Kismet (musical) London's West End and has been given several revivals. A 1955 film version was produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The musical was commissioned by Edwin Lester, founder and director of the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera, who conceived of a musical based on the 1911 play "Kismet" by Edward Knoblock. Lester had previously produced "Song of Norway", with the same composing team, adapting the melodies of Edvard Grieg. For "Kismet", the writers seized upon the melodies of Alexander Borodin, which they felt had a suitable exotic flavor and lush melodies. "Kismet" is set in a fictional Baghdad in the times of "The
The Last Session (musical) about a disturbing subject." The "Variety" review of the 1998 Los Angeles production called the musical "cathartic and often hilarious musical". The show continues to receive productions including such cities as Baltimore (1999); Rochester NY; Uptown Players at Trinity River Arts Center, Dallas in 2002(which also recorded a cast album); Omaha (1999); Denver, Chicago and Indianapolis (which also recorded their own cast album). Brochu and Schalchlin have created another musical, which, among other things, traces the history of "The Last Session" titled "The Big Voice: God or Merman?". The musical ran Off-Broadway in 2006. Composer Steve Schalchlin maintains his online