Description
This is a rare souvenir program from the Original Australian production of the RICHARD RODGERS and OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II musical comedy "OKLAHOMA!" at His Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. (The Original Broadway production opened March 31st, 1943 at the St. James Theatre in New York City and ran for 2212 performances. The Original Australian production opened February 19th, 1949 at His Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne, followed by the Theatre Royal in Adelaide beginning September 17th, 1949 and the Theatre Royal in Sydney beginning November 29th, 1949. The company then opened October 13th, 1950 at His Majesty's Theatre in Auckland, New Zealand for a one month engagement before returning to Australia, opening November 30th, 1950 at His Majesty's Theatre in Brisbane. The return engagement to Sydney began January 5th, 1951 at the Empire Theatre after which the company played a second engagement at His Majesty's Theatre in Melbourne beginning February 3rd, 1951.) ..... The cast featured LOUISE BARNHART as "Ado Annie", ROBERT REEVES as "Curly", CAROLYN ADAIR as "Laurey", DAVIE GLADSTONE as "Aunt Eller" and ROBERT GRANDIN as "Jud Fry" and included HAROLD GARY, REDD KNIGHT, RAYMOND BAILEY, JOAN BROWN, STRELSA HECKELMAN, EDNA BUSSE, MATT MATTOX and VASSILIE TRUNOFF ..... 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 LEMUEL AYERS; Costumes designed by MILES WHITE; Choreography created by AGNES de MILLE; Choreography reproduced by GEMZE DE LAPPE; Musical Direction by DANIEL MAAS; Broadway Production Directed by ROUBEN MAMOULIAN; Australian Production Directed by TED HAMMERSTEIN; Produced by J. C. WILLIAMSON THEATRES LTD. ..... DETAILS: The oversized 44 page program measures 8 3/4" X 11 1/8" inches and includes full production credits, promotional text, photos and bios of each of the leading actors, bios of each member of the creative team, extensive text on the creation of the show and several pages of production photos ..... CONDITION: With the exception of the start of splits at both the top and bottom seam, light soiling and 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 historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.
