God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater

musical by Menken and Ashman

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July 16, 2026

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The musical God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater is based on Kurt Vonnegut's novel of the same name and features music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman. This collaboration marked a significant early step in Menken and Ashman's careers, leading to their later success with Disney animated films like The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. The musical itself achieved mild success. The story is inspired by the life of Billy Rose, an American theatrical impresario and composer known for hits like "It's Only a Paper Moon". Rose's diverse career included producing extravagant musicals, owning nightclubs, and engaging in philanthropy.12

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Alan Menken
…him on the 1979 play God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, based on a novel by Kurt Vonnegut. Although they attained mild success with that production, it was not until 1982 that they achieved significant critical and commercial acclaim with the Off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors. The duo subsequently…
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…him on the 1979 play God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, based on a novel by Kurt Vonnegut. Although they attained mild success with that production, it was not until 1982 that they achieved significant critical and commercial acclaim with the Off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors. The duo subsequently…
Read More