Try to remember the first time you saw The Fantasticks...I'll bet you were callow and life was mellow!Today is the 50th anniversary of its original off-Broadway opening, and after zillions of performances and thousands of productions, this little show retains the heavyweight title of longest running musical anywhere and is still running in NYC.
It's a testament to Harvey Schmidt & Tom Jones, its creators, that they chose not to work against the simplicity of the source material on which they based their show. These talented men went on to create a number of other memorable musicals, like the hits I Do, I Do, 110 in the Shade, and lesser-known but still revered works like Celebration.
Back in 2000, I had the pleasure of hosting these two gentlemen (and, believe me, they are gentlemen!) for a summer at the Laguna Playhouse in their retrospective revue The Show Goes On. What a delight getting to know them.
So, here's a toast to Harvey & Tom, and if you remember, "then follow!"
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