Applause (musical)

Applause
Original Cast Recording
MusicCharles Strouse
LyricsLee Adams
BookBetty Comden and Adolph Green
BasisAll About Eve
by Joseph L. Mankiewicz
The Wisdom of Eve
by Mary Orr
Productions1970 Broadway
1972 West End
1972 Buenos Aires
1973 U.S. television
2004 Buenos Aires Revival
2008 Encores!
2016 Mexico City
AwardsTony Award for Best Musical
Lauren Bacall in the TV production of Applause (1973)

Applause is a musical with a book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, lyrics by Lee Adams, and music by Charles Strouse. The musical is based on the 1950 film All About Eve and the short story on which the movie is based, Mary Orr's "The Wisdom of Eve". The story centers on aging star Margo Channing, who innocently takes a fledgling actress under her wing, unaware that the ruthless Eve is plotting to steal her career and her man.

The musical opened on Broadway on March 30, 1970, running for 896 performances. The production was nominated for ten Tony Awards and ultimately won four: the overall production won the Tony Award for Best Musical, Lauren Bacall won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, and Ron Field won both the Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical and the Tony Award for Best Choreography.