Show History

History

Inspiration

The Prince and the Pauper is a musical with music by George Fischoff and book and lyrics by Verna Safran.  Fischoff is best known for composing several pop music hits from the 1960s, including "98.6" and "Lazy Day." The musical is a stage adaptation of the Mark Twain novel of the same name, which tells the story of a young street urchin who switches places with the prince of England, with whom he bears an uncanny resemblance.

Productions

The Prince and the Pauper premiered in 1963, although it most notably became a film in 1969, then titled The Adventures of The Prince and the Pauper. It had a successful run Off-Broadway in 1993 at the John Houseman Theater in Midtown Manhattan.

Cultural Influence

• The Off-Broadway run of The Prince and the Pauper prompted a production of another version of the same story in 2002.

Trivia

• The Off-Broadway production of The Prince and the Pauper served as a huge opportunity for performer John Davidson, who would go on to host a myriad of game shows. Other celebrities who have starred in the musical include Barry Pearl (Tom), Gene Bua (Miles), Kenny Morse (Edward), Barbara Huston (Lady Anne), Michael Brill (Lord Chamberlain) and Tom Fleetwood (John Canty).