Kismet 1953

Opened: December 3, 1953

Kismet - 1953 - Broadway History , Info & More

Ziegfeld Theatre
6th Avenue at W. 54th St., Roof New York, NY

From the play by Edward Knoblock

Neither Aladdin nor Ali Baba ever had a day like this! In the span of twenty-four hours, Hajj the beggar manages to escape the clutches of a vengeful bandit, drown the evil Wazir of Police, catch the eye of the Wazir's voluptuous wife, serve as Emir of Baghdad, and see his daughter wed to the handsome Caliph. brbrFrom the original hit Broadway and London productions to the popular MGM film and highly successful revivals around the world, this Arabian fantasy has proven a winner with audiences time and again, thanks to its exotic setting, appealing characters and wry sense of humor, not to mention a lush score adapted from the soaring melodies of Alexander Borodin. Packed with mirth, mayhem and romance, strongKISMET/strong has enough adventure and delight to last at least 1001 Arabian nights!

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Princeton Symphony Orchestra Presents the World Premiere of SEVEN DECISIONS OF GHANDI
by Stephi Wild - Feb 16, 2023


On Saturday, March 11 at 8pm and Sunday, March 12 at 4pm, the Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) presents the world premiere of composer William Harvey's Seven Decisions of Gandhi. Written for violin and orchestra, the work was dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi's granddaughter Ela on the occasion of her 80th birthday.

What Was the Golden Age of Broadway?
by Team BWW - Feb 19, 2022


Just last week, The Music Man marched back to Broadway- the latest revival of a show from musical theatre's most glorious time- the Golden Age. What was the Golden Age of Broadway all about and what years did it cover? Study up!

Adelaide Boedecker Joins Choral Artist's A NIGHT AT THE OPERA, February 20
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 13, 2022


Choral Artists of Sarasota's 43rd season, “Carried Away,” continues with “A Night at the Opera,” Sunday, February 20, 5 p.m., at Church of the Palms, 3224 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota.

Dancer/Musician/Writer Phyllis Sues Has Passed Away
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 9, 2021


Phyllis was a tour de force, a vibrant star, who loved life to the fullest. She lived for music, design and dance. She lived for the challenge. She had the desire. And, along the way she inspired. 

Lonny Price Will Direct 'Re-Imagined' KISMET in Santa Barbara
by Nicole Rosky - Jul 16, 2021


According to an Equity casting notice, Lonny Price will direct a production of Kismet this October at the Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara, California. With Broadway producer Ken Davenport attached as Executive Producer, the production will be presented in collaboration with the Santa Barbara Symphony and State Street Ballet.

Student Blog: Zodiac Signs of Tony-Nominated Musicals
by Student Blogger: Madison Moore - Mar 22, 2021


The criteria are that these shows have been nominated for Best Musical from the 3rd Tony Awards (the ceremony that started the Best Musical category) in 1949 to the nominations of what will now be the 74th Tony Awards in 2021. I will be determining their signs based upon their Broadway premiere date. With those rules in mind, here we go!

Musical Theatre Guild Sets 2019-2020 Season - BARNUM, IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU, and More!
by Stephi Wild - May 7, 2019


Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, has announced an exciting quartet of shows for their 24th season of Broadway in Concert musicals. The MTG 2019-2020 season includes: BARNUM, THE GOODBYE GIRL, IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU and KISMET.

TCM To Pay Tribute To Musicals In June Programming Special 'Mad About Musicals!'
by Tori Hartshorn - May 23, 2018


Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will pay homage to the glittering world of Hollywood musicals with Mad About Musicals!, a special month of programming celebrating timeless movie musicals such as The Wizard of Oz, Singin' in the Rain and Cabaret. TCM is once again partnering with Ball State University and Canvas to offer a free online multimedia course tied to this programming special about the history of the musical genre and its evolution with cultural and technological shifts. Enrollment is open until June 17 and fans can sign up for the course at musicals.tcm.com.

Spreckels Theatre Company Presents KISMET at Rohnert Park
by Sally Henry Fuller - Jan 25, 2016


Spreckels Theatre Company presents a staged concert of the 1953 Broadway musical 'Kismet.'

