Orphaned when her depressed mother Faith hangs herself, the girl in quick succession is sent to live in a convent where she discovers her vocal talents, becomes a star, performs at Carnegie Hall, sets out in search of her father (who she discovers is a drug-addicted Vietnam War vet), and engages in a competition with local diva Paradice at Madison Square Garden.

From the original Broadway souvenir program:[citation needed] Once upon a time, a famous young Parisian came to America to search for the Father she never knew.

Feeling the soul of the city that bears her name, Brooklyn is moved by a street performer who plays a rusty old crowbar as if it were a Golden Saxophone.

They eventually wrote the plot with elements of Annie, Madame Butterfly, Movin' Out, Rent, and every fairy tale that ever ended happily ever after.

[5] The musical premiered on Broadway on October 21, 2004 at the Plymouth Theatre (renamed the Gerald Schoenfeld), and closed on June 26, 2005 after 284 performances and 27 previews.

Directed by Jeff Calhoun, the cast included Eden Espinosa as Brooklyn, Karen Olivo as Faith, Kevin Anderson as Taylor, Ramona Keller as Paradice, and Cleavant Derricks as a street singer who acts as the narrator.

Cleavant Derricks reprised his performance as Street Singer, with original cast member Julie Reiber as Faith, and Lee Morgan as Taylor Collins.

The Armory production featured Elyssa Samsel in the title role with John Edwards (Street Singer), Brett J. Frazier (Taylor Collins), Chelsea Waller (Paradice), and Julie Marie Eberhart (Faith).

The cast featured Emma Kingston as Brooklyn, Jamie Muscato as Taylor, Marisha Wallace as Paradice, Sejal Keshwala as Faith, and Newton Matthews as the Street Singer.