March 21 has been declared Rosie the Riveter Day. Marilyn herself worked in such a role at Radioplane! During World War II, thousands of women worked in a factory jobs because men were called upon to serve in the war. Thanks to women working for the war effort at home, the United States was able to keep up with manufacturing goals to produce ships, airplanes, jeeps and tanks.

Marilyn! The Musical was a musical written by Mort Garson about Marilyn Monroe that was originally produced in London in 1983 as a vehicle for Stephanie Lawerence. The show’s book and lyrics were by Jacques Wilson and it opened at the Adelphi on 17 March 1983 where it ran for 156 performances.  Directed by Larry Fuller, with whom Lawrence had worked on ‘Evita’ the principal cast also included John Christie, John Bennet, David Firth. Bruce Barry and Judith Bruce.

Despite poor reviews for the show, Lawrence’s performance was praised:
“The show was intended as a tribute to another popular icon who died young, but it failed to capture the public imagination,” Michael Billington wrote in the Guardian. “The one person who emerged with credit was Stephanie Lawrence. She not only captured the externals of Marilyn Monroe – the wiggle, the walk, the passionate pout, the vocal breathiness – but conveyed the carmined innocence and soft vulnerability within. It should have been her passport to fame but the show failed to live up to its star.”