What are good examples of shows written for a specific star?

THE ACT was written specifically for Liza.

If/Then was written for Idina.

Phantom was specifically written for Sarah Brightman...

Pretty much every show that Mary Martin or Ethel Merman did on Broadway after 1940 was written specifically for them. Same goes with Gwen Verdon (in her case most everything after Can Can in 1953).

Thats a lot of the great musicals from the Golden Era right there. South Pacific, Annie Get Your Gun, Peter Pan, Call me Madam, Gypsy, Damn Yankees, The Sound of Music, Sweet Charity, Chicago, and the list goes on. Hello Dolly was actually written for Ethel Merman but she didn't create it initially on stage.

Updated On: 1/13/17 at 02:32 PM

True, Boy From Oz was not written for Hugh Jackman.

Sondheim wrote Sweeney Todd with Len Cariou and Angela Lansbury in mind.

China Doll for Al Pacino

Although the show didn't initially start development with her in mind, I hear that 'Funny Girl' was changed substantially during development to play to the strengths and preferences of Barbra Streisand.

Fan123 said: "Although the show didn't initially start development with her in mind, I hear that 'Funny Girl' was changed substantially during development to play to the strengths and preferences of Barbra Streisand."

That's not uncommon during the development process of a show. Bring Him Home from Les Miz was written specifically for Colm Wilkinson during rehearsals. Sometimes, a show is modified for a replacement star (Spamalot made some changes to showcase Clay Aiken; A Chorus Line modified costumes and blocking to appease Mario Lopez's ego).

Not an example of an entire show written for an actor, but Fosse's comment made me think of this. I recall reading that Dave Malloy wrote "No One Else" after Great Comet rehearsals had begun, to play to Phillipa Soo's vocal strengths.

(edited because I had the song title wrong)

Updated On: 1/13/17 at 05:34 PM

On The 20th Century was written for Madeline Kahn. The Apple Tree was written for Barbara Harris I believe.

The part of Sally Brown was created for Kristin Chenoweth in the Charlie Brown revival. And Glinda was written very much with Kristin in mind, and then developed into the part it became for and with her. But neither SHOW was written for her, just the characters.

Updated On: 1/13/17 at 06:34 PM

Actually the role of Ms. Lovett in Sweeney Todd was written for Patricia Routledge. When she turned it down (didn't like the subject matter) it was then offered to Angela Lansbury.

Fade Out - Fade In was written very specifically for Carol Burnett. It was hugely successful while she was in the show and reportedly outgrossed both Hello, Dolly and Funny Girl, but it never saw that same level of business during Burnett's leaves from the show (one was a medical leave after she injured her neck in a taxi accident, the second was when she left the show to go work on a show that her then husband was producing). The show seems to be largely viewed as unrevivable these days, though I think there are a good number of Broadway actresses who could headline an Encores production (Sutton Foster, Leslie Kritzer, or Alysha Umphress to name a few just off the top of my head).