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Christened the Alvin in 1927, the Neil Simon Theatre was renamed in 1983 to honor America's most prolific playwright, following the successful engagement of Brighton Beach Memoirs, the first play of an autobiographical trilogy about his youth with his family. Fittingly, in 1985, the second play of Mr. Simon's trilogy, Biloxi Blues, played there successfully. In 1992, Mr. Simon returned again with his play Jake's Women. Since 2000, the Neil Simon has been filled with music and dancing as the home to two of Broadway's most popular productions, namely the acclaimed revival of The Music Man and the Tony Award winning Best Musical Hairspray.
Hairspray played the Neil Simon Theatre from August 15, 2002 to January 4, 2009, a total of 2,642 performances. Hairspray features music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman and a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan. The musical was based on John Waters's 1988 film. The show starred Marissa Jaret Winokur, Harvey Fierstein, Matthew Morrison, Kerry Butler, Laura Bell Bundy, Jackie Hoffman, and more!
The legendary Ethel Merman made her Broadway debut at the Neil Simon Theatre (then the Alvin) in the 1930 George and Ira Gershwin musical, Girl Crazy! The world was introduced to the iconic Ethel Merman as she belted out 'I Got Rhythm' and more. The musical also starred Ginger Rogers, and spawned many film versions, most notably the 1943 adaptation starring Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland.
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