 Originally titled "The Girls Upstairs", the musical was originally to be produced by David Merrick and Leland Hayward in late 1967, but the plans ultimately fell through, and Stuart Ostrow became the producer, with Joseph Hardy to direct.These plans also did not work out, and finally Harold Prince, who had worked previously with Sondheim, became the producer and director.He had agreed to work on "The Girls Upstairs" if Sondheim would agree to work on "Company"; Michael Bennett, the young choreographer of "Company", was also brought onto the project.