Anita Gillette "KELLY" Moose Charlap 1965 Broadway FLOP Opening Night Playbill

Description

This is a rare February 6th, 1965 PREMIERE PERFORMANCE playbill from the Original Broadway production of the notorious MOOSE CHARLAP and EDDIE LAWRENCE musical comedy flop "KELLY"
at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York City
. (The production played seven previews beginning February 1st, 1965, officially opened February 6th, 1965 and closed the same night after only one performance, losing 0,000 and becoming at that time the costliest failure in Broadway history.) ..... Based on the true-life story of Steve Brodie who may or may not have jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge to avoid paying off his gambling debts, the musical starred a relatively unknown DON FRANCKS (despite considering GENE KELLY, RICHARD HARRIS, TOMMY SANDS and FRANK GORSHIN for the lead.) During the out-of-town tryouts, the role of "Ma Kelly" was played by ELLA LOGAN in what would have been her first Broadway appearance since starring in "Finian's Rainbow" in 1947. She chose to withdraw from the show after her role was diminished with the daily rewrites. The remaining cast included WILFRID BRAMBELL, JESSE WHITE, MICKEY SHAUGHESSY, LEON JANNEY, ANITA GILLETTE, EILEEN RODGERS, STEVE ELMORE, BRANDON MAGGART and HAMILTON CAMP ..... CREDITS: Book and Lyrics by EDDIE LAWRENCE; Music by MOOSE CHARLAP ("Whoop-Up", "Peter Pan", "Kelly", "The Conquering Hero"); Sets designed by OLIVER SMITH; Costumes designed by FREDDY WITTOP; Directed and Choreographed by HERBERT ROSS; Produced by DAVID SUSSKIND and DANIEL MELNICK in association with JOSEPH E. LEVINE ..... DETAILS: The 60 page playbill measures 6" 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 and members of the creative team, but no cast photos. Includes a full page ad for the proposed Original Cast recording of "KELLY" on Columbia Records. Plans to release a cast album were scrapped with the abrupt closing. Also includes the AL HIRSCHFELD illustration of JASON ROBARDS as "Puck" in Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream", number 12 in the series "Unlikely Casting" ..... CONDITION: With the exception of the title and date written on the front cover, 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.