No Strings, the only musical for which Richard Rodgers wrote both music and lyrics, opened on Broadway March 15, 1962. The production, starring Diahann Carroll and Richard Kiley, played 1 preview and 580 performances before closing August 3, 1963. It received nine Tony Award nominations, including Best Musical, and won for Best Actress in a Musical, Best Composer, and Best Choreography.
In the musical, a successful high-fashion model from Harlem meets and falls in love with an American writer who has made Paris his home. Convinced that their love only needs one another to survive, they embark on a romantic adventure through Europe, clinging to the City of Lights as the harsh reality of America threatens their union.
The show was groundbreaking at the time for its casual depiction of an interracial romance, one that ultimately led to Carroll becoming the first African-American performer to win the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.
In addition to Carroll as Barbara Woodruff and Kiley as David Jordan, the musical starred Noelle Adam as Jeanette Valmy, Don Chastain as Mike Robinson, Alvin Epstein as Luc Delbert, Mitchell Gregg as Louis dePourtal, Bernice Massi as Comfort O'Donnell, Polly Rowles as Mollie Plummer, and Paul Cambeilh as Marcello Agnolotti.
No Strings featured scenic design and lighting design by David Hayes and costume design by Fred Voelpel and Donald Brooks (with Brooks providing dresses for Carroll, Rowles, and Massi). For the complete cast and creative team, visit PlaybillVault.com/NoStrings.
