Rodgers and Hammerstein originally adapted the Phil Strong novel of the same name for a 1945 movie musical, which was remade in 1963. The stage production closely follows the plot of its predecessors, providing a glimpse into the life of the farming Frake family and their three-day adventure at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. While parents Abel and Melissa are hoping to win a few blue ribbons, siblings Margy and Wayne are more interested in finding romance on the midway. After a lengthy national tour and eight previews, the Broadway production, co-directed by James Hammerstein and Randy Skinner and choreographed by Skinner, opened on March 27, 1996 at the Music Box Theatre, where it ran for 110 performances. The cast included John Davidson as Abel, Kathryn Crosby as Melissa, Andrea McArdle as Margy, and Ben Wright as Wayne, with Donna McKechnie and Scott Wise in supporting roles.