Gertrude Stein "LADIES' VOICES" Pablo Picasso "DESIRE" T. S. Eliot 1952 Playbill

Description

This is a rare original March 2nd, 1952 program (playbill) from an evening of three "Bohemian" plays presented by THE LIVING THEATRE at the Off-Broadway Cherry Lane Theatre in New York City ..... The performances included Gertrude Stein's "LADIES' VOICES", Pablo Picasso's "DESIRE" ("Trapped by the Tail") and T. S. Eliot's "SWEENEY AGONISTES" ..... Historical Background: THE LIVING THEATRE is a
theatre
company founded in 1947 and based in
New York City
.
It is the oldest
experimental theatre
group still existing in the U.S. For most of its history it was led by its founders,
actress
Judith Malina
and
painter
/
poet
Julian Beck
. From its conception, The Living Theatre was dedicated to transforming the organization of power within society from a competitive, hierarchical structure to cooperative and communal expression through the staging of poetic dramas.
In the 1950's, the group was among the first in the U.S. to produce the work of influential European
playwrights
such as
Bertolt Brecht
and
Jean Cocteau
, as well as
modernist
poets
such as
T. S. ELIOT
and
GERTRUDE STEIN and painter/sculptor/playwright PABLO PICASSO
. Based in a variety of small New York locations which were frequently closed due to financial problems or conflicts with city authorities, they helped to originate
Off-Off-Broadway
and
Off-Broadway
as significant forces in U.S. theater. Their work during this period shared some aspects of style and content with
Beat generation
writers and artists. (Wikipedia)
..... PRODUCTION CREDITS: Gertrude Stein's "LADIES' VOICES": Cast: JUDITH MALINA and DIANE BANKS; Book by GERTRUDE STEIN; Directed by JULIAN BECK ..... Pablo Picasso's "DESIRE" ("Trapped by the Tail"): Cast: OTTO JONES, SONIA CARTER, SERAFINA HOVHANNES, SHIRLEY GLEANER, CLAUDE DEMBY, JOHN ASHBURY, FRANK O'HARA, CECIL CUNNINGHAM, ELEANOR MUNRO, EDITH DELMAR and PHILLIP SMITH; Book by PABLO PICASSO; Translated by HERMA BRIFFAULT; Music composed by LUCILLE DLUGOSZEWSKI; Sets and Costumes designed by JULIAN BECK; Choreographed by JIM SMITH; Directed by JUDITH MALINA ..... T. S. Eliot's "SWEENEY AGONISTES": Cast: CHRISTINA FRENCH, SONIA CARTER, MIHRAN CHOBANIA, J. E. DUANE, ANGELO LAIACONA, PETER FORSTER, HENRI SULAIMAN and CECIL CUNNINGHAM; Book by T. S. ELIOT; Music composed by MORTON FELDMAN; Sets designed by JULIAN BECK; Directed by JUDITH MALINA ..... DETAILS:
The twenty page playbill measures 6" X 9 1/8" inches, is printed on a heavy, textured brown stock and includes full production credits, cast lists, program notes and bios of each of the leading actors, but no cast photos. The program includes a list of Paintings by JULIAN BECK on display in the second floor lounge and a poem by JOHN CAGE ..... CONDITION: With the exception of a rough outside edge to the cover and a light vertical fold, this rare playbill is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.