Sandy Wilson facts for kids

Alexander Galbraith "Sandy" Wilson (born May 19, 1924 – died August 27, 2014) was an English composer and lyricist. This means he wrote music and words for songs. He is most famous for creating the musical The Boy Friend in 1953.

About Sandy Wilson

Early Life and Education

Sandy Wilson was born in Sale, Cheshire, England. He went to a school called Harrow School. In 1942, he won a special scholarship to study Japanese during World War II at a place called SOAS.

He was part of a group known as the 'Dulwich Boys'. They studied at SOAS and lived at Dulwich College. While there, Sandy created a funny show called 'A Matter of Course'. It was based on his experiences learning Japanese.

Sandy did not finish his Japanese studies. He later served in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. This was part of the British Army. He worked in Great Britain, Egypt, and Iraq.

After the War

After the war, Sandy went to Oriel College, Oxford, a famous university. While he was a student, he wrote shows for the Oxford University Experimental Theatre Club. He then studied production at the Old Vic Theatre School.

His Famous Musicals

Most of Sandy Wilson's early work was for "revues." These were shows with different songs, dances, and comedy sketches. He wrote for popular revues like Slings and Arrows and Oranges and Lemons.

In 1953, Sandy wrote the story, music, and lyrics for The Boy Friend. It was first shown at the Players' Theatre. The show became very popular.

Because of its success, a longer version was created for the West End in London. The West End is famous for its many theaters. The Boy Friend opened in January 1954 at Wyndhams Theatre. It ran for over 2,000 performances!

The musical also opened on Broadway in New York City in 1954. Broadway is America's famous theater district. This show was special because it introduced Julie Andrews to Broadway. She became a very famous actress. The Boy Friend played for over 480 performances there.

Sandy Wilson wrote other musicals too. In 1958, he created Valmouth. This show was based on a novel set in a seaside town. In 1964, he wrote Divorce Me, Darling!, which was a follow-up to The Boy Friend. His last musical was Aladdin in 1979.

Later Life

Sandy Wilson wrote a book about his life called I Could Be Happy. It was published in 1975. He was also a member of the Labour Party, a political group in the UK. He wrote for Elizabethan magazine.

Sandy Wilson passed away in Taunton, England, in 2014. He was 90 years old. In 1999, he gave his writings and papers to the Harry Ransom Center. These papers include his plays, musicals, books, articles, and letters.

List of Musicals

• Caprice (1950)
• The Boy Friend (1953)
• The Buccaneer (1955)
• Valmouth (1958)
• Pieces of Eight (1959)
• Divorce Me, Darling! (1964)
• As Dorothy Parker Once Said (1969)
• His Monkey Wife (1971)
• The Clapham Wonder (1978)
• Aladdin (1979)