When Jerome Robbins' first ballet, Fancy Free was premiered on April, 18, 1944, it proved to be one of the most exciting evenings in the history of Ballet in America, marking the emergence of so many new American talents. Jerome Robbins, a original member of American Ballet Theatre, had created the choreography while on a coast-to-coast tour with the company, working closely through correspondence with a young, unknown composer in New York. The composer, Leonard Bernstein, sprang into national prominence shortly before the premiere of Fancy Free when he stepped in at the last moment and, without rehearsal, conducted the New York Philharmonic as a substitute for the ailing Bruno Walter. The last of the triumverate of twenty-five year old collaborators was Oliver Smith whose set for the ballet was the first of a series of brilliant designs executed for American Ballet Theatre's contemporary repertory. The ballet ... brought to the forefront six of the company's junior soloists who comprised the original cast: John Kriza, Janet Reed, Jerome Robbins, Muriel Bentley, Harold Lang, and Shirley Eckl. Following the success of the ballet, it was translated into a musical comedy entitled On The Town, which in turn was adapted for the screen with Gene Kelly as the star.