Encores: The New Yorkers Autographed Playbill

Cole Porter's musical "The New Yorkers" opened on Broadway in 1930 and ran for 168 performances. The book was by Herbert Fields based on a concept by New Yorker cartoonist Peter Arno and by E. Roy Goetz. No doubt Arno's involvement was publicized by way of the musical's title. In addition to Porter's songs, star Jimmy Durante wrote five songs for himself, an interesting collaboration.

Revivals have been infrequent and the musical is not widely known today, although some of the individual songs may still be familiar. In March of 2017, the show was staged in a concert performance at City Center as part of the Encores! series. A Playbill signed by much or all of the cast was sold on eBay soon after.
 

The New Yorkers
eBay Listing Ended April 1, 2017

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Encores-The-New-Yorkers-Autographed-Playbill-ONLY-ONE-/122414723454?hash=item1c807c717e%3Ag%3AZ0kAAOSw2gxY1guz&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

The New Yorkers
eBay item description

Cole Porter's "The New Yorkers" at New York City Center Encores!

"I Happen to Like New York"

"Night and Day"

"Love For Sale"

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Sheet Music from Murray Anderson's Almanac

Rare sheet music from "Murray Anderson's Almanac," a 1929 Broadway revue, has found its way onto eBay. The show's creators include Noel Coward, Rube Goldberg, and Peter Arno. Imagine a time when being a famous cartoonist got you invited to work with Noël Coward on Broadway! But let's have Arno's biographer Michael Maslin tell you about it:

Michael Maslin. Peter Arno: The Mad, Mad World of The New Yorker's Greatest Cartoonist, New York:  Regan Arts, 2016, page 64.

Google Books

"I May Be Wrong (But, I Think You're Wonderful)" is a lovely sentiment marred only perhaps by a superfluous comma. I trust your uke is in tune:

"Murray Anderson's Almanac"
eBay Listing as of September 24, 2017

http://www.ebay.com/itm/152715280302?ul_noapp=true

"Murray Anderson's Almanac," 1929
eBay Item Description

Peter Arno advertised for Camel cigarettes in the show's Playbill:

Playbill
"Murray Anderson's Almanac," 1929
Peter Arno advertisement for Camel

http://www.playbill.com/playbillpagegallery/inside-playbill?asset=00000150-aea3-d936-a7fd-eef752740009&type=InsidePlaybill&slide=1

A 1929 recording of the song

Note:  I may be wrong, but I think you're wonderful too. And I'm not just saying that to get you to send me rare images of the art of Peter Arno and Rube Goldberg.

A completely different edition of "Murray Anderson's Almanac" opened on Broadway in 1953.

Michael Maslin's 2016 biography Peter Arno: The Mad, Mad World of The New Yorker's Greatest Cartoonist is available on Amazon and at other places where fine books are still sold.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives

Peter Arno

Rube Goldberg

Noël Coward

Broadway

Attempted Bloggery's Wonderful (I Think) Index

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Free Shakespeare in the Park: "Julius Caesar"

We caught Wednesday night's performance of "Julius Caesar" in Central Park. The smart-looking production was intensely comic, then tragic—although I'm not sure those two elements meshed seamlessly in this particular case. Nevertheless, it was thought-provoking and well worth an evening.

The obelisk

The empty stage

Playbill

"Julius Caesar"

The company

Members of the audience went up on stage before the show.

The Belvedere Castle

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives

Shakespeare

Playbill

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Today's Entertainment: "Hamilton"

It's as good as you've heard!

The Richard Rodgers Theatre

The view from the last row

The Playbill

The matinee cast

"Hamilton" with lyrics

By Lin-Manuel Miranda

Original Broadway Cast

Quick Links to Attempted Bloggery's Archives
Broadway
Playbill

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Jim Dine's Short Sharp Shock

Jim Dine created an unusually disturbing poster for the New York City Center Gilbert and Sullivan Company's 1968 season. The poster's graphics recall the threatened beheading that is central to the plot of "The Mikado" (1885), although the image's tone is more chilling and less amusing than what is presented onstage. "The Mikado," set in the fictitious Japanese town of Titipu, is one of five comic operas that was performed at City Center in April and May of that year. "Yeomen of the Guard," which was also presented, has a potential beheading in its plot as well.

