commented that "The Grass Harp charms you into sharing the author's feeling that there is a special poetry - a spontaneity and wonder and delight - in lives untarnished by conformity and common sense." Sales of The Grass Harp reached 13,500, more than double those of either A Tree of Night or Local Color, two of Capote's prior works. The Grass Harp was Truman Capote's favorite personal work, despite its being criticized as overly sentimental. Adaptations Play The Grass Harp was favorably reviewed when it was published, and it attracted the interest of the Broadway producer Saint Subber, who traveled to Taormina to urge Capote to write a stage adaption of the work; his offer opened up new possibilities for income at a time when Capote was still struggling to make his way. Working with intense concentration, Capote managed to complete a draft of the play in a year's time. He was personally involved in the selection of a production team. Capote's stage adaptation of his novel, produced by Saint Subber, directed by Robert Lewis, opened on March 27, 1952 at Broadway's Martin Beck Theatre, where it ran for 36 performances. The cast included Mildred Natwick as Dolly Talbo, Ruth Nelson as Verena Talbo, Jonathan Harris as Dr. Morris Ritz, Sterling Holloway as The Barber, Gertrude Flynn as The Baker's Wife, Val Dufour as The Sheriff, Jane Lawrence as The Choir Mistress, Lenka Peterson as Maude Riordan, and Alice Pearce as Miss Baby Love Dallas. Music was by Virgil Thomson and scenery and costumes were by Cecil Beaton. Musical In October 1971, the Michigan University Professional Theatre Program presented The Grass Harp musical with the university's music and drama departments supplying musicians and performers. Initially as an evaluation by the Broadway producers Richard Barr, Charles Woodward, Michael Harvey, and Associate Producer Michael Kasden. Celeste Holm, a close friend of Claibe Richardson, appeared in the Michigan University Professional Program's production as "Miss Baby Love". She was replaced with Karen Morrow for the Broadway production. The musical adaptation opened on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on November 2, 1971, after previews from October 26, 1971, and closed on November 6, 1971. The book and lyrics were by Kenward Elmslie and the music by Claibe Richardson. Directed by Ellis Rabb, the choreography was by Rhoda Levine, Scenic Design and lighting by James Tilton, and costumes by Nancy Potts. Orchestrations were by Jonathan