Do I Hear a Waltz Tickets

Do I Hear a Waltz is a musical that was first performed on Broadway in 1965. It was well received at the time, but has since become one of the lesser-known shows from that era. Despite this, it still holds an important place in the history of Broadway and in the development of the modern musical.

The show was created by several veterans of the musical theatre world. The music was composed by Richard Rodgers, one half of the legendary team of Rodgers and Hammerstein. The lyrics were written by Stephen Sondheim, who would later become one of the most celebrated writers in Broadway history. The book was written by Arthur Laurents, who had previously worked with both Rodgers and Sondheim.

Do I Hear a Waltz tells the story of a middle-aged American woman named Leona traveling alone to Venice. She hopes to escape her unsatisfying life back home and maybe even find romance. Along the way, she meets a charming Italian man named Renato who seems to take an interest in her. But as their relationship develops, Leona begins to wonder if she's truly happy or just fooling herself.

One of the reasons Do I Hear a Waltz is important in the history of Broadway is because it shows a shift away from the traditional "book musical" format. In the classic book musical, songs are used to advance the plot and reveal character. But in Do I Hear a Waltz, much of the story is told through dialogue. This was a departure for Rodgers and Hammerstein, who had written some of the most famous book musicals of all time, such as The Sound of Music and Oklahoma!.

Another reason the show is important is because it showcases the early work of Stephen Sondheim. At the time, he was still establishing his reputation as a lyricist, having only written the words for three previous shows. But his work on Do I Hear a Waltz showed that he was a major talent in the making. His lyrics for songs like "Someone Woke Up" and "Take the Moment" are prime examples of his ability to use language in innovative and expressive ways.

Despite its critical success, Do I Hear a Waltz was not a commercial hit. It ran for only 220 performances on Broadway before closing. Part of the reason for this may have been that it was a relatively light-hearted show in an era when darker and more serious musicals were becoming popular. But even though it wasn't a blockbuster, it remains an interesting and worthwhile piece of Broadway history. For fans of Rodgers, Sondheim, or Laurents, it provides a glimpse into their early collaboration. And for anyone interested in the development of the modern musical, it shows how artists were experimenting with new forms and approaches as they tried to evolve the genre.