Description: I'm currently listing a large number of playbills from out-of-town tryouts prior to the Broadway runs. Many are from early performances when revisions were common and include song titles that were cut before opening in New York ....... This is a rare September 1968 playbill from the Pre-Broadway engagement of the ERVIN DRAKE musical flop "HER FIRST ROMAN" at the Shubert Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (The production would open October 20th, 1968 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in New York City and close after only 17 performances.) ..... The musical starred RICHARD KILEY and LESLIE UGGAMS (both shown in the cover photo) and featured CLAUDIA McNEIL, EARL MONTGOMERY, BROOKS MORTON, LARRY DOUGLAS, BARBARA SHARMA, DIANA CORTO, JACK DARBOUB, PHILLIP GRAVES, CAL BELLINI, BRUCE MacKAY, GEORGE BLACKWELL, MARC JORDAN and PRISCILLA LOPEZ ..... Side note: The two leads left their most celebrated Broadway shows to star in "Her First Roman": LESLIE UGGAMS in her Tony Award winning role in "Hallelujah, Baby!" and RICHARD KILEY, also a Tony Award winner in "Man of La Mancha". Unfortunately the show was just another flop beset by many changes during tryouts. Director MICHAEL BENTHALL was replaced in Boston by DEREK GOLDBY (ironically Benthall directed VIVIEN LEIGH and LAURENCE OLIVIER in Bernard Shaw's original "Caesar and Cleopatra", the basis for "Her First Roman") and choreographer KEVIN CARLISLE was replaced by DANIA KRUPSKA. The songwriting team of JERRY BOCK and SHELDON HARNICK ("Fiddler on the Roof") were brought in to work on the score and though uncredited, contributed three songs to the final version ..... CREDITS: Music, Book & Lyrics by ERVIN DRAKE based on "Caesar and Cleopatra" by BERNARD SHAW; Sets and Costumes designed by MICHAEL ANNALS; Choreographed by KEVIN CARLISLE; Directed by MICHAEL BENTHALL; Produced by JOSEPH CATES and HENRY FOWNES in association with WARNER BROS. - 7 ARTS ..... DETAILS: The 44 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 and members of the creative team but with the exception of the front cover, no cast photos. The playbill includes a full page ad for the Original Broadway Cast recording of "HER FIRST ROMAN" (coming soon) on Atlantic Records. This album was never released, though a poor quality live recording was made available in limited release ..... CONDITION: This rare playbill 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, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.
Price: 19.99 USD
Location: Cannon Beach, Oregon
End Time: 2023-11-29T00:03:46.000Z
Shipping Cost: 3.95 USD
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Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
