Richard Besoyan (July 2, 1924 â€" March 13, 1970) was a singer, actor,
playwright, composer and director especially of operetta and musicals.
He is best remembered for writing the successful satirical musical
Little Mary Sunshine.Born in Reedley, California to Amos and Mabel
(Madie) Besoyan, on July 2, 1924. In 1928 the family moved to Alameda,
California. Besoyan attended Lincoln School, writing his first song
when he was twelve. He graduated from Alameda High School in 1942.
While in High School, Besoyan and a few friends wrote and produced a
musical, High and Dry. He enrolled at the University of California at
Berkeley in 1942, but left during his first semester to volunteer for
the army, serving in Europe for three years in the Special Services
Division. While overseas, Besoyan attended the London School of Music,
studying piano.Upon his return, Besoyan joined the Bredon-Savoy Light
Opera Company, where he performed the role of Ko-Ko in Gilbert and
Sullivan's The Mikado. Besoyan left the company, after two years,
moving to New York. He studied at the American Theater Wing, and then
taught musical comedy at Stella Adler's Theater School.In 1957, he had
mild success with a revival of Cole Porter's Out of this World at
Actors Playhouse. Then Jim Paul Eilers asked him to write a revue for
his nightclub The Showplace. In Your Hat was the result. An Act II
finale, titled Gems from Little Mary Sunshine, featured some of the
themes later to form part of the famous musical.
playwright, composer and director especially of operetta and musicals.
He is best remembered for writing the successful satirical musical
Little Mary Sunshine.Born in Reedley, California to Amos and Mabel
(Madie) Besoyan, on July 2, 1924. In 1928 the family moved to Alameda,
California. Besoyan attended Lincoln School, writing his first song
when he was twelve. He graduated from Alameda High School in 1942.
While in High School, Besoyan and a few friends wrote and produced a
musical, High and Dry. He enrolled at the University of California at
Berkeley in 1942, but left during his first semester to volunteer for
the army, serving in Europe for three years in the Special Services
Division. While overseas, Besoyan attended the London School of Music,
studying piano.Upon his return, Besoyan joined the Bredon-Savoy Light
Opera Company, where he performed the role of Ko-Ko in Gilbert and
Sullivan's The Mikado. Besoyan left the company, after two years,
moving to New York. He studied at the American Theater Wing, and then
taught musical comedy at Stella Adler's Theater School.In 1957, he had
mild success with a revival of Cole Porter's Out of this World at
Actors Playhouse. Then Jim Paul Eilers asked him to write a revue for
his nightclub The Showplace. In Your Hat was the result. An Act II
finale, titled Gems from Little Mary Sunshine, featured some of the
themes later to form part of the famous musical.
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