Show History

History

Inspiration


Though the authors, Neil Bartram and Brian Hill have said the show is not remotely autobiographical, they say they have both experienced having people in their lives who profoundly affect them, which is what the show is about. Bartram has also said that there are specific situations in the musical that are inspired by events and people in their lives.

Productions


Following developmental readings at Manhattan Theatre Club, The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, and CanStage, The Story Of My Life was produced in Toronto at the Canadian Stage Company in 2006. It was next produced at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's Festival of New Musicals in the fall of 2007.

The Story Of My Life then ran at Goodspeed Musicals in East Haddam, Connecticut from October 10 through November 2, 2008.

The Story Of My Life then moved to Broadway s the Booth Theatre on February 3, 2009 and opened officially on February 19, 2009, it closed on February 22nd after only 5 performances and 18 previews.

The show was then produced regionally in April 2010 at Act 2 Playhouse in Ambler, Pennsylvania. Act 2's Producing Artistic Director Bud Martin (an original producer of the Broadway production) directed and the production starred Barrymore Award Winner Tony Braithwaite and Jim Stanek.

The Story Of My Life then opened at the Dongsoong Art Center in central Seoul, Korea, on July 13 2010, produced by the OD Musical Company. That production returned on October 28th 2011.

The Story Of My Life has enjoyed many regional productions since its Broadway stint, opening in cities from San Francisco to Chicago.

Cultural Influence

  • PS Classics released the original cast recording of The Story Of My Life on June 2, 2009.
  • The Story Of My Life was featured in the Festival of New Musicals, sponsored by the National Alliance for Musical Theatre. NAMT has nurtured the creation, development, production, and presentation of new musicals since 1985.
  • In 2011, OD Musical Company, which produced The Story Of My Life in South Korea, released a film version based on the South Korean production.

Trivia

  • The original Broadway cast featured Will Chase and Malcolm Gets and was directed by Tony Award winner Richard Maltby Jr. (Ain't Misbehavin', Fosse, Ring of Fire).
  • The Story Of My Life marked the Broadway debut of the writing team of Neil Bartram (music and lyrics) and Brian Hill (book).