The musical premiered on Broadway in 1956 with leading lights of the stage Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison in the iconic roles of Eliza Doolittle and Professor Henry Higgins. The show was a sensation, setting the record for the longest run of any major musical theatre production in history. Two years later it opened at Drury Lane in London and has since enjoyed countless stage revivals the world over while its 1964 movie version – starring Rex Harrison and Audrey Hepburn – has been seen by millions.
 
Adapted from George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion, My Fair Lady boasts a superb book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner. Its score by Frederick Loewe comprises a string of hit numbers that are amongst the most enduring in the history of show business and include “I Could Have Danced All Night”; “On The Street Where You Live”; “Get Me To The Church On Time”; “The Rain In Spain”; “I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face” and many more.
 
A sumptuous new production of what has been described as “the perfect musical” opens at the grand Playhouse Opera on Friday November 20 for a festive season run until December 30. The stellar cast is fronted by Durban divas Lisa Bobbert and Gina Shmukler alternating in the role of Eliza Doolittle and the charismatic Ralph Lawson as Professor Higgins. Lawson, one of South Africa’s most exciting theatre practitioners, also directs the production which features spectacular new set designs by Andrew Botha and Stan Knight; choreography by Mark Hawkins; costumes by Neil Stuart-Harris and the cast performing to the live accompaniment of the full KZN Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of acclaimed conductor Naum Rousine