The Boy Friend is a musical by Sandy Wilson. Its original 1953 London production ran for 2,078 performances, briefly making it the third-longest running musical in West End or Broadway history until they were all surpassed by Salad Days. The Boy Friend marked Julie Andrews’ American stage debut.
In 1954, Andrews was only 19 years old and had already been performing in England on stage, radio, and variety shows. She had a remarkable soprano voice, trained for opera, and had been touring with her parents since childhood. When The Boy Friend—a lighthearted spoof of 1920s musicals—was preparing its Broadway run, producer Cy Feuer brought Andrews over from London after being impressed with her performances in the West End.
She was cast as Polly Browne, the sweet ingénue. Though the part was not large, it showcased her natural charm, precise comic timing, and crystalline singing voice. Critics immediately took notice—many reviews singled her out as a newcomer with extraordinary talent.
Andrews later recalled that she had very little experience auditioning, but she was asked to perform in New York to prove herself. She sang an operatic aria and a few light songs, which impressed the team because she could both sing classically and handle the lighter, comedic musical material.
Her Broadway debut in The Boy Friend was so successful that it directly led to her being cast, just a year later, as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady (1956), the role that made her an international star.
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