Revamping 'Seven Brides': A Progressive Take on a Classic Musical

David Landay, the only living author of the 1982 stage musical "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," is suing the estates of his deceased coauthors for the right to continue staging a modernized version of the show. Landay had reworked the plot to make it more palatable for contemporary audiences, but the heirs of his collaborators are refusing to grant permission for future productions beyond the one at the Muny in St. Louis. Landay argues that they are breaching their contract by unreasonably withholding consent. The original musical, known for its exuberant dance numbers, has faced criticism for its problematic plot involving the kidnapping of women.