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Dear World is a musical with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. With its opening, Herman became the first composer-lyricist in history to have three productions running simultaneously on Broadway theatre. It starred Angela Lansbury, who won the Tony Award for Leading Actress in a Musical in 1969 for her performance as the Countess Aurelia.
Based on The Madwoman of Chaillot by French dramatist Jean Giraudoux, as adapted by Maurice Valency, the plot follows the eccentric Countess Aurelia and her struggles against the straitlaced authority figures in her life. She and her Chaillot cohort defend their Parisian neighborhood against scheming and corrupt developers. The forces of idealism, love, and poetry win over those of greed, materialism, and science.
The musical opened on Broadway at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on February 6, 1969 and closed on May 31, 1969 after 132 performances and 45 previews. In addition to direction and choreography by Joe Layton, scenic design was by Oliver Smith, costume design was by Freddy Wittop and lighting design was by Jean Rosenthal.
A revised version was produced at Goodspeed Musicals (Connecticut) in November–December 2000, with Sally Ann Howes as Aurelia. This version had a revised book by David Thompson plus three songs written after the musical closed.Jones, Kenneth. "Sun Sets on Goodspeed's Dear World Revival Dec. 10," playbill.com, December 10, 2000 A concert version was staged by 42nd Street Moon in San Francisco, September 6–24, 2000. This production used the revision by Herman, Lawrence and Lee.Jones, Kenneth. "Dear World Marches in San Fran Concert Revival Sept. 6–24," playbill.com, September 6, 2000
A further revised version was produced at the Sundance Theatre (Utah) from June to August 2002 with Maureen McGovern playing Aurelia. This is the version currently available for licensing. Thompson revised his previous revision of the book and the score was reshuffled with some new or previously cut songs included. A Sensible Woman, about how the "madwoman" feels one's life should be led, opens the show (as it did at the Goodspeed). One Person, cut at Goodspeed, is back in, ending Act One. The title song is sung by the three madwomen, as a kind of lullaby that leads into One Person. The song called Through the Bottom of the Glass that opened the original production does not appear in the revised show, and the song Have a Little Pity on the Rich, sung by the Sewerman during Broadway previews but cut before opening night, has been restored. The original 26-person Philip J. Lang orchestrations (26 was the minimum for the Mark Hellinger Theatre in 1969) have been distilled for a chamber ensemble with 8 players.Jones, Kenneth. "Jerry Herman's Musical, 'Dear World', Spins Anew in Revised Version, June 27-Aug. 17" , playbill.com, June 27, 2002
The Canadian premiere of this revised version was presented by the Toronto Civic Light Opera Company in May 2012. Directed by Joe Cascone, the production starred Barbara Boddy as Aurelia, David Haines as the Sewerman and featured Elizabeth Rose Morriss and Daniel Cornthwaite as the young lovers.Lawrence, Mark Andrew. BWW Reviews: Jerry Herman's 'Dear World'-Revised & Revived by The Civic Light Opera Company" broadwayworld.com, May 29, 2012
The musical had its UK premiere at London's Charing Cross Theatre from February 4 through March 16, 2013. The production was directed and choreographed by Gillian Lynne and starred Betty Buckley as Aurelia, Paul Nicholas as Sewerman and Stuart Matthew Price as Julian. Set design was by Matt Kinley, costumes by Ann Hould-Ward, lighting by Mike Robertson, musical direction by Ian Townsend, sound by Mike Walker, and orchestrations were by Sarah Travis.Gans, Andrew. "Paul Nicholas, Anthony Barclay and More Will Join Betty Buckley in 'Dear World' at London's Charing Cross Theatre" playbill.com, December 14, 2012
The York Theatre Company (New York City) presented the musical from February 25 to March 5, 2017, starring Tyne Daly as Countess Aurelia.Gans, Andrew. "Tyne Daly Will Star in 'Dear World 'for the York Theatre Company" Playbill, January 11, 2017 Daly had previously starred in a concert version of Dear World at the Valley Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles on September 30, 2016.Gans, Andrew. "Tyne Daly Stars in 'Dear World' Tonight" Playbill, September 30, 2016 The concert featured Steven Weber as the Sewerman and Vicki Lewis and Bets Malone as Aurelia's friends.Frankel, Tony. "Los Angeles Theater Review: 'Dear World' " stageandcinema.com, October 6, 2016
New York City Center Encores! presented a staged concert from March 15 to March 19, 2023 directed by Josh Rhodes using the original full orchestrations. The production starred Donna Murphy as Countess Aurelia.Culwell-Block, Logan. "Donna Murphy Stars in Jerry Herman's Dear World at New York City Center Encores! Beginning March 15" Playbill, March 15, 2023
† Added in the Goodspeed (2000) and Sundance (2002) versions
| 1969 | Tony Award | |
| Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical | Angela Lansbury | |
| Best Scenic Design | Oliver Smith |
Walter Kerr wrote that the musical "is in the main quite charming...the actress Lansbury...is endearing throughout the evening and at her commanding best here." Her song "I Don't Want to Know" is "a song surprised by its own unexpected passion. The effect doesn't always work out for composer Jerry Herman...'Dear World' is attractive when it is staying close to its addled Good People...it is in trouble whenever it turns to the Bad People...Oliver Smith's settings are perfect."Kerr, Walter. "When Angela Sings 'I Will Not Have It'", The New York Times, February 16, 1969, p.D1 Clive Barnes in The New York Times gave Lansbury a positive review: "The minor miracle is Miss Lansbury...no connoisseur of musical comedy can afford to miss Miss Lansbury's performance. It is lovely."Barnes, Clive. "Theatre: 'The Madwoman of Chaillot' Set to Music", The New York Times February 7, 1969, p. 33
According to Steven Citron, "Sally Howes and the majority of critics now believe that with a rewritten libretto it could be turned into a successful musical."
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