Tom Lantzy (Cast Signed) "OH CALCUTTA" Cheryl Hartley / Jerry Clark 1980 Photo

Description

This is a rare autographed glossy 8" X 10" inch press photograph of the cast of the Broadway revival of the controversial musical revue "OH! CALCUTTA!" at the Edison Theatre in New York City. (The production opened June 17th, 1969 at the Off-Broadway Eden Theatre, transfered to the Belasco Theatre on February 17th, 1971, and closed on August 12th, 1972 after a total of 1,314 performances. This revival opened at the
Edison Theatre
on September 24th, 1976 and closed August 6th, 1989 after 5,959 performances. The revival briefly became the longest-running show in
Broadway
history and remains the longest-running revue in Broadway history.) ..... "OH! CALCUTTA!" is an
avant-garde
theatrical
revue
,
created by British drama critic
Kenneth Tynan
.
The show, consisting of sketches on sex-related topics, debuted
Off-Broadway
in 1969 and then in London in 1970. The show sparked considerable controversy at the time, because it featured extended scenes of full-frontal nudity, both male and female. The title is taken from a painting by
Clovis Trouille
,
itself a
pun
on "
O quel cul t'as!
"
French
for "What an
arse
you have!". Tynan had hoped that
Harold Pinter
would direct the production, in order to give it avant-garde legitimacy, but Pinter declined. Sketches were written by, amongst others,
Nobel prize
winner
Samuel Beckett
,
John Lennon
,
Sam Shepard
,
Leonard Melfi
,
Edna O'Brien
,
Jules Feiffer
, Tennessee Williams (whose sketch was cut before opening night)
and Tynan himself.
Peter Schickele
(aka "PDQ Bach"), Robert Dennis and Stanley Walden were the revue's
composers
,
known as "The Open Window". (Wikipedia) ..... The 1980 cast shown in this photo included TOM LANTZY, CHERYL HARTLEY, JERRY CLARK, MARY HENDRICKSON, GARY MEITROTT, BARRA KAHN, JACQUELINE CAROL, SEPTEMBER THORP and WILLIAM MESNIK. (Note: The photo was signed by each cast member.) ..... The 1969 Original Off-Broadway Cast included RAINA BARRETT, MARK DEMPSEY, KATIE DREW-WILKINSON, BONI ENTEN, BILL MACY, ALAN RACHINS, LEON RUSSOM, MARGO SAPPINGTON, NANCY TRIBUSH, GEORGE WELBES and THE OPEN WINDOW ..... CREDITS: Devised by KENNETH TYNAN; Contributions by SAMUEL BECKETT, JULES FEIFFER, DAN GREENBURG, JOHN LENNON, JACQUES LEVY, LEONARD MELFI, DAVID NEWMAN and ROBERT BENTON, SAM SHEPARD, CLOVIS TROUILLE, KENNETH TYNAN and SHERMAN YELLEN; Music and Lyrics by THE OPEN WINDOW (Robert Dennis, Peter Schicklel and Stanley Walden); Sets designed by JAMES TILTON; Costumes designed by FRED VOELPEL; Choreographed by MARGO SAPPINGTON; Conceived and Directed by JACQUES LEVY; Produced by HILLARD ELKINS in association with MICHAEL WHITE, GORDON CROWE and GEORGE PLATT ..... DETAILS: This glossy autographed photo measures 9 7/8" X 8" inches and includes the names of the cast members as well as a photo credit for MARTHA SWOPE and theatre and press details. The photo will be accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity ..... CONDITION: With the exception of glue residue on the backside and light edge wear, this rare photo 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.