'Pat Boone' reportedly rejected the lead on moral grounds.
Warren Beatty was nominated for the 1960 Tony Award (New York City) for Supporting or Features Actor in a Drama for "A Loss of Roses" (Original title of play) as Kenny.
Back cover of US VHS box features photo of Joanne Woodward, Claire Trevor and Richard Beymer at an outdoor festival of some sort (one of film's working titles was Celebration) that doesn't appear in finished film.
In 1961, Natalie Wood was announced for this film (then called Celebration), as a re-teaming with her West Side Story co-star Richard Beymer. Presumably, she would played a beefed up version of supporting role that eventually went to Carol Lynley.
Kim Novak mentioned in print to play title role at one point.
The original New York production under a different title was "A Loss of Roses" by William Inge which opened at the Eugene O'Neill Theater in New York on November 28, 1959 and ran for 25 performances.
The role of Lila, washed-up showgirl of the title, was originally intended for Marilyn Monroe, who was replaced by Joanne Woodward upon Marilyn's death. The ironic opening sequence (undoubtedly rewritten after Miss Monroe's death) has the bleached blonde title character, upon her arrival in Hollywood, being mistaken for Jayne Mansfield by a tourist.