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COLLECTION Identifier: Ms. Coll. 129

Harold Fielding, Ltd. contracts and correspondence for productions of Frank Loesser's Hans Andersen, 1974-1978.

Overview

This collection consists of contracts, memorandums, and letters relating to Harold Fielding's stage production of Frank Loesser's musical Hans Anderson which opened in London on December 17, 1974.

Dates

  • Creation: 1974-1978

Conditions Governing Use

Access to the collection is unrestricted.

Extent

1 boxes

The collection contains contracts that specify terms of engagement and related paperwork, including letters, and memorandum, relating to Harold Fielding's production of Hans Andersen, which opened at the London Palladium on 17 Dec 1974 and ran for 383 performances. A revival opened in London on 17 Dec 1977 and closed on 28 Feb 1978. Includes contracts signed by Alyn Ainsworth, Willougby Goddard, Sally Ann Howes, Milo O'Shea, Albin Pahernik, and Anthony Valentine. The stage musical was based on the 1952 screen musical Hans Christian Andersen, produced by Sam Goldwyn and including music and lyrics by Frank Loesser.

Historical Note

In 1952 lyricist and composer Frank Loesser was hired by film producer Samuel Goldwyn to write the songs for his movie Hans Christian Andersen, starring Danny Kaye in the title role. Though critics did not hold the screenplay in high regard, they praised Loesser's score and Kaye's performance. In 1974, five years after her husband's death, Loesser's widow, Jo Sullivan, was instrumental in bringing about a stage version of the work, titled Hans Andersen, at the Palladium in London. Though drawing on a book by TOmmy Steele and Beverly Cross, it was based on Goldwyn's movie. Loesser's songs were retained, with additional songs by Marvin Laird. Produced by Harold Fielding (in association with Louis Benjamin), and directed by Freddie Carpenter, the cast included Tommy Steele as Hans Andersen, Colette Gleeson as Jenny Lind, Milo O'Shea as Otto Pedersen, Bob Todd as Meisling and Lila Kaye as Madame Meisling. The musical was revived at the Palladium on 17 Dec 1977, with Tommy Steele as Hans Andersen, Sally Ann Howes as Jenny Lind, Anthony Valentine as Otto Pedersen, and Lila Kaye as Madame Meisling.

Harold Fielding (1916-2003) was one of the foremost producers of stage musicals in Britain from the 1950s to the 1980s. After some success as an orchestral and concert promoter he made his first foray into musical theater in 1958 with a staged version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella at the London Coliseum. Among his most successful theater productions were the original Half a Sixpence (1963), Charlie Girl (1965), the London versions of Sweet Charity (1967), and Mame (1969).

Physical Location

Merritt Room

Processed by:

Sarah Adams

Title
Harold Fielding, Ltd. contracts and correspondence for productions of Frank Loesser's Hans Andersen, 1974-1978.
Author
Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library, Harvard College Library
Language of description
und
EAD ID
mus00022

Repository Details

Part of the Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library Repository

The Eda Kuhn Loeb Music Library is the primary repository of musical materials at Harvard. The Music Library’s collecting mission is to serve music teaching and research programs in the Music Department and throughout the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. In addition, it supports the musical needs of the broader Harvard community as well as an international scholarly constituency. We collect books, musical scores, serial titles, sound recordings and video formats, microforms, and rare and archival materials that support research in a wide variety of musical disciplines including historical musicology, music theory, ethnomusicology, composition, and historically informed performance practice, as well as interdisciplinary areas related to music. The special collections include archival collections from the 19th, 20th and 21st century.

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