More Than A Musical

This semester, we are ecstatic to open with the much-loved musical, She Loves Me. Although some may be familiar with this tale of unexpected love, the story has deep roots in dramatic history. 

The first time we meet Georg and Amalia is in Budapest, Hungary in 1937. Written by Miklos Laszlo, Parfumerie, is the origin story for this dynamic duo. With World War II looming, Laszlo fled Europe in 1938 and took his charming romantic comedy with him. The play found great success in the Hungarian immigrant community in New York City.

Sensing an opportunity for reaching wider audiences, producer Ernst Lubitsch and screenwriter Samson Raphaelson adapted the script into the 1940 film, The Shop Around the Corner. Starring Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan, the film was a huge hit and remains one of the most iconic films the 1940s. Its delightful depiction of love, as well as its poignant discussion on the work-life-balance resonated with audiences across the United States.

 Continuing to capitalize on this success, the script was adapted again in 1949 to the movie musical In the Good Old Summertime starring Judy Garland. The movie was mostly a musical showcase for the talents of Garland, and was a huge commercial and critical success. This would be the second to last film Garland made with MGM studios.

It was not until 1963 that She Loves Me was born. The team behind Fiddler on the Roof and The Apple Tree, Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Brock, wrote the music and lyrics for the Broadway hit. The original musical was nominated for five Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The show was revived in 2016 for a brief run on Broadway; the show was also livestreamed across the country so all could enjoy.

Parfumerie was not only the basis for two films and a successful musical, its most recent adaptation is the 1980s classic You’ve Got Mail starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. And it was not until 2009 that the original script was translated into English. EP Dowdall, Laszlo's nephew, adapted the show for the American stage. The new adaptation, entitled The Perfume Shop, premiered in Sarasota, Florida at the Asolo Reperatory Theatre. 

She Loves Me is a musical loved by many, although its history may only be known to few. We are so lucky to be able to put this show on stage and continue its theatrical journey.

She Loves Me opens at EMU Theatre on October 19, 2018. Tickets are available at www.emich.edu/emutheatre or 734.487.2282.