Description
This is a rare December 29th, 1941 program (playbill) from the Pre-Broadway engagement of the GEORGE GERSHWIN, IRA GERSHWIN and DU BOSE HEYWARD American Folk Opera "PORGY AND BESS" at the Shubert Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts. (The revival would open January 22nd, 1942 at the Majestic Theatre in New York City and run for 286 performances.) ..... Despite the early demise of the original 1935 production (ran for only 124 performances), this Gershwin masterwork remains one of the greatest of all American musicals and musical theatre scores. It wasn't until several years after GEORGE GERSHWIN's untimely death at the age of 38 that the work received the acclamation it deserved. This revival featured many members of the Original Broadway Cast including TODD DUNCAN as "Porgy", ANNE BROWN as "Bess", WARREN COLEMAN as "Crown" and HELEN DOWDY as "Lily"/ "Strawberry Woman". Others in the cast included AVON LONG, EDWARD MATTHEWS, GEORGETTE HARVEY, RUBY ELZY, JIMMIE WATERS, HENRY DAVIS, JACK CARR, ROBERT ECTON, JOHN GARTH, J. ROSAMOND JOHNSON, CATHERINE AYERS, HARRIETT JACKSON, JOHN DEMMIGAR, PAUL DU PONT, GIBBS PENROSE, WILLIAM BOWERS, WILLIAM WOOLFOLK, AL WEST and THE EVA JESSYE CHOIR ..... 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 HERBERT ANDREWS; Costumes supervised by PAUL DU PONT; Orchestra Conducted by ALEXANDER SMALLENS; Directed by ROBERT ROSS; Produced by CHERYL CRAWFORD ..... DETAILS: This twelve page playbill measures 5 1/2" X 8 1/2" inches and includes a photo of GEORGE GERSHWIN on the cover, full production credits, cast list, synopsis of scenes and list of musical numbers, but no cast photos or bios ..... CONDITION: With the exception of light creasing, 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.
