The original Broadway production opened on March 18, 1969 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre starring, Ray Bolger, Leonard John Crofoot, David Cryer, Cathryn Damon, Margaret Hamilton, and Barbara Sharma.

Despite its short run, David Cryer won the 1969 Theatre World Award.

The story tells of an itinerant peddlar in 19th century New England, and the people whose lives he affects.

Ray Bolger demanded that the producers expand his role;[1] several rewrites later, de Mille herself was fired and replaced by Burt Shevelove.

Only a few days after that, Shevelove exited, and "the producers asked Agnes to come back, but only to choreograph.