On returning from the service, Prince went back to work for George Abbott, stage-managing Wonderful Town, a show that reunited composer Bernstein with lyricists Comden and Green. Prince was drafted into the Army in 1950 he served in Germany, where he soaked up atmosphere he would later draw on for his groundbreaking production of Cabaret. It also marked the Broadway debut of songwriter Stephen Sondheim, who wrote the show’s lyrics and would play a major role in Harold Prince’s subsequent career.

A landmark in American theater, West Side Story became a beloved classic. The musical thrilled audiences with its powerful score and dynamic dancing. December 1956: Conductor/composer Leonard Bernstein (C) with choreographer Jerome Robbins (R) and lyricist Stephen Sondheim discussing rehearsal schedule for the upcoming Broadway opening of West Side Story. Abbott often had a number of projects in the works simultaneously, and Prince soon graduated to doctoring television scripts and stage-managing Abbott’s touring productions. Prince offered Abbott his services, and the older man gave him a job running simple errands. A phenomenally prolific producer, playwright and director, Abbott was known on Broadway as “the Apprentice’s Sorcerer” for his ability to identify and nurture young talent. These artists were all still in their mid-20s, but the production was directed by the veteran showman George Abbott, whose theatrical career had begun in the first decade of the 20th century. The show introduced a number of new talents to the Broadway stage: the composer Leonard Bernstein, choreographer Jerome Robbins and the writing team of Betty Comden and Adolph Green. He credits the 1945 musical On the Town with awakening his interest in the expressive possibilities of music and dance in the American theater. Graduating from the University of Pennsylvania at age 19, Prince looked for a way to break into the theater.Īt first, Hal Prince’s interest lay in serious drama. At an early age, he was taken to Broadway shows by his theater-loving parents, and he soon discovered a lifelong calling. Harold Smith Prince was born in New York City.

Don't Tell Mommy by Harold Lee Friedman