The most beloved musical of all time, Lerner & Loewe's MY FAIR LADY returns to Broadway in a lavish new production from Lincoln Center Theater, the theater that brought you the Tony-winning revivals of South Pacific and The King and I.
Directed by Tony winner Bartlett Sher, the stellar cast - led by Lauren Ambrose, Harry Hadden-Paton, Norbert Leo Butz, Diana Rigg, Allan Corduner, Jordan Donica, Linda Mugleston and Manu Narayan - tells the story of Eliza Doolittle, a young Cockney flower seller, and Henry Higgins, a linguistics professor who is determined to transform her into his idea of a "proper lady." But who is really being transformed?
The classic score features "I Could Have Danced All Night," "The Rain in Spain," "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" and "On the Street Where You Live." The original 1956 production won six Tony Awards including Best Musical, and was hailed by The New York Times as "one of the best musicals of the century."
Higgins is as always a comically insufferable narcissist but Hadden-Paton (who played Bertie Pelham on Downton Abbey) gives him a shot of sex appeal, which helps. Norbert Leo Butz, as Eliza's foolish father, gives a showstopping performance. But this revival really seems to draw its energy from the women - from Ambrose's damaged and determined Eliza, as well as Diana Rigg (Diana Rigg!) as the dry, wise, seen-it-all queen of common sense, Mrs. Higgins. Their spirit, and their refusal to allow the ridiculous impulses of men go unchecked, points to the irony in the title: Sure she's fair, but she does not belong to you.
But what's especially lovely (or should that be 'loverly'?) is watching the tempestuous pair gradually fall in love. Ambrose brings a beautiful voice and a winning combination of humor, pluck and fragility to the role. Hadden-Paton mitigates some of Higgins's fury by yelling at Eliza in a tone that's more playful than patriarchal. Although the character is still a bundle of rage at times, it's clear his feelings for Eliza run deep.
1956 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
1957 | US Tour |
1st National Tour US Tour |
1958 | West End |
London Production West End |
1964 | Broadway |
City Center Revival Broadway |
1964 | Regional (US) |
Regional Revival Regional (US) |
1968 | Off-Broadway |
City Center Revival Off-Broadway |
1976 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Broadway |
1977 | Milburn, NJ (Regional) |
Paper Mill Production Milburn, NJ (Regional) |
1979 | West End |
London Revival West End |
1981 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Broadway |
1993 | Milburn, NJ (Regional) |
Paper Mill Production Milburn, NJ (Regional) |
1993 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Broadway |
2001 | West End |
Royal National Theatre Production West End |
2002 | Milburn, NJ (Regional) |
Paper Mill Production Milburn, NJ (Regional) |
2005 | UK Tour |
National Tour UK Tour |
2018 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Broadway |
2019 | US Tour |
Revival Tour US Tour |
2022 | West End |
London Production West End |
2022 | US Tour |
US Tour US Tour |
Year | Ceremony | Category | Nominee |
---|---|---|---|
2018 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Harry Hadden-Paton |
2018 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical | Catherine Zuber |
2018 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Director of a Musical | Bartlett Sher |
2018 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical | Diana Rigg |
2018 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | My Fair Lady |
2018 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Lauren Ambrose |
2018 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | Harry Hadden-Paton |
2018 | Drama League Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Broadway or Off-Broadway Musical | My Fair Lady |
2018 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Harry Hadden-Paton |
2018 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Musical | Lauren Ambrose |
2018 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Choreographer | Christopher Gattelli |
2018 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Costume Design | Catherine Zuber |
2018 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Director of a Musical | Bartlett Sher |
2018 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Norbert Leo Butz |
2018 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Revival of a Musical | My Fair Lady |
2018 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Set Design | Michael Yeargan |
2018 | Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Sound Design | Marc Salzberg |
2018 | Theatre World Awards | Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance | Harry Hadden-Paton |
2018 | Tony Awards | Best Choreography | Christopher Gattelli |
2018 | Tony Awards | Best Costume Design of a Musical | Catherine Zuber |
2018 | Tony Awards | Best Direction of a Musical | Bartlett Sher |
2018 | Tony Awards | Best Lighting Design of a Musical | Donald Holder |
2018 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical | Norbert Leo Butz |
2018 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical | Harry Hadden-Paton |
2018 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical | Diana Rigg |
2018 | Tony Awards | Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical | Lauren Ambrose |
2018 | Tony Awards | Best Revival of a Musical | My Fair Lady |
2018 | Tony Awards | Best Scenic Design of a Musical | Michael Yeargan |
Videos