Background
The musical was inspired by the success of the 1956 Broadway comedy and subsequent 1958 film version starring Rosalind Russell, as well as the 1955 novel by Patrick Dennis. Dennis wrote several more comic novels, including a sequel, Around the World with Auntie Mame, and Little Me, which was made into a Broadway musical starring Sid Caesar. The success of that musical may have prompted Lawrence and Lee to turn Mame into a musical. Mary Martin turned down the title role, and after numerous actresses had been considered, the part went to Angela Lansbury. Jerry Herman tried to cast Judy Garland, and wrote the show with her in mind. He was talked out of it by her managers who thought she could not handle the stress of eight shows a week on Broadway.
Read more about this topic: Mame (musical)
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