Leonia Chamber Musicians Society to Present RUSSIAN ROMANTICS, 2/8
by BWW News Desk - Jan 19, 2015


Get in the mood for Valentine's Day at the Leonia Chamber Musicians Society, Inc.'s concert featuring Russian composers of the romantic period. The second performance of a three concert series will be held on February 8 at All Saints Episcopal Church, located at 150 Park Avenue in Leonia, New Jersey, at 4:00 p.m.

Tony Sheldon Replaces Roger Rees in Encores! THE BAND WAGON
by BWW News Desk - Oct 16, 2014


Tony Award nominee Tony Sheldon (Priscilla Queen of the Desert) has joined the cast of the Encores! Special Event The Band Wagon in the role of Jeffrey Cordova, an egotistical British director. (Roger Rees, previously announced in the role, is no longer available.) The Band Wagon cast stars Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell, seven-time Emmy Award winner Tracey Ullman, Academy Award nominee Michael McKean, Tony Award nominee Laura Osnes, Tony Award nominee Michael Berresse and Don Stephenson. The Band Wagon will open on Sunday, November 8.

Scoop: Roger Rees, Tracey Ullman, Michael McKean, & Laura Osnes & More Join Cast of Encores! THE BAND WAGON
by Nicole Rosky - Oct 6, 2014


This just in! Previously announced Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell will be joined by Tony Award winner Roger Rees, seven-time Emmy Award winner Tracey Ullman, Academy Award nominee Michael McKean, Tony Award nominee Laura Osnes, Tony Award nominee Michael Berresse, and Don Stephenson in The Band Wagon, an Encores! Special Event from November 6 - 16, 2014 at City Center. The Band Wagon will open on Sunday, November 8.

Borodin's Prince Igor, Performed by the Met In Nearly 100 Years, Comes to Great Performances at the Met, 6/22
by Christina Mancuso - May 27, 2014


NEW YORK, May 27, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ Borodin's operatic masterpiece Prince Igor, which had its first Met performances since 1917 earlier this year, will be broadcast on Great Performances at the Met Sunday, June 22 at 12 noon on PBS (check local listings). (In New York, THIRTEEN will air the opera at 12:30 p.m.)

Neile Adams Brings THE LIVES OF ME to El Portal Theatre This Weekend
by BWW News Desk - May 24, 2014


El Portal Theatre presents Ms. Neile Adams in The Lives of Me, A Musical Celebration of her memories and the stages of her life! Directed by Ted Sprague with Musical Direction by Andy Howe, The Lives of Me runs this weekend, May 24 & May 25 for 2 shows only, at the Monroe Forum Theatre at the historic El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd. in the heart of the NoHo Arts District.

Neile Adams to Bring THE LIVES OF ME at El Portal Theatre, 5/24-25
by Tyler Peterson - Apr 28, 2014


El Portal Theatre presents Ms. Neile Adams in The Lives of Me, A Musical Celebration of her memories and the stages of her life! Directed by Ted Sprague with Musical Direction by Andy Howe, The Lives of Me runs May 24 & May 25 for 2 shows only, at the Monroe Forum Theatre at the historic El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Blvd. in the heart of the NoHo Arts District.

BWW Reviews: South Coast Rep Stages Lovely OC Production of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA
by Michael L. Quintos - Feb 10, 2014


Truly one of the most elegant, though underrated musicals of the new century, THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA---now on stage in a lovely new production at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa through February 23---follows the uneasy journey that a loving, though over-protective mother must embark on when her daughter discovers the wonderfully vulnerable world of adult love. Filled with a gorgeously sweeping score by Adam Guettel and an insanely talented cast, this Italian journey surely ranks as one of the best, most attractive musicals SCR has mounted in recent years.

Borodin's Russian Epic PRINCE IGOR Returns to the Met Tonight
by BWW News Desk - Feb 6, 2014


Borodin's operatic masterpiece Prince Igor will return to the Met tonight, February 6 for the first time since 1917, in a new production by acclaimed director Dmitri Tcherniakov in his Met debut.

Borodin's Russian Epic PRINCE IGOR to Return to the Met, Beg. Feb 6
by BWW News Desk - Jan 10, 2014


Borodin's operatic masterpiece Prince Igor will return to the Met on February 6 for the first time since 1917, in a new production by acclaimed director Dmitri Tcherniakov in his Met debut. Ildar Abdrazakov stars as the heroic title character, a 12th-century ruler who defended Russia against invading Polovtsian forces.

