The project began in 1954 as a
Columbia Records concept album with Marquis' original title, featuring
Eddie Bracken,
Carol Channing, and
David Wayne. That same year a concert version was presented by the
Little Orchestra Society at
The Town Hall in
New York City. With an expanded book, the addition of several lengthy
ballet sequences, and a cast of animal characters, the rechristened
Shinbone Alley preceded
Cats by a couple of decades and was a precursor of the far more successful
Andrew Lloyd Webber hit. It was one of the first
Broadway shows to feature a fully integrated cast. The original Shinbone Alley was in Manhattan. With neither an out-of-town tryout nor a preview period, the Broadway production opened on April 13, 1957, at
The Broadway Theatre, and closed on May 25, 1957, after 49 performances. Following "creative differences" with the writers and producers, original director
Norman Lloyd requested that his name be removed from the credits. The production was supervised by Sawyer Falk and
choreographed by Joe and Rod Alexander, with production design by Eldon Elder, costumes by
Motley, and lighting by
Tharon Musser. The cast featured Bracken, reprising his role as archy,
Eartha Kitt as mehitabel,
Erik Rhodes as tyrone, and
George S. Irving as big bill. Supporting players included
Cathryn Damon,
Jacques d'Amboise,
Ross Martin,
Lillian Hayman, and
Allegra Kent. Relative newcomer
Chita Rivera was Kitt's standby. The show's sole
Tony Award nomination was for Best Costume Design. In lieu of a
cast album recorded in a studio, a tape of a live performance was transferred to
acetate and released on the
Legend label. In 2005 the musical had its Australian premiere in Melbourne, under the name
archy & mehitabel. Produced by
Magnormos, it was directed by Aaron Joyner and starred
Jane Badler in the role of mehitabel, and Michael Lindner as archy.
Current licensing Licensing and performance rights are being held by Music Theatre International, under the
archy & mehitabel title. ==Film and TV adaptations==