Variety (November 1961)

_ Wednesday, November A, 1961. . 79 You, Too, — Produce : = a _ A conventional view. of ‘grand opera Ain. the United. States would ordinarily mention the Metropolitan, New: York City Center, Chi}. * cago Lyric, San Francisco and Dallas -eompanies, perhaps remem-. ‘bering. to include the two. touring companies out of Boston and the Philadelphia and Brooklyn’ weekend enterprises. Actually some ‘531 organizations perform: opera, True, -many. of these are at the‘music faculty level.of the more. afts-conscious: universities. | : Whatever the dimensions of the opera market in the U: S. and -Canada, a most useful. handbook, ‘Opera’ Production” hag been published .at. $6.50 by the U. of Minnesata Press, Compiled .by ‘Quaintance Eaton, executive -secretary,: Natiorial Committee For”. The Musical Arts,-the value of the data ‘lies’ in_ its. ‘professional evaluations of requirements. : Operas ‘are reprised both as to. libreito: ard ‘as: sto vocal. and or7 _chestral demarids, Production: problems. are flagged, warnings given “as: to the leading roles or the tax on. chorus talent? Facts about orchestration, length. of acts, top notes ‘in arias, sources of permissions, scores, scenery, costumes, diagrams. and. other: useful ‘ material. are -painstakingly itemizéd. The sheer. research:.and edi torial. ‘competence’ is most. impressive, ‘the: anthologist’ giving. much _ “Land. credit to. Opera News for ‘source material. nd.. ~ Says Arrangers Rate Royalties Sense Is Comparatively New Profession. . Theatre at lowa State ; Skeds 2 Original Plays Two undesignated .original plays will be’ among the productions By. ROBERT J. LANDRY Arrangers and: orchestrators, in. . the. legitimate theatre will one: day. | ° eceive royalties, too. ‘That ‘is the] ‘opinion of Hershy Kay, whose latest credit ‘with Eddie Sauter) is. “the: ‘Broadway. musical, “Milk and Honey.” , Orchestrating _ is a special ‘and necessary theatrical. skill: practiced .. hy|: comparatively: few. While . ar‘rangers of jazz and pop disks are ‘more, numerous, and certain veter‘ans’ like Harry. Sosnik survive in _ the: -music-neglecting . ‘medium of television, there. are‘a bare dozen orchestrators. working the . . legit. ‘musical vein. «© a Present economics: pay them. by. ductions ‘will . include “The Lady’s the page, there being: American (Not: for. Burning,” the ‘first of the fat. the State-Univ. ‘of “Iowa... Iowa City.: The’ season, the’ 4st. for the theatre. . tre praductions, “Hotel Paradiso,” opened last Thursday 126).. The season’s sked also includes. “The Visit?? “The ‘Caucasian Chalk Wild: Dick.’ * Besides :the two. origi ‘Federation’ of” Musicians minima. Series: Nov. 8-11, “Henry ‘IV” and. “In turn,’. copyists, who do the ;2n° original pantomime ‘presenta‘manual work; are also covered’ by tion. AFM -minima, also. computed by: The ‘University: Theatre is ‘a the pagé.. BN y Tas of the Dept: of Speech & ‘Kay has orchestrated on: Broad-' way for such composers as Leonard ;Harshharger is chairman. is chairman. Bernstein: (“On the Town,” “Peter |: Fa ri Aneta ta Strawhat Trad Trade Perks n in Aussie Mare Blitzstein’ (“Juno”). and Jac-. ques: Offenbach, the fertile 19th:|century Parisian (“Happiest Girl in“the. World’’). He: points out: that the | orchestrator on. Broadway often works under strangé’.and varied |. Sy dney, Oct 31. conditions. In some cases: the. origiThe ‘tininiature ‘small’ ‘seaters, scheduled. for. presentation this. :séason by. the.University. Theatre’ ‘The first of the Univ ersity Thea Circle, ” “Twelfth. Night” and “The: ;nal: plays, the Studio’ Theatre pro- ‘Rober Roansevile to De ‘Straight Part in Stock | Detroit, Oct. 31. Singer-actor. Robert Rounseville ‘will make his straight play debut. tin “Royal & |Hermann Gressieker. about Hen|. The play opens. ‘Nov. 17 at. ‘the Van|| guard © Playhouse here, and will. [run through Dec. 9. 