Morton Da Costa, 74; Director Was Famous for Broadway Hits

Morton Da Costa, who directed such legendary Broadway hits as “The Music Man,” “Auntie Mame,” “No Time for Sergeants” and “Plain and Fancy,” has died of a heart attack. He was 74.

Da Costa, who lived in nearby West Redding, died Sunday in a Danbury hospital.

Although eventually known as one of the most praised and profitable directors in the country, Da Costa actually wanted to become an actor. He had a small role in the original 1942 New York production of Thornton Wilder’s “The Skin of Our Teeth” and understudied Montgomery Clift in the comedy.

He had been born Morton Tecosky, the youngest of 10 children in a Philadelphia family, and whetted his appetite for acting with drama classes at Temple University. After graduation he toured with a children’s theater group before landing the part in the Wilder play.

Later he played Osric in Maurice Evans’ 1945 production of “Hamlet” and still later, with Evans’ encouragement, turned to directing. At the New York City Center, he directed revivals of such plays as “The Alchemist,” starring Jose Ferrer, “She Stoops to Conquer,” with Brian Aherne and Celeste Holm, and “Dream Girl,” with Judy Holliday.

After directing the national tour of the comedy hit “Sabrina Fair” in the early 1950s, Da Costa had four big successes in a row on Broadway, starting with “Plain and Fancy.” The musical, set in Pennsylvania Amish country, ran more than a year and had a London production, which Da Costa also supervised.

In 1955, Da Costa directed “No Time for Sergeants,” Ira Levin’s comedy about Army life that made a star of Andy Griffith. In 1956, he had another hit with “Auntie Mame,” an adaptation of the Patrick Dennis novel about a madcap aunt and her young ward. Rosalind Russell played the title role.

The following year, Da Costa had his biggest Broadway success with “The Music Man,” which starred Robert Preston as Meredith Willson’s irrepressible con man. It ran for more than four years and won a Tony award as best musical.

Among Da Costa’s other musicals were “Saratoga,” an adaptation of Edna Ferber’s “Saratoga Trunk,” starring Howard Keel and Carol Lawrence in 1959; “To Broadway With Love,” a lavish revue shown at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, and “Maggie Flynn,” starring Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy in 1968.

In recent years, Da Costa directed an all-star revival of Clare Booth Luce’s “The Women,” with Alexis Smith, Myrna Loy, Rhonda Fleming, Dorothy Loudon, Kim Hunter and Jan Miner. His last Broadway show was the 1985 comedy “Doubles,” which starred John Cullum, Ron Leibman, Austin Pendleton and Tony Roberts.

He also directed the film versions of “Auntie Mame” and “The Music Man” and the 1963 comedy “Island of Love.”