Brian Damage
11-10-2010, 05:27 PM
Back in 1961, when this sitcom debuted, it quickly rose to near the top of that season's Nielsen ratings chart--only three Westerns, "Wagon Train," Bonanza" and "Gunsmoke," were more popular with viewers.
It starred an actress much better known, at the time of the show's debut, to Broadway audiences than TV viewers--Shirley Booth--and the series was based on a comic strip. Booth played the title character, "Hazel," a maid who endeared herself to all of America.
Unfortunately Booth is no longer with us--if she were she'd be 112 years old, believe it or not. She passed away in 1992 at age 94.
Next year, "Hazel" will be coming to the stage, it was announced today.
According to the announcement, "Hazel – the saucy maid whose wry attitude, infallible wisdom and heart of gold has captured the hearts of millions for more than 60 years – will be in the spotlight again in an exciting new Broadway musical with music by composer Ron Abel and lyrics by Chuck Steffan. The veteran duo has acquired the rights to Hazel from the estate of creator Ted Key. Lissa Levin, the Edward Kleban Award-winning playwright and Emmy-nominated producer, has been chosen to write the Broadway script for Hazel."
No other personnel were announced, nor any possible stars. The announcement said that Abel and Steffan hope to have the show on stage sometime next year, with the ultimate goal of taking it to Broadway.
http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/tvbizwire/2010/11/whats-that-you-say-mr-b-one-of.php
It starred an actress much better known, at the time of the show's debut, to Broadway audiences than TV viewers--Shirley Booth--and the series was based on a comic strip. Booth played the title character, "Hazel," a maid who endeared herself to all of America.
Unfortunately Booth is no longer with us--if she were she'd be 112 years old, believe it or not. She passed away in 1992 at age 94.
Next year, "Hazel" will be coming to the stage, it was announced today.
According to the announcement, "Hazel – the saucy maid whose wry attitude, infallible wisdom and heart of gold has captured the hearts of millions for more than 60 years – will be in the spotlight again in an exciting new Broadway musical with music by composer Ron Abel and lyrics by Chuck Steffan. The veteran duo has acquired the rights to Hazel from the estate of creator Ted Key. Lissa Levin, the Edward Kleban Award-winning playwright and Emmy-nominated producer, has been chosen to write the Broadway script for Hazel."
No other personnel were announced, nor any possible stars. The announcement said that Abel and Steffan hope to have the show on stage sometime next year, with the ultimate goal of taking it to Broadway.
http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/tvbizwire/2010/11/whats-that-you-say-mr-b-one-of.php