Saratoga (musical): History and Key Facts

Saratoga is a 1959 musical with a book by Morton DaCosta, lyrics by Johnny Mercer, and music by Harold Arlen.

Based on Edna Ferber's sprawling 1941 novel Saratoga Trunk, it focuses on Clio Dulaine, an "illegitimate" Creole woman who seeks revenge on the New Orleans family who exiled her mother when she became impregnated by their son. Posing as a countess raised in France, she joins forces with Montana cowboy Clint Maroon, whose family's property was appropriated by railroad tycoon Bart Van Steed. Clint persuades Clio to seduce Bart into proposing marriage, but the conspirators soon find themselves falling in love while scheming to settle old scores.

The success of the musical adaptation of Ferber's Show Boat convinced her lightning could strike twice. She first approached Rodgers and Hammerstein with her proposal, and when they opted to write Pipe Dream instead, she turned to Lerner and Loewe, who agreed to compose the score but lost interest after My Fair Lady opened. DaCosta wrote a first draft of the book, which Ferber disliked, and when her offer to adapt the book herself was declined, she backed out of the project.

The bulk of the financing was provided by NBC and RCA Victor, which released the original cast recording. Rock Hudson and Jeanmaire originally were announced as the leads, but ultimately neither participated in the show.

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