1491 (musical)

American musical 1491 1491_(musical).png Cover of 1969 souvenir program Meredith Willson Meredith Willson Meredith Willson Richard Morris 1969 Los Angeles / San Francisco 1491 is a musical centered around Christopher Columbus before his voyage to discover the New World.John C. Skipper Meredith Willson: The Unsinkable Music Man 2015 Savas Publishing 9781882810789 156–159 https://books.google.com/books?id=SzB1CQAAQBAJ&pg=PA157 Music and lyrics are by American composer and playwright Meredith Willson. It was Willson's final musical. The book was by Willson and Richard MorrisMorris' other credits include the screenplay of the 1967 film Thoroughly Modern Millie. with additional material by Ira Barmak,Barmak's other credits including production of the 1987 film Hotel Colonial.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-1491-a-mus/151223895/ '1491'--A Musical That Looks Back Stanley Eichelbaum San Francisco Examiner 47 October 29, 1969 July 12, 2024 newspapers.com and was based on an idea by Ed Ainsworth, a columnist for the Los Angeles Times.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-music-man-meredith/151224099/ Music Man: ...Meredith Willson Again Margaret Harford The Tampa Tribune 6-H September 7, 1969 July 12, 2024 newspapers.com History The musical was intended to open in California in 1967, before transferring to Broadway. Willson spent two years researching Columbus and traveling in Spain and Italy for possible material.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0-1kAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KoINAAAAIBAJ&pg=3223,1769878&dq=meredith-willson+1491&hl=en Columbus Story Inspires Willson Times-Post News Service Edmonton Journal 59 October 7, 1966 Google News Produced by the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera, the musical opened in Los Angeles on September 2, 1969,https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-minneapolis-star-meredith-willsons/151225462/ Meredith Willson's $600,000 '1491' cheered on 1st try Bob Thomas AP The Minneapolis Star 18 B September 3, 1969 July 12, 2024 newspapers.com and later transferred to San Francisco where it closed on December 13, 1969.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-1491-ending/151225711/ '1491' Ending San Francisco Examiner 36 December 11, 1969 July 12, 2024 newspapers.com The musical closed before reaching Broadway. Richard Morris was the director, Edwin Lester was the producer, and Danny Daniels was the choreographer. John Cullum starred as Christopher Columbus and Chita Rivera starred as his mistress.Mordden Ethan Open a new window: the Broadway musical in the 1960s Palgrave Macmillan 2002 41 978-1-4039-6013-9 Jean Fenn played Queen Isabella.Oates Bill Meredith Willson, America's music man: the whole Broadway-symphonic-radio-motion picture story AuthorHouse 2005 172 978-1-4208-3524-3 Initially, Sergio Franchi had been cast as Columbus.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-hollywood-report/151223417/ Hollywood Report Dorothy Manners Dorothy Manners The Indianapolis Star 16 September 18, 1967 July 12, 2024 newspapers.com Notes References 30em External links "Get a Map" via YouTube "What Does a Queen Have" via YouTube Category:1969 musicals Category:Musicals by Meredith Willson Category:Musicals inspired by real-life events Category:Musicals set in the 15th century Category:Cultural depictions of Christopher Columbus