The original book and lyrics were by author Erich Segal, and a fairly modest production with a small cast began a national tour in December 1974 at the Hanna Theater in Cleveland, Ohio.
In April 1975, the two, together with Diener's husband Marre and Brynner's wife Jacqueline, filed a $7.5 million lawsuit against Trader Vic's in Manhattan, alleging shortribs they ate there shortly before the start of the tour were poisonous and had left them "ill, weak, and infirm.
"[3] In each city, the show received consistently bad reviews, and when it reached Los Angeles, Segal asked that his name be removed from the credits.
[1][4] Marre, whose career ranged from hits like Kismet and Man of La Mancha to unsuccessful shows like Cry for Us All and Shangri-La, not only revamped the book and lyrics, but fired choreographer Billy Wilson and took over the musical staging as well.
The musical, now an extravagant production retitled Home Sweet Homer, opened officially at the Sunday matinee on January 4, 1976 at the Palace Theatre after eleven previews.