis and the Nederlander Organization and acquired the rights to the show.

According to Davis, "We will do a first-class production that will remind everyone what a great musical is all about, what a great script is all about and what great songs are all about. I'm already eagerly anticipating an opening night no one will ever forget."

Read the story in full here

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