This article is about the television musical. For the plant called evening primrose, see Oenothera. Evening Primrose is a musical with a book by James Goldman and lyrics and music by Stephen Sondheim. Based on a John Collier short story published in the 1951 collection Fancies and Goodnights, it focuses on a poet who takes refuge from the world by hiding out in a department store after closing. Once there he finds a community of night people who live in the store, most notably a beautiful young girl named Ella. Unfortunately for the two young lovers, their relationship is forbidden by the leader of the group, and escape appears to be their only option. The ending provides a Twilight Zone-like twist. Written specifically for the television anthology series ABC Stage 67, it aired on November 16 1966. Directed by Paul Bogart, it starred Anthony Perkins (Charles), Charmian C