The third woman composer on Broadway
RIPLucy Simon was only the third woman to create a Broadway show when she composed The Secret Garden in 1991.
Daughter of the publisher Richard Simon and older sister of the phenomenally successful singer-songwriter Carly Simon, she found her gift for stage writing fairly late. She went on to compose a musical on Doctor Zhivago. Lucy died yesterday, aged 82, of cancer.
By “create a Broadway show,” perhaps you mean “compose” the music for a Broadway show. Who were the other two?
mary rodgers’ once upon a mattress
thank you – now I remember that our high school did that years ago!
Kay Swift was the first woman composer who scored the hit musical Fine and Dandy in 1930. Sadly, Carly’s other sister, Joanna, an opera singer, died the day before Lucy, also of cancer.
NL perhaps you might post about the death one day earlier of Lucy’s older sister Joanna Simon, a noted mezzo-soprano in her day. A wonderful, warm-hearted woman.
Thank you, Peter.
I hope that it will be remembered that all three of the phenomenally talented Simon sisters are superb musicians.
I say “are”, because I just can’t bring myself to say “were” regarding Carly’s wonderful sisters. I just can’t.
Joanna Simon, the eldest Simon sister and a fine mezzo-soprano, passed away the day before Lucy. Joanna was 85, Lucy 82. The three sisters were fine artists, all. My sympathy is with the extended Simon family at this sad time.
The Secret Garden was magnificent, as was A…My Name is Alice, both of which I had the good fortune to direct. RIP and thanks for the great theatre.
She was also sister of opera singer Joanna Simon, who died one day before Lucy.
Shuswap Theatre in Salmon Arm, BC is currently rehearsing “The Secret Garden”. It’s a wonderful show! We are all saddened by the passing of two of the Simon sisters, and will remember Lucy every time we play it (Nov 18 – Dec 4).