Howard Ashman and Marvin Hamlisch from 1986. Photo by Nancy Kaye.
Author/Lyricist/Director Howard Ashman and Composer Marvin Hamlisch are featured in this photo preparing for Smile, which was their new Broadway-bound musical based on the 1975 movie of the same name about that uniquely American institution — the beauty pageant. Smile was produced by Lawrence Gordon, Richard M. Kagan, and Sidney L. Shlendker.
Following a pre-Broadway tryout at Baltimore’s Morris Mechanic Theater (September 30 – November 1), Smile began performances at Broadway’s Lunt-Fontanne Theater (205 West 46 Street) on Tuesday evening, November 11. The original production closed on January 3, 1987 after only 48 performances.
Howard Ashman passed away March 14, 1991. He was best known for writing the lyrics to Little Shop of Horrors (1982), Disney’s Little Mermaid (1989), and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (1991).
Marvin Hamlisch passed away August 7, 2012. He, of course, was most famous for being the composer of the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning musical, A Chorus Line.
Both artists left the theatre community too soon.
