Description
This is a rare September 22nd, 1952 playbill from the one-week, National Tour engagement of the IRVING BERLIN musical comedy "CALL ME MADAM" at the Lyceum Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (The Original Broadway production opened October 12th, 1950 at the Imperial Theatre in New York City and ran for 644 performances. The National Tour began May 5th, 1952 at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C. and closed at the Shubert Theatre in Chicago on April 18th, 1953.) ..... The musical starred ELAINE STRITCH as "Sally Adams", the new Ambassador to the mythical country of Lichtenburg (the role created on Broadway by ETHEL MERMAN). Based loosely on the life and career of PERLE MESTA (U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg in the 1940's), the musical also starred KENT SMITH and featured DAVID DANIELS, GALINA TALVA, PAT HARRINGTON, E. A. KRUMSCHMIDT, ALEXANDER CLARK, RALPH CHAMBERS and JAY VELIE. Listed among the Principal Dancers is CONCHITA DEL RIVERO (who later changed her name to CHITA RIVERA) in one of her earliest roles ..... 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; Choreographed by JEROME ROBBINS; Directed by GEORGE ABBOTT; Produced by LELAND HAYWARD ..... DETAILS: The twelve page playbill 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 a light vertical crease, 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.
