Katherine Dunham "TROPICAL REVUE" Musical Dance Revue 1944 Souvenir Program

Description

This is a rare souvenir program from the Original Broadway production of the KATHERINE DUNHAM Dance Revue "TROPICAL REVUE" at the New Century Theatre in New York City. (The production opened September 19th, 1943 at New York's Martin Beck Theatre and ran for two months before commencing on a National Tour. The show returned December 26th, 1944 to the New Century Theatre for an additional 24 performances.) ..... Desribed as a "Musical Heatwave", the revue starred KATHERINE DUNHAM and the Dunham Dancers, Singers and Musicians including BOBBY CAPO, HELEN DOWDY,
ROGER OHARDIENO,
LUCILLE ELLIS, TOMMY GOMEZ,
SYVILLA FORT,
LENWOOD MORRIS,
RAMONA ERWIN, THELMA ROBINSON, DALE WASSERMAN, SAKI DICRAN, LAVINIA WILLIAMS, LAVERNE FRENCH, CLAUDE MARCHANT,
ANDRE DREW, LAWAUNE INGRAM,
VANOYE AIKENS, JOHN PRATT
, VANDERHANS, VICENTY and MENDEZ, the DOWDY QUARTET and the LEONARD WARE TRIO ..... Side Note: KATHERINE DUNHAM (1909 – 2006) has been called the "Matriarch of Black Dance." Her unprecedented blend of cultural anthropology with the artistic genre of dance in the early 1930's, produced groundbreaking forms of movement, and in the United States, established black dance as an art form in its own right. Her professional troupe, formed in the early 1940's, was a first for African Americans, and led the way for future notables of dance the likes of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and Arthur Mitchell's Dance Theatre of Harlem. (Wikipedia) ..... CREDITS: Choreographed and Staged by KATHERINE DUNHAM; Sets and Costumes designed by JOHN PRATT; Orchestra conducted by ALBERT ARKUSS; Directed by DALE WASSERMAN; Produced by S. HUROK ..... DETAILS: The 20 page program measures 9" X 12" inches and includes production credits, cast list, promotional text, an extensive bio of Miss Dunham, individual photos of each of the cast members, a page of excerpts from a number of New York reviews and several pages of production photos ..... CONDITION: With the exception of minor edge wear, this rare program is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or dance historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.