Description
This is a rare August 24th, 1959 "Playgoer" playbill from the West Coast engagement of the groundbreaking RICHARD RODGERS and OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II musical comedy "OKLAHOMA!" at the Philharmonic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. (The Original Broadway production opened March 31st, 1943 at the St. James Theatre in New York City and ran for 2212 performances.) ..... The musical starred BOBBY VAN as "Will Parker", JULES MUNSHIN as "Ali Hakim", HELEN GALLAGHER as "Ado Annie", JACQUELINE McKEEVER as "Laurey", JAMES HURST as "Curly", MURVYN VYE as "Jud Fry", DON BEDDOE as "Andrew Carnes" and RETA SHAW as "Aunt Eller" and the cast included BOB VANSELOW, DICK HILLEARY, ELIZA JONSON, NANCI ADAMS, BARBARA DUNBAR, JO ANNA SHIELDS, ANNETTE de la ROCHE, PAT JENNINGS, YVONNE ADRIAN, SUSAN WOOLLEY, ROBERT LAMONT, BRUCE HOY, BRUCE PETER YARNELL, NORMAN FONTAINE, BOB TURK, EDGAR MASTIN, LOU ZELDIS and CYNTHIA GREGORY ..... CREDITS: Music by RICHARD RODGERS; Book and Lyrics by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN 2nd based on the play "Green Grow the Lilacs" by LYNN RIGGS. (This was the first collaboration for Rodgers and Hammerstein who would go on to write "Carousel", "The King and I", "South Pacific", "Flower Drum Song" and "The Sound of Music" among others); Sets designed by OLIVER SMITH; Costumes designed by DOROTHY JEAKINS; Choreographed by DANIA KRUPSKA; Directed by STANLEY PRAGER; Produced by EDWIN LESTER for the LOS ANGELES CIVIC LIGHT OPERA ASSOCIATION ..... DETAILS: The 82 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 actors, but no cast photos ..... CONDITION: This 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.
