50 years ago: Brigadoon opened on Broadway

Brigadoon Alan Jay Lerner (music), Frederick Loewe (lyrics)

Cast Album

Stage Debut: March 17, 1947 Charted: June 14, 1947 Peak: 4 US Sales (in millions): -- Genre: show tunes

Soundtrack

Charted: November 13, 1964 Peak: 8 US Sales (in millions): -- Genre: show tunes

Songs on Cast Album: Song Title (Performers) [time] Overture / Once in the Highlands /Brigadoon Down on MacConnachy Square Waitin’ for My Dearie I’ll Go Home with Bonnie Jean The Heather on the Hill Come to Me, Bend to me Almost Like Being in Love There But for You Go I My Mother’s Weddin’ Day From This Day On / Brigadoon Songs on Soundtrack: Song Title (Performers) [time] Brigadoon: Main Title (MGM Studio Orchestra) [1:30] Once in the Highlands (Dick Beavers & MGM Studio Chorus) [0:52] Brigadoon (MGM Studio Chorus) [2:06] Down on MacConnachy Square (Villagers with MGM Studio Chorus) [3:13] Waiting for My Dearie (Carol Richards, Bonnie Murray, Anne Biggs, Betty Allen, & MGM Studio Chorus) [5:46] I’ll Go Home with Bonnie Jean (John Gustafson, Gene Kelly, Van Johnson, Paul Roberts & MGM Studio Chorus) [5:17] Come to Me, Bend to Me (outtake) (John Gustafson) [2:59] Heather on the Hill (Gene Kelly) [6:36] Almost Like Being in Love (Gene Kelly) [4:21] Talk to the Dominie (MGM Studio Orchestra) [2:29] Till the End of Our Days (MGM Studio Orchestra) [1:14] There But for You Go I (outtake) (Gene Kelly) [4:13] Two Hundred Years Later (MGM Studio Orchestra) [4:43] The Wedding Dance (MGM Studio Orchestra) [4:08] The Chase (John Gustafon, Bill Reeve, Ernie Newton, & MGM Studio Orchestra & Chorus) [3:48] Fiona’s Search (MGM Studio Orchestra) [1:01] From This Day On (outtake) (Gene Kelly & Carol Richards) [4:17] Heather on the Hill (New York – Reprise) (Carol Richards) [2:19] Even Miracles (MGM Studio Orchestra) [1:35] Brigadoon – Finale & End Credits (MGM Studio Chorus) [1:01] Dinna Ye Know, Tommy (outtake) (Carol Richards) [0:25] Come to Me, Bend to Me (outtake) (Carol Richards) [0:56] Heather on the Hill (instrumental reprise) (MGM Studio Orchestra) [3:43] Singles/Hit Songs: As was common in the pre-rock era, songs from musicals were often recorded by artists not associated with the musical and released as singles. Here are some of the most notable hit singles resulting from the show: “Almost Like Being in Love” – Frank Sinatra (#20, 1947), Mildred Bailey (#21, 1947), Mary Martin (#21, 1947), Michael Johnson (#32, 1978)

Rating: 4.096 out of 5.00 (average of 10 ratings for cast album and soundtrack combined) Awards (Cast Album and Soundtrack): (Click on award to learn more).

About the Show: Brigadoon was the fourth time Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe collaborated on a musical. The first one, Life of the Party, didn’t make it past tryouts but the next two had moderate success. Inspired by the success of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! and Carousel, Lerner & Loewe wrote Brigadoon with a serious love story for the main plot and a lighter romance as a subplot. The story deals with two American tourists who stumble across the mysterious Scottish village of Brigadoon which only appears one day every 100 years. A tourist named Tommy falls for Fiona from Brigadoon. The village was fictional, but named after the Scottish bridge Brig o’ Doon. The music incorporated elements of traditiona Scottish folk dance. The original production opened on Broadway at the Ziegfeld Theatre on March 13, 1947, and ran for 581 performances. It starred David Brooks (Tommy), Marion Bell (Fiona), George Keane (Jeff), James Mitchell (Harry), and Pamela Britton (Meg). The musical opened on April 14, 1949, at Her Majesty’s Theatre on London’s West End and ran for 685 performances. The New York Daily Mirror’s Robert Coleman called it “an unconventional musical show of marked originality” WK and The New York Sun’s Ward Morehouse called it “a stunning show.” WK In the New York Herald Tribune, Howard Barnes called it “a scintillating song and dance fantasy.” WK Richard Watts Jr. wrote in the New York Post “I have seen other musical comedies that I enjoyed more, but few for which I have a deeper admiration.” WK In 1954, Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse starred in a film version of Brigadoon. A television broadcast aired on ABC on October 15, 1966, and won five Primetime Emmy Awards. It starred Robert Goulet (Tommy), Peter Falk (Jeff), Sally Ann Howes (Fiona), Edward Villella (Harry), and Marlyn Mason (Meg).

Resources and Related Links: WK Wikipedia Other Related DMDB Pages: First posted 12/21/2021; last updated 12/23/2021.