This musical was inspired by the Ingmar Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night (1955), English language title: "Smiles of a Summer Night".
This is the show that introduced the song "Send in the Clowns", which became a pop culture hit.
The stage version of "A Little Night Music" opened at the Shubert Theater in New York on Feb. 23, 1973 and ran for 601 performances. It won the Tony Award for Best Musical of 1973.
Adapted from a Broadway musical produced and directed Harold Prince. The original 1973 stage production of "A Little Night Music" starred Glynis Johns as Desiree, Len Cariou, Hermione Gingold, George Lee Andrews, Patricia Elliott, Beth Fowler and Laurence Guittard.