Description
This is a rare advertising handbill (flyer) promoting the two-week, Post-Broadway engagement of the KATHERINE DUNHAM Dance Revue "TROPICAL REVUE" at the Locust Street Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania beginning January 24th, 1944. (The production opened September 19th, 1943 at the Martin Beck Theatre in New York City and ran for two months before commencing on a National Tour. The show would return December 26th, 1944 to New York's New Century Theatre for an additional 24 performances.) ..... Described as a "Musical Heatwave", the revue starred KATHERINE DUNHAM and the Dunham Dancers, Singers and Musicians including BOBBY CAPO, HELEN DOWDY, LUCILLE ELLIS, TOMMY GOMEZ, ROGER OHARDIENO, TALLEY BEATTY, CLAUDE MARCHANT, LENWOOD MORRIS, VANOYE AIKENS, ANDRE DREW, EDDY CLAY, SYVILLA FORT, LAVINIA WILLIAMS, LAWAUNE INGRAM, RAMONA ERWIN, ORA LEE, RICHARDENA JACKSON, DOLORES HARPER and GLORIA MITCHELL ..... Side Note: KATHERINE DUNHAM (1909 – 2006) 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. (Wikipedia) ..... CREDITS: Choreographed and Staged by KATHERINE DUNHAM; Sets and Costumes designed by JOHN PRATT; Orchestra conducted by MARTIN GABOWITZ; Directed by DALE WASSERMAN; Produced by S. HUROK ..... 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 a wonderful AL HIRSCHFELD illustration on the front and several production photos, promotional text and excerpts from several New York reviews on the backside ..... CONDITION: This rare handbill is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any theatre or dance aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.
