The Fantasticks

Book and Lyrics by Tom Jones
Music by Harvey Schmidt
Based on Les Romanesques by Edmond Rostand

September 23-26, 2010

For the original 1960 off-Broadway production of The Fantasticks, the producers spent $900 on the set and $541 on costumes at a time when major Broadway shows would cost $250,000. It closed 42 years later after a record-shattering 17,162 performances, making it the world's longest-running uninterrupted show of any kind in the United States. Neighboring fathers, having observed that their children do whatever they are told not to, conspire with El Gallo to have them fall in love. The bizarre plan is successful, and the "Happy Ending" comes at the end of Act One.

Romantic moonlight is supplanted by the harsh light of the sun, requiring the characters to come terms with the ways of the world en route to a more mature understanding of love. Infectuous and memorable music induces the audience to come along for the ride.

Show statistics were obtained from a Wikipedia article on The Fantastics found at eNotes.com.