Ann Pugh Heidi Musical Scrapbooks

Heidi was written by Johanna Spyri and first published in 1880. Heidi is the story of a young girl who lives with her reclusive grandfather in the Swiss Alps. She is forced to leave her grandfather and her friend Peter to become a companion to the invalid Clara in Frankfurt. After a year of learning and homesick-ness, Heidi returns home to the Alps and her grandfather. Clara comes to stay with Heidi for the summer, and her life is changed when circumstances force her to learn to walk again.

Heidi was an extremely popular children’s story and approximately 20 film or television movies have been made since the 1937 movie starring Shirley Temple as Heidi. In 1963, Fort Worth residents, Ann Pugh and Betty Utter wrote the Heidi musical. Mrs. Pugh wrote the story script, while Mrs. Utter wrote the song lyrics and tunes.

Ann Pugh earned her bachelor’s degree in speech and English from TCU and went on to do graduate work at TCU and the University of Southern California at Los Angeles. “She also studied at Pasadena Playhouse, performed at Margo Jones Theater, studied in New York City, taught at TCU, originated the Ann Alden TV show and gave one-woman theater performances.”

Betty Utter attended Southwestern College in Memphis, Tennessee, studied opera in New York City, “worked in professional opera, radio, TV, musical comedy,” and as a soloist for First Methodist and Temple Beth-El in Fort Worth.

Layton, Latryl. ”’Heidi’ Writers Like Teamwork.” Fort Worth Star-Telegram 19 May 1963. Print.