Coco (musical)
| Company type | Broadway musical |
|---|---|
| Industry | Theatre, Musical theatre |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Founder | Alan Jay Lerner, André Previn |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Stage musical |
Coco is a 1969 Broadway musical featuring a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner with music composed by André Previn. The production draws inspiration from the life story of the legendary fashion designer Coco Chanel. The lead role was performed by Katharine Hepburn, marking her sole appearance in a stage musical.
Background
Initially, producer Frederick Brisson secured the rights to Chanel's biography for his wife, Rosalind Russell, who later withdrew due to arthritis. Subsequently, Irene Mayer Selznick recommended Hepburn for the part. Although Hepburn was initially reluctant to participate in a musical, she consented after collaborating with former MGM vocal coach Roger Edens and meeting Chanel herself. Lerner had originally committed to concentrating the script on Chanel’s early years, but modifications broadened the narrative to accommodate Hepburn’s involvement, resulting in delays. At the time Hepburn completed filming The Madwoman of Chaillot, both the script and score were unfinished, which postponed Coco by an entire season.
Rehearsals commenced in September 1969. The intricate set designed by Cecil Beaton was prone to frequent technical issues, complicating the staging process. Hepburn requested that the theater be kept unusually cold, which led to numerous cast members falling ill during the chilly autumn period.
Synopsis
The storyline is set between autumn 1953 and spring 1954, chronicling Chanel’s comeback to haute couture after a fifteen-year hiatus. Despite facing severe criticism and financial difficulties, her business is revitalized through orders from prominent American department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale's, Best & Company, and Ohrbach's. The narrative weaves together Chanel’s involvement in a model’s romantic affairs alongside flashbacks revealing her own past relationships. A stereotypically abrasive gay designer provides comedic relief while simultaneously challenging Chanel’s achievements. The production concludes with a fashion show displaying authentic Chanel creations spanning from 1918 to 1959.
Original cast and characters
| Character | Broadway (1969) | First National Tour (1971) |
|---|---|---|
| Coco Chanel | Katharine Hepburn | |
| Louis Greff | George Rose | |
| Pignol | Jeanne Arnold | |
| Sebastian Baye | René Auberjonois | Daniel Davis |
| Grand Duke Alexandrovitch | Bob Avian | |
| Docaton | Eve March | |
| Papa | Jon Cypher | |
| Claire | Graciela Daniele | Denise Mauthe |
| Eugene Bernstone | Robert Fitch | Ted Agress |
| Duke of Glenallen | Michael Allinson | |
| Dwight Berkwit | Will B. Able | |
| Georges | David Holliday | Don Chastain |
| Solange | Suzanne Rogers | Brenda Lynn |
| Noelle | Gale Dixon | Lana Shaw |
| Simone | Charlene Ryan | |
| Helene | Maggie Task | Joan Shea |
Musical numbers
- Act I
- Overture
- But That's the Way You Are - Alex
- The World Belongs to the Young - Coco
- Let's Go Home - Georges
- Mademoiselle Cliche de Paris - Coco
- On the Corner of the Rue Cambon - Coco
- The Money Rings Out Like Freedom - Coco & Ensemble
- A Brand New Dress - Noelle
- A Woman Is How She Loves - Georges
- Gabrielle - Papa
- Coco - Coco
- The Preparation - Coco & Company
- Act II
- Entre D'acte
- Fiasco - Sebastian
- When Your Lover Says Goodbye - Greff
- Coco (Reprise) - Coco
- Ohrbach's, Bloomingdale's, Best & Saks - Coco & The Buyers
- Ohrbach's, Bloomingdale's, Best & Saks (Reprise) - Coco and Ensemble
- Always Mademoiselle - Coco and the Mannequins
A cast recording was issued by Paramount Records in 1970 and later re-released on CD by MCA Records in 1997.
Production
Following a series of 40 preview performances, the Broadway rendition premiered on December 18, 1969, at the Mark Hellinger Theatre, where it ran for a total of 329 shows. The production was helmed by director Michael Benthall with choreography by Michael Bennett, and it notably included an early career appearance by Ann Reinking. Joan Copeland served as the standby for Hepburn; after eight months, Danielle Darrieux took over Hepburn’s role but lacked comparable star appeal, which contributed to the show's closure two months later.
Hepburn was initially slated to headline a West End staging, but when the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane proved unavailable, she declined alternative theaters, resulting in the cancellation of the project. She subsequently led the U.S. national tour beginning January 11, 1971—the day following Chanel's passing, which was honored during the final curtain call. The tour concluded in June at Los Angeles' Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, where it attracted sold-out audiences despite receiving mixed critical feedback.
From a financial perspective, Paramount Pictures invested $900,000 into the original Broadway production—a record budget for Broadway at that time—in return for rights to the cast album and film adaptation. Nevertheless, Paramount ultimately decided against producing a movie version of Coco.
In the fall of 1971, Coco toured as a stock production starring Ginger Rogers, performing at locations such as Westbury Music Festival and South Shore Music Circus. This version was directed by Fred Hebert with choreography by Larry Fuller.
The musical saw a staged concert revival by 42nd Street Moon in San Francisco during April and May 2008, featuring Andrea Marcovicci in the lead role. This limited run consisted of 16 performances under director Mark D. Kaufmann and choreographer Jayne Zaban. Marcovicci reprised her portrayal of Coco in September 2010 for the York Theatre Company's Musicals in Mufti series in New York.
In 2011, Coco was presented at London's Sadler's Wells as part of the Lost Musicals series. Directed by Ian Marshall Fisher with Chris Walker overseeing music direction, the production starred Sara Kestelman as Coco alongside Edward Petherbridge.