Which actress originated the title role in the 1969 Broadway musical Coco?

Katharine Hepburn originated the title role in the 1969 Broadway musical Coco.

The production dramatized the life and career of fashion designer Coco Chanel. Katharine Hepburn, already one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors, played Chanel in the original Broadway production, which opened in New York in December 1969.

The musical was written by Alan Jay Lerner and André Prévin. Its story focused on Chanel’s later return to haute couture and her place in the fashion world. Hepburn’s performance was central to the show’s identity and earned her a Tony Award nomination.

This fact is often confused because Audrey Hepburn was another internationally famous actress with the same surname. Audrey Hepburn did not originate Chanel’s Broadway role; the actress was Katharine Hepburn, who was not related to Audrey.