Finian's Rainbow Revival 1960

Ages: 6+
Opened: May 23, 1960

Finian's Rainbow - 1960 - Broadway History , Info & More

46th Street Theatre
226 W.46th St. New York, NY

The show had its Broadway premiere in 1947, which ran for 725 performances and won three Tony Awards, including one for star David Wayne and one for legendary choreographer Michael Kidd who made his Broadway debut with the show. One of the first of the socially conscious postwar musicals, Finian's Rainbow is unusual in that it deals in a satirical way with issues of class, race, and economics, most specifically in the character of a bigoted Southern senator who is accidentally turned black. It was also notable in its time for featuring an integrated cast at a time when most shows did not and for featuring a mute character who expresses herself solely through dance. The musical was revived in 1955 at City Center and in 1960 at Broadway's 46th Street Theatre.

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Today in 1960, Finian's Rainbow opened at the 46th Street Theatre (now the Richard Rodgers Theatre). Finian's Rainbow is a musical with a book by E.Y. Harburg and Fred Saidy, lyrics by Harburg, and music by Burton Lane. The 1947 Broadway production ran for 725 performances. Finian moves to the southern United States (the fictional state of Missitucky is a humorous combination of Mississippi and Kentucky) from Ireland with his daughter Sharon, to bury a stolen pot of gold near Fort Knox, in the mistaken belief that it will grow. A leprechaun follows them, desperate to recover his treasure before the loss of it turns him permanently human. Complications arise when a bigoted and corrupt U.S. Senator gets involved, and when wishes are made inadvertently over the hidden crock.

Finian's Rainbow FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What productions of Finian's Rainbow have there been?
Finian's Rainbow has had 15 productions including Broadway which opened in 1947, Broadway which opened in 1947, West End which opened in 1947, Broadway which opened in 1955, Broadway which opened in 1955, Broadway which opened in 1960, Broadway which opened in 1960, Regional (US) which opened in 1997, New York which opened in 1999, US Tour which opened in 1999, New York which opened in 2003, Off-Broadway which opened in 2004, Off-Broadway which opened in 2004, Broadway which opened in 2009 and Off-Broadway which opened in 2016.

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