Katherine Dunham "BAL NEGRE" Eartha Kitt / Dance 1946 Detroit Tryout Flyer

Description

This is a rare advertising handbill (flyer) promoting the Pre-Broadway engagement of the dance revue "BAL NEGRE" at the Shubert Lafayette Theatre in Detroit, Michigan beginning October 7th, 1946. (The production would open November 7th, 1946 at the Belasco Theatre in New York City and run for 52 performances.) ..... The revue starred KATHERINE DUNHAM and the Dunham Dancers, Singers and Musicians including EARTHA KITT, LUCILLE ELLIS, LENWOOD MORRIS, VANOYE AIKENS, LAWAUNNE INGRAM, RICHARDENA JACKSON, GLORIA MITCHELL, EDDY CLAY, BYRON CUTLER, JAMES ALEXANDER, RONNIE AUL, WILBERT BRADLEY, DOLORES HARPER, OTHELLO STROZIER, ROXIE FOSTER, EUGENE LEE ROBINSON, JESSE HAWKINS, JEAN LEON DESTINE, ROSLIE KING, MARY LEWIS, MARIAM BURTON, GORDON SIMPSON and RICARDO MORRISON. The native drummers included ROSA ESTRADA, CANDIDO VICENTY and JULIO MENDEZ. (Note: KATHERINE DUNHAM is the only cast member mentioned by name in the text of the handbill.) ..... Side Note: KATHERINE DUNHAM has been called the "Matriarch of Black Dance." Her unprecedented blend of cultural anthropology with the artistic genre of dance in the early 1930's, produced groundbreaking forms of movement, and in the United States, established black dance as an art form in its own right. Her professional troupe, formed in the early 1940's, was a first for African Americans, and led the way for future notables of dance the likes of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and Arthur Mitchell's Dance Theatre of Harlem ..... CREDITS: Costumes designed by EDITH LUTYENS; Orchestra conducted by GILBERTO VALDES; Choreographed and Staged by KATHERINE DUNHAM; Book Directed by MARY HUNTER; Produced by KATHERINE DUNHAM and NELSON L. GROSS in association with DANIEL MELNICK ..... DETAILS: Advertising handbills (heralds) were distributed or inserted into the playbills of other productions to help generate ticket sales for upcoming shows and events. This single page, two-sided handbill measures 6" X 9" inches and includes production credits and two photos of KATHERINE DUNHAM on the front and excerpts from several reviews on the backside ..... CONDITION: With the exception of moderate creasing, a vertical fold, a tiny tear on the left side and minor discoloration at the bottom, this rare flyer is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or dance historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard ..... SHIPPING DISCOUNTS: Check my "Other Items" for additional rare Broadway playbills and other theatre related memorabilia. Multiple purchases qualify for shipping discounts when all items are combined into a single payment. Please wait for a revised invoice before sending payment ..... THANKS !!!
Pay me securely with any major credit card through PayPal!