13 year-old Bernadette Peters "GYPSY" Stephen Sondheim 1961 Philadelphia Program

Description

This is a rare November 1961 "Playgoer" playbill from the
three-week, National Tour engagement of the ARTHUR LAURENTS, JULE STYNE and STEPHEN SONDHEIM musical comedy "GYPSY" at the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (The Original Broadway production opened May 21st, 1959 at the Broadway Theatre in New York City and ran for 702 performances. This tour began September 14th, 1961 at the Shubert Theatre in Detroit and closed January 20th, 1962 in Cleveland.) ..... The musical starred MARY McCARTY as "Mama Rose", the role created by the legendary ETHEL MERMAN in the Original Broadway production and featured thirteen year-old BERNADETTE PETERS as "Hawaiian Girl" and one of the "Hollywood Blondes" as well as understudy for the role of "Dainty June" (fourth scanned image), a role she would take over the following year in a separate tour. Who would have predicted then that forty years later Miss Peters would not only be one of Broadway's leading stars, but would also appear in lights as "Mama Rose" in the 2003 Broadway revival of this very same show
..... Others in the cast included JOSEPH LEON, MIMI TURQUE, BETTY McGUIRE, ANNE RUSSELL, MARY HURT, EDDIE INNES, KEN MALONE, SUSIE MARTIN, JAN RHODES and BETTY RHODES ..... CREDITS: Music by JULE STYNE ("Bells Are Ringing", "Darling of the Day", "Do Re Mi", "Fade Out, Fade In", "Funny Girl", "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes", "Hallelujah, Baby!", "Hazel Flagg", "High Button Shoes", "Prettybelle", "Lorelei", "Sugar", "Subways Are For Sleeping" and "Two on the Aisle"); Book by ARTHUR LAURENTS suggested by the memoirs of GYPSY ROSE LEE; Lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM ("A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum", "West Side Story", "Company", "Do I Hear a Waltz?", "Follies", "A Little Night Music", "Sweeney Todd", "Pacific Overtures", "Sunday in the Park With George", "Into the Woods", "Assassins", "Passion"); Choreographed by RON TASSONE; Musical Direction by DICKSON HUGHES; Directed by HENRY VELEZ; Produced by JOHN KENLEY ..... DETAILS: The twelve 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 leading actors, but no cast photos ..... CONDITION: With the exception of moderate creasing, slight staining to the cover and minor edge wear, this playbill is in very good 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.
Pay me securely with any major credit card through PayPal!