Camelot (musical)

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Camelot is a musical theater production written by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe. It is based on the King Arthur legend as adapted from the T.H. White novel The Once and Future King. The main thrust of the novel and the play is the affair between Arthur's wife, Guenevere, and his great friend, Sir Lancelot. Notable songs include:

"I Wonder What the King Is Doing Tonight" (Arthur)
"The Simple Joys of Maidenhood" (Guenevere)
"Camelot" (Arthur and Guenevere)
"Follow Me" (Nimue)
"C'est Moi" (Lancelot)
"The Lusty Month of May" (Guenevere and Company)
"Then You May Take Me To the Fair" (Guenevere, Sir Lionel, Sir Sagramore, and Sir Dinadan)
"How To Handle a Woman" (Arthur)
"Before I Gaze at You Again" (Guenevere)
"If Ever I Would Leave You" (Lancelot)
"The Seven Deadly Virtues" (Mordred)
"What Do the Simple Folk Do?" (Arthur and Guenevere)
"Fie on Goodness!" (Knights)
"I Loved You Once In Silence" (Guenevere)
"Guenevere" (Company)
"Camelot" reprise (King Arthur and Boy)

Stage

In the 1960 stage version, the original stars were Richard Burton as Arthur, Julie Andrews as Guenevere, Robert Goulet as Lancelot, Roddy McDowall as Mordred, and John Cullum as Sir Lionel and standy for Burton. (Cullum later took over the role of Mordred.) Directed by Moss Hart, the original Broadway production opened at The Majestic Theatre on December 3, 1960, and played 874 performances. After initially faltering at the box office, the show became a notable hit after it was publicized that the show's original cast album was favorite bedtime listening in the White House of President John F. Kennedy. Forever afterward, the name "Camelot" has been associated with the Kennedy administration. In addition, an appearance by the cast on the Ed Sullivan Show further bolstered the box-office. Richard Burton reprised his role as Arthur in a revival that ran during the summer of 1980 at the New York State Theatre/Lincoln Center. Christine Ebersole played Guenevere and Richard Muenz was Lancelot.

The show was revived on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theater, in 1981 and broadcast on HBO a year later, starring Richard Harris as Arthur, Meg Bussert as Guenevere, and Richard Muenz as Lancelot. Harris, who had starred in the film, and Muenz also took the show on tour nationwide. Another revival was in 1987 with Robert Goulet cast in the role of Arthur.

External links

[Camelot plot summary & character descriptions] from [StageAgent.com]
[The IMDb entry for Camelot] (Link is for the 1967 film).

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