I Remember Mama /

I Remember Mama is a musical with a book by Thomas Meehan, lyrics by Martin Charnin and Raymond Jessel, and music by Richard Rodgers. I Remember Mama originated as a memoir by Kathryn Forbes entitled Mama's Bank Account. It was adapted for the stage by John Van Druten in 1944; Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II produced its original Broadway production. It was filmed in 1948, and served as the basis for a 1950s television series. Every incarnation basically was the same, a series of heartwarming vignettes centering on a family of Norwegian immigrants living in San Francisco in the early 20th Century. At its core is the oldest daughter, Katrin, who yearns to be a published writer and conspires to meet renowned author Dame Sybil Fitzgibbons, a guest at the Fairmont Hotel, for professional advice and guidance. It is through Katrin's eyes we see the struggles, hopes, and dreams of the Hansens unfold. The musical adaptation was beset with problems from the beginning. Rodgers and Charnin had composed a full score before the libretto was written, so they ended up having to replace a significant number of songs throughout rehearsals, and the director was also replaced. After 40