Josephine Baker "ZIEGFELD FOLLIES" Fanny Brice / Bob Hope 1936 Tryout Playbill

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. (See cut songs below.) ....... This is a rare January 1936 program (playbill) from the Pre-Broadway tryout and WORLD PREMIERE engagement of the new 1936 edition of the "ZIEGFELD FOLLIES" ("A National Institution, Glorifying the American Girl") at the Boston Opera House in Boston, Massachusetts. (The production would open January 30th, 1936 at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City and run for 115 performances.) ..... The "ZIEGFELD FOLLIES" were the most lavish musical productions on Broadway between 1907 and 1931. Blending beauty, music and talent with over 100 graceful and elegant "Ziegfeld Girls" in priceless gowns, jewels and flowers, audiences knew they would be treated to the most memorable evening possible. The key to the ongoing success of the "Follies", even in the worst of times was creator and producer FLORENZ ZIEGFELD, Jr. As a tribute to her late husband (and to monopolize on the legendary Ziegfeld name), BILLIE BURKE ZIEGFELD lent her support to new editions of the "Ziegfeld Follies" in 1934, 1936, 1943 and 1957. This edition starred FANNIE BRICE, JOSEPHINE BAKER, BOB HOPE, GERTRUDE NIESEN, HUGH O'CONNELL, HARRIET HOCTOR, EVE ARDEN, JUDY CANOVA, CHERRY and JUNE PREISSER and JOHN HOYSRADT and included the NICHOLAS BROTHERS, DUKE McHALE, RODNEY McLENNAN, BEN YOST, the "CALIFORNIA VARSITY EIGHT", GEORGE CHURCH and 100 GORGEOUS ZIEGFELD GIRLS ..... CREDITS: Music by VERNON DUKE ("Garrick Gaieties", "Ziegfeld Follies", "At Home Abroad", "Cabin in the Sky", "Jackpot", "The Littlest Revue", "Sadie Thompson", "Two's Company"); Lyrics by IRA GERSHWIN ("Girl Crazy", "Lady, Be Good!", "Oh, Kay!", "Funny Face", "Rosalie", "Of Thee I Sing", "Porgy and Bess", "Lady in the Dark"); Comedy Scenes by DAVID FREEDMAN and MOSS HART; Sets and Costumes designed by VINCENTE MINNELLI; Additional Costumes designed by RAOUL PENE DU BOIS; Ballets by GEORGE BALANCHINE; Choreographed by ROBERT ALTON; Comedy Scenes Directed by EDWARD CLARKE LILLEY; Entire Production Staged by JOHN MURRAY ANDERSON; Produced by Mrs. FLORENZ ZIEGFELD (Billie Burke) ..... DETAILS: The eight panel, fold-open playbill measures 5 1/2" X 8" inches and includes full production credits, cast list, scenes and musical numbers, but no cast photos or bios ..... CUT SONGS: The list of musical numbers includes "The Ballad of Baby Face McGinty", "Does a Duck Love Water", "The Knife Thrower", "The Last of the Cabbies", "Please Send My Daddy Back To Mother", "Pulitzer Prize Award Announced" and "A Radio Comedian at Home" which were cut out-of-town ..... CONDITION: With the exception of the start of tears at each end of the folds and minor creasing, 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.
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