Flower Drum Songs: The Story of Two Musicals

The return to New York in 2002 of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song?with a totally new book by playwright David Henry Hwang?was considered the most revolutionary chapter in the history of Broadway revivals. Why? The musical, a clear hit when it was originally produced in 1958, had later acquired a debatable reputation for quaint, racially offensive Asian stereotypes. Yet Hwang's controversial rewrite?driven at least in part by concerns about such offenses?was a box-office failure. This well-illustrated story of the two Flower Drum Songs is replete with fascinating anecdotes by turns colorful, humorous and sad. The shared memories of the cast offer an eye-opening look at the often chaotic journey of a musical along the precarious path to opening night. The author addresses the value of preserving the rich and revered legacy of Broadway's greatest team.