"The Music Man" debuts on Broadway 1957

Meredith Willson's musical The Music Man made its debut on Broadway December 19, 1957 at the Majestic Theater.  It is the story of a con-man who bamboozles the residents of a backwater Iowa town into investing in instruments and uniforms for a boys band. 

The Music Man won five Tonys in 1958: Best Musical, Best Performance by a Leading Male in a Musical for Robert Preston, Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for Barbara Cook, Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical for David Burns, Best Conductor and Musical Director for Herbert Greene.

Iggie Wolfington was also nominated for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical. The Music Man was also nominated for Best Choreography, Best Direction of a Musical, and Best Stage Technician.

Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap" opens in West End in London

Agatha Christie's play "The Mousetrap" set the record for the longest running lay years ago after opening on October 6, 1952.

On November 18, 2012, it celebrated its 25,000 performance.  The play began as a radio short story broadcast on May 30, 1947 called "Three Blind Mice" I honor of Queen Marry, consort King George V

Dame Agatha based the play on the real-life case of Dennis O'Neill who died while in foster care in 1945. Dennis and two younger brothers were committed to the care of the Newport County Borough  in July 1944.  In January 1945, the foster mother called the doctor to tell him Denis was having a fit, but by the time the doctor arrived, he had already died under horrible conditions.  His foster parents were charged with manslaughter.