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 ....... This is a rare September 1995 playbill from the Pre-Broadway engagement of the RICHARD M. SHERMAN and ROBERT B. SHERMAN musical "BUSKERS" at the Morris A. Mechanic Theatre in Baltimore, Maryland. (During its brief run, the musical began as "BUSKER ALLEY", but was retitled "STAGE DOOR CHARLEY" before the first performance and eventually became "BUSKERS". The production opened April 7th, 1995 at the Macauley Theatre in Louisville, Kentucky and closed October 8th, 1995 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center in Tampa, Florida, canceling the already scheduled Broadway opening.) ..... The show's early demise was due to a broken foot suffered by its star, TOMMY TUNE and not because the musical was lacking in entertainment value. Besides the nine-time Tony Award winning TOMMY TUNE, the cast included DARCIE ROBERTS, BRENT BARRETT, MARCIA LEWIS, RON KIDD, LEE MARK NELSON, DREW ELIOT, LAURIE GAMACHE, THE HUBER MARIONETTES, DAVID S. ALEXANDER, MICHAEL ARNOLD, BRAD ASPEL, MICHAEL BERRESSE, PHILLIP HUBER, JEFFREY JAMES, REGI JENNINGS, DENIS JONES, BRUCE MOORE, PAIGE PRICE, GEORGE RIDDLE, MARK SANTORO, ABE SYLVIA, RICHARD VIDA and DAVID WARREN-GIBSON ..... CREDITS: Book by A. J. CAROTHERS based on "St. Martins Lane" by Miss CLEMENCE DANE; Music and Lyrics by RICHARD M. SHERMAN and ROBERT B. SHERMAN ("Over Here", "Mary Poppins", "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"); Sets designed by TONY WALTON; Costumes designed by WILLA KIM; Directed and Choreographed by JEFF CALHOUN; Produced by BARRY & FRAN WEISSLER and JUJAMCYN THEATERS in association with PACE THEATRICAL GROUP ..... DETAILS: The 36 page playbill measures 5 3/8" X 8 1/2" inches and includes full production credits, cast list, synopsis of scenes, list of musical numbers and bios of each of the leading actors and members of the creative team, but no cast photos ..... CONDITION: With the exception of light 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.
