Description
This is a very rare hardcover volume of theatre programs (playbills) from the 1955 season of the FALMOUTH PLAYHOUSE in Falmouth (on Cape Cod), Massachusetts. The popular Summer Stock playhouse which opened in 1949 (and was destroyed by fire in 1994) presented nine different weekly productions beginning on July 2nd, 1955 and closing September 4th, 1955 ..... Of specific importance is the World Premiere engagement of the ARTHUR KOBER and GEORGE OPPENHEIMER play "A MIGHTY MAN IS HE" which starred CLAUDETTE COLBERT, who for the first time in her career sang onstage. The song, written by a young STEPHEN SONDHEIM, is among his earliest credits. In an article in the previous week's program (third scanned image), the song, "Rag Me That Mendelssohn March" is mentioned by name. The actual program credit (shown in the fourth scanned image) does not include the song title. The play would eventually open January 6th, 1960 at New York's Cort Theatre (without Claudette Colbert or Sondheim's song) and would survive for only five performances ..... The nine programs in the bound volume are (1) FRANCHOT TONE in Edward Chodorov's "OH, MEN! OH, WOMEN!" (July 2nd, 1955) featuring Betsy Von Furstenberg; (2) EVA MARIE SAINT in N. Richard Nash's "THE RAINMAKER" (July 11th, 1955) featuring Will Geer and Arthur Storch; (3) CATHY O'DONNELL and ESTELLE WINWOOD in Anita Loos' "GIGI" (July 18th, 1955) featuring Josephine Brown; (4) DONALD COOK and JOHN DALL in Leslie Stevens' "CHAMPAGNE COMPLEX" (July 25th, 1955) featuring Monica Lovett; (5) SARAH CHURCHILL in S. N. Behrman's "NO TIME FOR COMEDY" (August 1st, 1955) featuring Butterfly McQueen and Frances Tannehill; (6) JEFFREY LYNN in Herman Wouk's "THE CAINE MUTINY COURT-MARTIAL" (August 8th, 1955) featuring Stephen Elliott; (7) CLAUDETTE COLBERT in Arthur Kober and George Oppenheimer's "A MIGHTY MAN IS HE" (August 15th, 1955) featuring Joan Wetmore; (8) DOROTHY STICKNEY in Meade Roberts' "A PALM TREE IN A ROSE GARDEN" (August 22nd, 1955) featuring Alice Ghostley and Barbara Baxley; (9) VAN HEFLIN in Arthur Miller's "A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE" (August 29th, 1955) featuring Carrol Naish, Eileen Heckart and Jack Warden ..... DETAILS: The 188 page book measures 6 1/4" X 9 1/4" inches and includes the complete season of programs with full production credits, synopsis of scenes, photos and bios of the leading actors, promotional text and vintage advertising. The bound volume belonged to a Henry T. Weinstein, whose name is engraved in gold on the front cover. "Falmouth Playhouse - 1955" is printed in gold on the binding ..... CONDITION: With the exception of light edge wear to the cover, this rare volume is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve, backed by stiff cardboard and bubble wrapped.
