I love reading this, because the real Anna Leonowens, who was married to a seabee named Leon Owens and completely fabricated her own "reputable" backstory, is nothing like the character in "The King and I" (or "Anna and the King of Siam").
I actually think there is a new, modern musical in here somewhere. Almost an "Into the Woods" in reverse, where instead of the fairy tale characters interacting and merging in a new fairy tale story, you have the "real" people, like Rose Hovick, Mame Dennis, Anna Owens, and others, and show how their truths became fictionalized, romanticized art. You don't have to show anything from the old musicals, you just have to tell "true" stories about these real people, perhaps commenting on what they became as musical theatre folklore. Maybe it's a play, not a musical. I dunno.
I think it would be cool.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22