Description
I'm currently listing a large number of playbills representing some of the most memorable Broadway performances of the 1950's and 1960's ....... This is a rare autographed March 26th, 1951 playbill from the Original Broadway production of the IRVING BERLIN musical comedy "CALL ME MADAM" which played the Imperial Theatre in New York City ..... The musical starred ETHEL MERMAN (who signed the front cover) as "Sally Adams", the new Ambassador to the mythical country of Lichtenburg. Based loosely on the life and career of PERLE MESTA (U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg in the 1940's), the musical opened October 12th, 1950 and ran for 644 performances ..... Featured in the cast were PAUL LUKAS, RUSSELL NYPE, ALAN HEWITT, GEOFFREY LUMB, OWEN COLL, PAT HARRINGTON, WILLIAM DAVID, RALPH CHAMBERS, JEANNE BAL, WILLIAM HAIL, JAY VELIE, STOWE PHELPS, E. A. KRUMSCHMIDT, HENRY LASCOE, GALINA TALVA, LILY PAGET, LILIA SKALA, TOMMY RALL, MURIEL BENTLEY, DOLORES "Dody" GOODMAN, ARTHUR PARTINGTON and NORMA KAISER ..... Note: The playbill's front cover was signed in pencil by ETHEL MERMAN (first scanned image) and will be accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity ..... CREDITS: Music and Lyrics by IRVING BERLIN ("Music Box Revues", the Marx Brothers' "The Cocoanuts", "Louisiana Purchase", "This is the Army", "Miss Liberty", "Annie Get Your Gun", "Mr. President"); Book by HOWARD LINDSAY and RUSSEL CROUSE; Sets and Costumes designed by RAOUL PENE DU BOIS; Playbill cover designed by PETER ARNO; Choreographed by JEROME ROBBINS; Directed by GEORGE ABBOTT; Produced by LELAND HAYWARD ..... DETAILS: The 46 page playbill measures 6 1/2" X 9" inches and includes full production credits, cast list, synopsis of scenes, list of musical numbers and bios of each of the leading actors, but no cast photos. Includes a full page ad for the album "ETHEL MERMAN ... 12 Songs from 'CALL ME MADAM'" on Decca Records (fourth scanned image) ..... CONDITION: With the exception of a bumped corner at the bottom right, 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.
