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 23rd, 1957 playbill (with an original ticket stub) from the Pre-Broadway engagement of the HAROLD ARLEN, E. Y. HARBURG and FRED SAIDY musical comedy "JAMAICA" at the Shubert Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (The production would open October 31st, 1957 at the Imperial Theatre in New York City and run for 555 performances.) ..... The musical starred LENA HORNE and RICARDO MONTALBAN and featured JOSEPHINE PREMISE, JOE ADAMS, ERIK RHODES, ALAN SHAYNE, OSSIE DAVIS, ALVIN AILEY and ADELAIDE HALL ..... CREDITS: Book by E. Y. HARBURG and FRED SAIDY; Music by HAROLD ARLEN (composer of "You Said It", "Cotton Club Parade", "Life Begins at 8:40", "Hooray for What", "Bloomer Girl", "St. Louis Woman", "House of Flowers", "Jamaica", "Saratoga" and the classic film "The Wizard of Oz"); Lyrics by E. Y. "Yip" HARBURG ("Ziegfeld Follies of 1931", "Ballyhoo of 1932", "The Show Is On", "Hooray for What!", "Bloomer Girl", "Finian's Rainbow", "Flahooley", "Jamaica", "Darling of the Day" and the classic film score "The Wizard of Oz"); Sets designed by OLIVER SMITH; Costumes designed by MILES WHITE; Choreographed by JACK COLE; Directed by ROBERT LEWIS; Produced by DAVID MERRICK ..... DETAILS: The 16 page playbill measures 6" X 9" inches and includes full production credits, cast list, synopsis of scenes, list of musical numbers and bios of the leading actors, but no cast photos. Includes a loose ticket stub from the September 24th, 1957 performance ..... CONDITION: With the exception of a light vertical fold, this 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.
