Show History

History

Inspiration

Little Miss Sunshine is a musical with a score by William Finn (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, A New Brain, Elegies) and a book by James Lapine (Into The Woods, Falsettos, Passion). It is based on the Oscar-nominated 2006 film of the same name, which tells the story of a quirky family that treks west to enter their youngest daughter in a child beauty pageant.

Productions

Little Miss Sunshine had workshops at the Sundance Institute Theatre Lab at White Oak in Yulee, Florida. It then had its world premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse in a run from February 15 to March 27, 2011. La Jolla then did another private reading in La Jolla in September 2011 before moving east. The musical premiered Off-Broadway at the Second Stage Theatre on November 14, 2013. It was directed by book writer James Lapine, and closed on December 15 of the same year, after the run was extended.

Trivia

• Celebrities that have starred in Little Miss Sunshine include: Dick Latessa, Raul Esparza, Sherie Renee Scott, Hunter Foster, Stephanie J. Block, Malcolm Gets, Will Swenson, Rory O'Malley, Jennifer Laura Thompson, and Taylor Trensch.

• Little Miss Sunshine changed significantly from the La Jolla tryout to its Off-Broadway run. Composer William Finn only retained three of his songs in the show between productions.