1 ‘Rounseville . -will join with the ambit,”..a drama. by ry VIII and. his ‘six wives. resident Vanguard company . in -the presentation. Def cit on Taste ~ Down to $27.88} ‘The deficit on “Taste of Honey” } was reduced. to. $27,438 at the ‘con{clusion of the flay’s recent fortnight. stand. at. the National Thea tre, Washington: The Shelagh De ‘|laney play earned an operanag | ~‘Hershy. Kay Argues That Orchestrating: in. Modern a | profit of $20,140 on the ‘Washington | engagement, which marked the | start of its current: ‘post-Broadway | ‘tour. The gross for ‘the two weeks, ——————e——e—e————— vO i O]R meen “| with. Theatre. « Guild American Theatre. Society. subscription was’ $74, 327. “The production, which “David Merrick is presenting by arrange ment with. Donald Albery and Oscar Lewenstein Ltd., had a defi ‘cit of $45,629: on its: $66,000 in-| vestment. when it ended.a 49-week Broadway run last Sept: 9. The: deficit was hiked to $47,578 at the start of the Washington stand by the cost: of’ taking the show out of New York and other prelimi tour. An 2udit: of the production, as of Sept. 23, covering the. last 39 weeks of.its New York run and. the. fortnight in Washington was sent to the show’s backers in October, the delay. being explained by an accounting ‘question ‘involving a tentative waiver of roydities. ‘The production, in. which. Hermione. Baddeley . and: Frantes Cuka costar in the respective. roles origi ‘Dramatic: Art, of which H. Clay. nally . played on. Broadway -by Angela: Lansbury and Joan Plowright, ‘is now at the Royal Alexandra ‘| Theatre, Toronto. Highlights of the. latest aczount \ing and earlier audits are as folIo : ows: °: Investment, $66,000. Production cost, $71,385... Four-week tryout loss, $15, 969. Cost. to-.open on Broadway,. $87.354. ' Top weekly gross on Broadway, “nal: composer can neither. read nor ,‘under. solo sponsorship,. are pulling. 1 $29, 828, for a $5,874 operating write music, nor even finger out. sizable biz. this summer with ‘the | the. tune on the piano.. The -Ori b.o.:upward trend expected to conchestrator must catch and magnify . ; tinue until. next March. everything into.a workable score. Converted barns, old warehouses Although it’s. a relatively new j ; and boatsheds. are the locale ‘for. profession, as now practiced,..or; the current crop of strawhat. shows, profit. | “Lowest weekly gross. on. ’ Broadway, $10; 301, ‘for a $2,503: operating loss. Recouped on. ‘investment as of. the audit, $38.562 (inchides $11,200, chestrating implies various. rela-| ‘with -plenty of plush éarriage : representing the production’s share tionships to: creators—-all the Way j from ‘the: whistling, . musically-un| trained: composer, to the highly|casts on a twice-weekly setup. . .. gifted, but too-busy personage, per : d angle is that local ‘stage a Leonard Bernstein. It follows Show addicts don’t ‘mind paying. -that.in modernizing Offenbach for..$3 to sit on hard seats .in’ dingy the Broadway stage, putting John ‘ | playhouses ‘to view: ‘so-called -off| . Phillip Sousa’s “Stats and Stripes” ° the-mainstem fare. It’s all rather trade ‘going .for this type .of legit.|of income from the sale of the trade. Most. shows. carry homebrew | films. rights by the management of the’ original British presentation of the play). Repaid on investment, $24. 000. ~ Balance available, $14, 562.. Holbrook’ $ ‘Mark Twain’ to. work for a: George Balanchine ' Puzzling to: regular legit: show ballet, and scoring ‘the late Robert | operators. here. Kurka’s_ modern.” opera, . “Good i . Soldier Schweik,” that Kay-was, in | “Tenth “Man,” *'Gioconda Smile,” a ‘very practical sense, anticipating , “Anastasia.” ” “Phe Sleeping Prince,” i «They ‘Walk. Alone,” ‘Period of ! or projecting the intentions of a, y e; |; toya opened Famous Artists’. Pop-. deceased. composer. " Adjustment,” . “Seven . ‘Year Itch” ‘Kay ressurected ‘music of Louls “and “Ondine.” Moreau Gottschalk for ‘the ballet | Gratien Gelinas io Do ‘“Cakewalk,” How much was Gotts' ‘chalk and how much-was Kay? The. ‘arranger thinks these distinctions |. sometimes: get lost. His point ‘that |. orchestrating is often-.as . fully. ia Ottawa.. Oct. 31. “creative” as any other function. in; Gratien” Gelinas, French. ‘Cana ‘the theatre refers again to his. ex| dian actor-author ‘and director of pectation ‘that his brood will ulti-! La Comedie Canadienne, Montreal, mately rate royalty recognition be| will present his play, yond ‘actual. ‘working fees, as. now. | Gottschalk . musie also -.served ‘national Festival next summer. . -Kay for-“Grand. Tarantella” which | | Eugene List has played on the con-“cert platform. Kay did his research | in twa curious places, the: British Museum’ and Hobo News. ‘in Vancouver, where it: played the “Kay