Meet the Cast: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA US Tour- Part 1!
by Nicole Rosky - Oct 14, 2013


Just last week, Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group announced the casting and initial tour schedule for their spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera launching a major North American Tour in Providence, R.I. at the Providence Performing Arts Center. With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM, the most successful musical of all-time, will be performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America. Meet the cast below!

Jeffrey Seller Directs Dallas Theater Center's FLY World Premiere, Beg. Tonight
by BWW News Desk - Jul 2, 2013


Dallas Theater Center presents the world premiere of Fly, a new musical based on J.M. Barrie's novel, Peter Pan. Three-time Tony Award-winning producer Jeffrey Seller (Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights) makes his directorial debut with this production.

Jeffrey Seller to Direct Dallas Theater Center's FLY World Premiere; Cast & Creative Team Announced!
by BWW News Desk - May 31, 2013


Dallas Theater Center announced the complete cast and creative team for the world premiere of Fly, a new musical based on J.M. Barrie's novel, Peter Pan. Three-time Tony Award-winning producer Jeffrey Seller (Rent, Avenue Q, In the Heights) makes his directorial debut with this production.

Team Behind LEGALLY BLONDE Closes LIFE OF THE PARTY Opera Today, 5/6
by BWW News Desk - May 6, 2012


Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts presents the world premiere of Life Of The Party, a light opera for dark times. Following the huge success of last year's production of Kismet, director Paul Lincoln and the LaGuardia High School Opera Workshop tackle this completely original work, written and composed by Tony Award nominees Laurence O'Keefe (Legally Blonde, Bat Boy) and Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde, Pirates!). The show plays a strictly limited run, with its last performance today, May 6th at 2:00pm.

The Team Behind LEGALLY BLONDE Presents LIFE OF THE PARTY Opera, Now thru 5/6
by BWW News Desk - May 3, 2012


Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts presents the world premiere of Life Of The Party, a light opera for dark times. Following the huge success of last year's production of Kismet, director Paul Lincoln and the LaGuardia High School Opera Workshop tackle this completely original work, written and composed by Tony Award nominees Laurence O'Keefe (Legally Blonde, Bat Boy) and Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde, Pirates!). The show plays a strictly limited run, with performances tonight, May 3rd, May 4th and 5th at 7:30pm and May 6th at 2:00pm.

The Team Behind LEGALLY BLONDE Announce LIFE OF THE PARTY Opera for May
by James T Harding - Apr 19, 2012


Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts is proud to announce the world premiere of Life Of The Party, a light opera for dark times. Following the huge success of last year's production of Kismet, director Paul Lincoln and the LaGuardia High School Opera Workshop tackle this completely original work, written and composed by Tony Award nominees Laurence O'Keefe (Legally Blonde, Bat Boy) and Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde, Pirates!). The show plays a strictly limited run, with performances May 3rd, 4th and 5th at 7:30pm and May 6th at 2:00pm.

Pennsylvania School Cancels KISMET Production Because of 9/11
by Nicole Rosky - Sep 20, 2011


According to the Associated press, Richland School District, outside of Pittsburgh, has decided to cancel a production of KISMET (a musical about a Muslim poet) because the community 'complained about the timing so soon after the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.' Instead, the school will stage OKLAHOMA!

Kismet FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What productions of Kismet have there been?
Kismet has had 11 productions including Broadway which opened in 1953, Broadway which opened in 1953, West End which opened in 1955, US Tour which opened in 1955, US Tour which opened in 1955, US Tour which opened in 1962, Broadway which opened in 1965, Los Angeles which opened in 1976, Regional (US) which opened in 2004, Off-Broadway which opened in 2006 and West End which opened in 2007.
What Tony Awards has Kismet been nominated for?
Kismet has been nominated for several Tony Awards. These include nominations for Best Musical and Best Conductor and Musical Director for Louis Adrian.
What Tony Awards has Kismet won?
Kismet has won several Tony Awards. These include Best Musical and Best Conductor and Musical Director for Louis Adrian.
What awards has Kismet been nominated for?
Kismet has been nominated for the Performance (Theatre World Awards) for Joan Diener.
What awards has Kismet won?
Kismet has won the Performance (Theatre World Awards) for Joan Diener.

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