Jim Dine, City Center - Gilbert & Sullivan, 1968, 22/144

A limited edition copy of this poster is offered at Skinner:

Skinner Listing Closing June 1, 2015

http://skinnerlive.auctionserver.net/view-auctions/catalog/id/176/lot/79848

Of course, "The Mikado" actually deals with the morbid subject of beheading rather lightly. Here Pooh-Bah, Ko-Ko, and Pish-Tush contemplate which one of them must be sacrificed by beheading in order to comply with the Mikado's stern decree:

"I Am So Proud" from "The Mikado" (1885) by Gilbert & Sullivan

Stratford Festival, 1982

Richard McMillan as Pooh-Bah

Eric Donkin as Ko-Ko

Alan Stewart-Coates as Pish-Tush

Conducted by Berthold Carriere

This 1968 Playbill cover illustrates a scene from "The Pirates of Penzance," one of the five Gilbert and Sullivan works performed by City Center's Gilbert and Sullivan Company. In contrast to the poster, the lighthearted tone of this illustration seems more in keeping with the spirit of the plays.

Playbill, City Center Gilbert & Sullivan Company, 1968

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Playbill-Gilbert-Sullivan-Company-City-Center-Theatre-May-1968-FREE-SHIPPING-/111251546353

The five works performed by the New York City Center Gilbert and Sullivan Company in the spring of 1968:

From The Complete Book of 1960s Broadway Musicals by Dan Dietz, Rowman & Littlefield, 2014. Appendix F:  Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas

https://books.google.com/books?id=6NBiAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA555&dq=Appendix+F:+Operettas+following+chronological+list+operettas+revived&hl=en&sa=X&ei=CkxhVezzD9LLsATXyYLwCg&ved=0CB4Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Appendix%20F%3A%20Operettas%20following%20chronological%20list%20operettas%20revived&f=false

Note:  See my other blog posts about Jim Dine.

There are a few posts here about Gilbert and Sullivan as well.

Can anyone identify the photo used by Jim Dine in the poster? How about the illustrator of the Playbill cover?

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Charles Addams on Broadway, Gravely

Roald Dahl's farce comedy "The Honeys" opened on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre in April of 1955. It starred Jessica Tandy, Hume Cronyn, and Dorothy Stickney. An illustration for this production by Charles Addams depicts a gravestone with a portrait of two closely-related men, perhaps twins or, since this is a farce, possibly the same person in disguise. The original artwork was sold last year by Heritage Auctions, which reported that it appeared in Playbill, but there is some reason to question this. It wasn't used as a cover illustration nor does it appear in any of the inside pages shown on the Playbill website, so doubts are justified.

The drawing of the gravestone may have been strictly promotional. An Addams illustration would be the perfect way to advertise a play, particularly a comedy, to The New Yorker's sophisticated audience which already delighted in morbid Addams cartoons. In fact, this drawing was published as an advertisement in The New Yorker issue of April 2, 1955 and perhaps elsewhere.

Charles Addams, original promotional artwork for "The Honeys," The New Yorker, April 2, 1955, page 50

Charles Addams, framed original promotional artwork for "The Honeys," The New Yorker, April 2, 1955, page 50

Charles Addams signature

http://fineart.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=5087&lotNo=78267#83968396209

http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/Cover/6947/9118/The-Honeys

Charles Addams, Advertisement for "The Honeys," The New Yorker, April 2, 1955, page 50

The Addams artwork appears somewhat elongated in the ad to accommodate additional type in the blank space below the double portrait. By the way, opening night orchestra seats were sold out, but mezzanine seats were still available for $4.60, $3.45, and $2.90!

Charles Addams, Advertisement for "The Honeys," The New Yorker, April 2, 1955, page 50

Incidentally, on this very magazine page there is an ad for the 1954 Broadway musical "The Pajama Game" in which you can just make out artwork by another legendary  New Yorker cartoonist, Peter Arno. Here's a better look at it:

Peter Arno, Playbill for "The Pajama Game" (1954)

Image added November 6, 2013

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-1955-PLAYBILL-for-THE-PAJAMA-GAME-at-THE-ST-JAMES-THEATRE-/360784541312?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:3160

Peter Arno, U.K. sheet music for "Small Talk" from "The Pajama Game" (1954)

eBay Link

Note:  Naturally, I'd be grateful to anyone who can document any other uses to which this artwork for "The Honeys" was put.

You can find additional blog posts about the splendid Charles Addams here.

Spooky posts about Halloween may be found here.

The Tee & Charles Addams Foundation has its website here.

By the way, the exhibition "Chas Addams: Family and Friends" is on view at Southampton Center through November 3. Read all about it here.

Charles Addams still makes the news, and it is covered on Ink Spill here.

His artwork has been featured on The Pictorial Arts blog here.

