Stephen Sondheim suggested evening the percentage at two percent each, but Sondheim refused because he wanted the credit. Sondheim later said he wished "someone stuffed a handkerchief in my mouth because it would have been nice to get that extra percentage". After "West Side Story" opened, Shevelove lamented the lack of "low-brow comedy" on Broadway and mentioned a possible musical based on Plautus' Roman comedies. When Sondheim was interested in the idea he called a friend, Larry Gelbart, to co-write the script. The show went through a number of drafts, and was interrupted briefly by Sondheim's next project. In 1959, Sondheim was
Written in the Stars (Elton John and LeAnn Rimes song) one with Rimes performing the first verse, the other with John. The song was later featured on Rimes' 2002 album "I Need You" and the concept album for the musical. The song was performed live at VH1 Divas Live 1999. According to an episode of VH1's "Pop-Up Video", the music video for this song was meant to evoke forbidden loves, as well as the separation between the two singers. Rimes was shown in colder, more heavenly backdrops; John was given warmer backgrounds, as in a milder depiction of hell. Written in the Stars (Elton John and LeAnn Rimes song) "Written