March 13th, 1947
The Broadway musical “Brigadoon” opened at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York on March 13, 1947. With music by Frederick Loewe and book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, “Brigadoon” is a fantasy set in a Scottish village that appears for only one day every hundred years. The story follows two American tourists, Tommy Albright and Jeff Douglas, who stumble upon Brigadoon on the day of its centennial awakening. Tommy falls in love with Fiona MacLaren, a resident of Brigadoon, setting the stage for a conflict between love and the reality of returning to his life in New York.
“Brigadoon” was notable for its enchanting music, including classic songs like “Almost Like Being in Love” and “The Heather on the Hill,” and for its innovative choreography by Agnes de Mille, who had previously achieved fame with her work on “Oklahoma!”. The original production was a success, running for 581 performances and helping to solidify Lerner and Loewe’s reputation as one of Broadway’s leading creative teams. They would go on to create other iconic musicals, including “My Fair Lady” and “Camelot.”
The story of “Brigadoon” explores themes of love, loss, and the choices that define our lives, capturing audiences’ imaginations with its romantic setting and the magical allure of a hidden village frozen in time. The musical has enjoyed numerous revivals and adaptations, including a 1954 film version starring Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse, and remains a beloved classic in the American musical theatre repertoire.
