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"Musicals" with famous poems set to music?

lachri5
Understudy
joined:1/4/11
Understudy
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1/4/11
"Musicals" with famous poems set to music?#1
Posted: 10/31/18 at 9:04am

Just realized the off-broadway musical Renascence is basically Edna St. Vincent Millay's poems set to music. I know Ricky Ian Gordon wrote a show named Only Heaven with Langston Hughes' poems. Not sure if it was ever staged or simply a concept album, but it makes me curious are there any more shows like this?

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raddersons
Broadway Star
joined:11/14/13
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"Musicals" with famous poems set to music?#2
Posted: 10/31/18 at 9:08am

The obvious: Cats

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raddersons
Broadway Star
joined:11/14/13
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"Musicals" with famous poems set to music?#3
Posted: 10/31/18 at 9:12am

Also the song "Chicken Soup with Rice" from Really Rosie is based on a bunch poems published in the 60s. not sure if the lyrics are totally the same but I think they are.

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darquegk
Broadway Legend
joined:2/5/09
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"Musicals" with famous poems set to music?#4
Posted: 10/31/18 at 10:24am

The late Barbara Cook did a cabaret show called "Songs of Perfect Propriety" based on the poems of Dorothy Parker.

There is also a musical adaptation of the poetry and visual art of Edward Gorey, which has existed under several different names.

freewilma
Leading Actor
joined:2/18/15
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"Musicals" with famous poems set to music?#5
Posted: 10/31/18 at 10:38am

Wild Party x 2 - based on a poem by Joseph Moncure March.  

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raddersons
Broadway Star
joined:11/14/13
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"Musicals" with famous poems set to music?#6
Posted: 10/31/18 at 11:02am

There's also Goblin Market, based on the poem of the same name. Not sure if the lyrics are the same, but I'd imagine some of them are. I'm pretty sure people thought it was a total bore, though. 

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Kad
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joined:11/5/05
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"Musicals" with famous poems set to music?#7
Posted: 10/31/18 at 11:05am

February House sets two of Auden's poems to music.

"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
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Charley Kringas Inc
Broadway Star
joined:8/12/11
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"Musicals" with famous poems set to music?#8
Posted: 10/31/18 at 11:10am

Rufus Wainwright set a bunch of Shakespeare's sonnets to music for a Robert Wilson/Berliner Ensemble musical a few years ago.

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Mister Matt
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"Musicals" with famous poems set to music?#9
Posted: 10/31/18 at 4:17pm
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