It seems I've been neglecting Peter Arno lately, but I'll make it up to you at some point. In the meantime, my older posts can still be enjoyed here.

Additional blog posts about Broadway may be found here.

My blog post about last year's Hurricane Sandy is here.

Let's not forget the World Series! Attempted Bloggery's archive of baseball blog posts is here.

0928

Al Hirschfeld's "1776"

Theatre caricaturist Al Hirschfeld produced this illustration of the original cast of "1776" for The New York Times issue of March 1, 1969. John Adams (William Daniels) is shown quill pen in hand surrounded by Ben Franklin (Howard Da Silva), Edward Rutledge (Clifford Davis), Thomas Jefferson (Ken Howard), John Dickinson (Paul Hecht), and Richard Henry Lee (Ron Holgate), the founding fathers. This was my first Broadway show. It was awarded the Tony Award in 1969 for Best Musical. The movie version was released in 1972 with much the same cast. There was a fine Broadway revival in 1997.

Al Hirschfeld, "1776," The New York Times, March 16, 1969

http://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/asp/fullCatalogue.asp?salelot=2300+++++189+&refno=++670107&saletype=

http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/3101/1776

http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/Whos_who/3101/23564/1776

For the 1997 revival of the play, Hirschfeld produced this lithograph.

Al Hirschfeld, "1776," Lithograph, AP IV/XV, 1997 (Revival)

http://catalogue.swanngalleries.com/asp/fullCatalogue.asp?salelot=2015+++++150+&refno=++541530&saletype=

"The Egg" from "1776" (1972)

Music and Lyrics by Sherman Edwards

Ken Howard as Thomas Jefferson

Howard Da Silva as Benjamin Franklin

William Daniels as John Adams

"The Signing" from "1776" (1972)

Note:  There's more about Al Hirschfeld here.

0799

"Nice Work If You Can Get It" on Broadway

"Nice Work If You Can Get It" Broadway Poster

http://jkstheatrescene.blogspot.com/2012/04/logos-nice-work-if-you-can-get-it.html

I saw last night's performance of "Nice Work If You Can Get It" at the Imperial Theatre. Like the memorable "My One and Only" from a few decades back, the show is not an old Gershwin musical but rather a new concoction with classic Gershwin songs that are, for the most part, still very well known. The book is by Joe DiPietro inspired by material by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse. Okay, I'm in!

Matthew Broderick is very funny as Jimmy Winter, an independently-wealthy, likeable lout who was kicked out of three schools, has never worked a day in his life, and has been through three unsuccessful marriages. Broderick is a serviceable song-and-dance man who can hold his own on the stage and has been in more than his fair share of hit musicals. No doubt he's the show's main box office attraction. His decision to devote so much of his career to the theater has been a very happy one for the Broadway scene. Here you can see how hard the poor guy has to work every night:

"Nice Work If You Can Get It" on Broadway

http://niceworkonbroadway.com/

"Nice Work If You Can Get It" Broadway Poster

http://jkstheatrescene.blogspot.com/2012/04/logos-nice-work-if-you-can-get-it.html

Kelli O'Hara, who among other roles played Nellie Forbush in the 2008 revival of "South Pacific," was not present at last night's performance. Instead the role of Billie Bendix was played by Stephanie Martignetti, whom I must say was terrific. I've been disappointed by understudies on occasion, but certainly not last night. Still, watching the videos of highlights from the production, Kelli O'Hara's voice is hard to beat.

The other principals in the cast all turned in very good comic performances. They include Judy Kaye, Blythe Danner, Jennifer Laura Thompson, Brad Oscar, Robyn Hurder, Chris Sullivan, Stanley Wayne Mathis, and Terry Beaver. I last saw Blythe Danner in Harold Pinter's "Betrayal" over thirty years ago. Hmm. I'm starting to sound just a little like an old-timer.

Last night every member of my family had a very good time at the performance. It's been a while since I last got to say that!

***

Here's the supposed Playbill cover, but it's not strictly correct. Ours were printed in black and white.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/160278-A-COVER-STORY-Nice-Work-If-You-Can-Get-It

 

Videos:

"Nice Work If You Can Get It"

Broadway Clips

"Nice Work If You Can Get It"

Broadway Medley

2012 Tony Awards

March 30, 2013 Update:  The role of Billie Bendix is now being played by Jessie Mueller.

Jessie Mueller

"Ev'ry Night at Seven" ["Royal Wedding," 1951, MGM]

As Performed in the 2011 "Revisal"

of "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever"

Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner

Music by Burton Lane

April 30, 2013 Update:  The final performance will be June 15.

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