Description
This is a rare June 15th, 1956 program (playbill) from the one-week, Summer Stock engagement of the RICHARD RODGERS and OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II musical "SOUTH PACIFIC" at the Melody Circus Theatre in Milwaukee, Wisconisin. (The Original Broadway production opened April 7th, 1949 at the Majestic Theatre in New York City and ran for 1925 performances.) ..... The cast included nine year-old Milwaukee native CHIP ZIEN as "Jerome" in his first stage production. Zien would receive acclaim 23 years later when he created the role of "Marvin" in William Finn's first musical "In Trousers" ("Falsettos") and among his thirteen Broadway credits, he originated the role of the "Baker" in Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods" ..... The musical starred ROSEMARY O'REILLY as "Ensign Nellie Forbush" and JAMES NORBERT as "Emile de Beque" and featured SANDY WENDORF, DAVID LOBER, LENORE ARLEN, NOEL SCHWARTZ, ZACHARY A. CHARLES, IRWIN CHARONE, RICHARD ARMBRUSTER, WILL SCHOLZ, BRUCE KANITZ, CHUCK PRODOEHL, WILLIAM THOMAS, ANN BARRY and HAL WARREN ..... CREDITS: Music by RICHARD RODGERS; Lyrics by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II (Rodgers & Hammerstein collaborated on "Oklahoma!", "Carousel", "The King and I", "Flower Drum Song" and "The Sound of Music" among others); Book by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II and JOSHUA LOGAN adapted from JAMES A. MICHENER's Pulitzer Prize winning "Tales of the South Pacific"; Sets designed by GREG KAYNE; Choreographed by DAVID LOBER; Directed by DAVID BROOKS; Produced by MILTON S. PADWAY ..... DETAILS: The eight page program measures 6" X 9" inches and includes full production credits, cast list, synopsis of scenes, list of musical numbers and wonderful vintage advertising, but no cast photos or bios ..... CONDITION: With the exception of minor creasing from having been folded into quarters, 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.
