Gertrude Lawrence "OH, KAY!" George Gershwin "GAY PAREE" 1926 Tryout Program

Description

I'm currently listing a large number of playbills from out-of-town tryouts prior to the Broadway runs. Many are from early performances when revisions were common and include song titles that were cut before opening in New York. (See cut songs below.) ....... This
is a rare October 18th, 1926 "Shubert Playbill" (program) from the Pre-Broadway engagement of the GEORGE GERSHWIN, IRA GERSHWIN, GUY BOLTON and P. G. WODEHOUSE musical comedy "OH, KAY!"
at the Sam S. Shubert Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. (The production would open November 8th, 1926
at New York's Imperial Theatre
and run for 256 performances.) ..... The musical that introduced the standards, "Someone To Watch Over Me", "Do-Do-Do" and "Clap Yo' Hands" starred GERTRUDE LAWRENCE, OSCAR SHAW and VICTOR MOORE and featured BETTY COMPTON,
CONSTANCE CARPENTER,
GERALD OLIVER SMITH, HARLAND DIXON, MARION and MADELEINE FAIRBANKS, HARRY T. SHANNON,
SASCHA BEAUMONT, CONSTANCE APPLETON, JANETTE GILMORE,
PAULETTE WINSTON and FRANK GARDINER ..... CREDITS: Music by GEORGE GERSHWIN ("Girl Crazy", "Lady, Be Good!", "Oh, Kay!", "Funny Face", "Rosalie", "Strike Up the Band", "Of Thee I Sing", "Porgy and Bess", "George White's Scandals"); Book by GUY BOLTON and P. G. WODEHOUSE; Lyrics by IRA GERSHWIN; Sets designed by JOHN WENGER; Choreographed by SAMMY LEE; Directed by JOHN HARWOOD; Produced by ALEX A. AARONS and VINTON FREEDLEY .....
CUT SONGS: The list of musical numbers includes "Ding-Dong-Dell", "The Moon is on the Sea" and "Show Me the Town" which were cut out-of-town ..... The playbill also includes the credits for the
Pre-Broadway engagement of the HAROLD ATTERIDGE, MAURICE RUBENS, ALBERT NICHOLS and J. FRED COOTS musical revue "GAY PAREE"
at
Philadelphia's Chestnut Street Opera House
. (The production would open November 9th, 1926
at New York's Winter Garden Theatre
and run for 192 performances.) ..... The cast included WINNIE LIGHTNER, CHARLES "CHIC" SALE, JACK HALEY, MAX HOFFMAN, Jr., FRANK GABY, LORRAINE WEIMER, NEWTON ALEXANDER, RICHARD BOLD, DOUGLAS LEAVITT, J. C. DUNN, BEN HOLMES and the GAY PAREE GIRLS
..... CREDITS: Music by
MAURICE RUBENS, ALBERT NICHOLS and J. FRED COOTS
; Dialogue by
HAROLD ATTERIDGE;
Lyrics by MANN HOLINER and CLIFFORD GREY; Sets designed by WATSON BARRATT; Choreographed by SEYMOUR FELIX; Directed by J. C. HUFFMAN and CHARLES JUDELS; Produced by the Messrs. LEE and J. J. SHUBERT
..... DETAILS: The 36 page playbill measures 5 3/8" X 7 5/8" inches and includes full production credits, cast lists, synopsis of scenes, list of musical numbers and wonderful vintage advertising, but no cast photos or bios ..... CONDITION: With the exception of a small tear to the outside edge of an inside page and minor edge wear, this rare 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.