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 Happy Time (musical) home searching for family and love ("Running"), and understands that he must set out alone again. The Original Broadway cast recording was released by RCA Victor Broadway in January 1968 and the CD was released on March 10, 1992. The Happy Time (musical) The Happy Time is a musical with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and a book by N. Richard Nash loosely based on a 1950 hit Broadway play, "The Happy Time" by Samuel A. Taylor, which was in turn based on stories by Robert Fontaine. The story had also been made into a 1952 film