Description
This is a rare July 28th, 1952 program (playbill) from the National Tour engagement of the GEORGE GERSHWIN, IRA GERSHWIN and DU BOSE HEYWARD American Folk Opera "PORGY AND BESS" at the Nixon Theatre in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (This ambitious revival was produced for the first European tour of the musical which opened October 9th, 1952 at London's Stoll Theatre. After five months of performances throughout Europe, the production settled into New York's Ziegfeld Theatre on March 10th, 1953 for 305 performances before returning to the road.) ..... The outstanding cast included LEONTYNE PRICE as "Bess", WILLIAM WARFIELD as "Porgy", and CAB CALLOWAY as "Sportin' Life", the role that was conceived with him in mind. Additional cast members included HELEN DOWDY, URYLEE LEONARDOS, LeVERN HUTCHERSON, GEORGIA BURKE, HELEN COLBERT, JOSEPH JAMES, WILLIAM VEASEY, LESLIE SCOTT, JOHN McCURRY, HOWARD ROBERTS, MOSES LaMARR, KENNETH HIBBERT, HELEN THIGPEN, CATHERINE AYERS, JERRY LAWS, JOSEPH CRAWFORD and RAY YEATES ..... CREDITS: Book by DU BOSE HEYWARD founded on the play "Porgy" by DU BOSE and DOROTHY HEYWARD; Music by GEORGE GERSHWIN ("Girl Crazy", "Lady, Be Good!", "Oh, Kay!", "Funny Face", "Rosalie", "Of Thee I Sing", "Porgy and Bess", "George White's Scandals"); Lyrics by DU BOSE HEYWARD and IRA GERSHWIN; Sets designed by WOLFGANG ROTH; Costumes designed by JED MACE; Choral Direction by EVA JESSYE; Orchestra Conducted by ALEXANDER SMALLENS; Directed by ROBERT BREEN; Produced by BLEVINS DAVIS and ROBERT BREEN ..... DETAILS: The twelve page playbill measures 5 1/4" X 8 5/8" inches and includes full production credits, cast list, synopsis of scenes, list of musical numbers and wonderful vintage advertising, but no cast photos or bios ..... CONDITION: With the exception of light soiling to the cover, this playbill is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.