attended the CurtisInsti| recent Internatfonal Festival. tute of Music in his-native Phila| delphia but, he. points out, that was a “would-be cellist. Both .composition and orchestration were | omitted from his studies and. he ‘Tater had to teach ‘himself, mean|. | Boston Univ. Preserits’ Boston, Oct. 31.: Sean. O’Casey’s “Cock-a-Doodle while abandoning the ‘ celloalto! Dandy”. will be. the Boston “Univ.. ‘gether. He got his initial break. int -1940, whén soprano Elsie Houston |: : Who was to appear at. the’ Rainbow Room. atop Radio City” developed | Theatre’s first production: this sea forr days. Brazilian ‘songs and. Kay came up in--the theatre’ arts division. is. Gis With. the arrangements. jrecting.: His Bousille’ in Dublin “Bousille. and the. Just,” at the Dublin: Inter- ‘O’Casey’s ‘Cock-a-Doodle’. "son, . ‘opening: tomorrow: (Wed. ) for. Current’ crop: of shows, ‘include. | cert at 1,750-seat Tower Theatre, Theatre Series. ‘started last Wednesday 25) with two performances at Tower of Sir! Theodore L.: Kazanoff, ‘assistant | a sudden. desperate | need for some professor. of acting arddirecting ‘Perry's Among Atlanta. Dates . Atlanta, Oct. 31. ” Flamenco guitarist. Carlos’ Mon ular Series last week with a. con Same cutfit's: Tyrone ‘Guthrie’s production of Gilbert & Sullivan's “The Pirates of Penzance.” This show arrived. here’ directly from its ‘seven-week run at-New. York Phoenix Theatre. Second show in. Popular Series will be. ‘piano duo. Ferrante & Teicher, Sunday, Nov. 12. another 4 Sabbath: date with showtime at 3 After that, according ‘to. the star, ; lthe show will tour Canada then. play Seattle, San : Francisco. and Eos Angeles. ‘It may also repeat: p.m. to avoid conflict with church |. services. ; Pianist . Roger: Williams’ will be_ ‘No.3 in. this. series. Feb: 3. and Fred Waring. will bring his Penn-. -}sylvanians to. Tower” Feb. 18. In. jcently after his last appearance in | Picayune, discussing “Fast Impres closing spot. *. -After “Pirates” in. “Theatre Se , ties: will tome Hal: Holbrook: in “Mark Twain. Tonight” at Tower. Jan. 27 followed by Cleveland Playhouse’s production -of Henrik Ibsen’s “Hedda Gabler” Feb. 17. Closer will be “A-Soiree’ With Carol Channing” March 17. star'in Anthony Parella’s projected Broadway production of Jack “Indoor. Sport.” -be. used for the present. Fi iorello’ Ended Run on B’way With Over $371,661 Profit on 3006 Ante $15 Préem for ‘Kean’ “Kean” is going after the big spenders for its opening performance tomorrow night ‘(Thurs.d at the Broadway The-. atre,: . ¥.-.The musical, in “which Alfred Drake stars, has scaled the preem to a $15 top, which is higher than usuaily charged nowadays for a Broadway opening. The regular scale for the Robert Lantz production runs to.a fairly standard musical top of $8.05: weeknights and $9.40 weekend eves. 28 Levit Houses. In Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, Oct. 31. Now that the monumental General San Martin Theatre is practically finished, and at least in operation, ‘there. are no less than 28 legit theatres operating here’ in addition to another 16 Little Theatres. It is significant that 13 of the professional produetions are plays.. translated from English, French or Italian. ‘Small wonder that local playwrights. complain they can never get a hearing.. Argentores, the Au | thors’ Rights Society, nary expenses ‘connected with. the | ; 18 ciety, is endeavor: ing to overcome this with the help of the National Art Fund. The latter administrates the funds collected through a tax on all performances of works in the. public domain, The Argentine Actors’ Assn. has thanked Mayor Hernan Giralt, for | his prompt action in accelerating completion of the Municipal-owned San Martin Theatre, after the Cer‘vantes. fire. Giralt has been mos: : helpful. to the profession at all j times. 'A German Company, Die Deus: schen Kammerspiele, was here for -a short: season from Sept. 11-17 at the Coliseo, presénting Schiller’s | “The Bandits, ” among other plays. Three musical shows are today’s best grossers in local legit. These .| are Sergio. Kohon’s production of “My Fair Lady” at El Nacional. the year’s big news and “Stars of the Avenida” at the Avenida, produced by Cicilio Madanes with Tango: warblers Tita Merello, Hugo del Carril, and comedian Tato Bores, Maria Antinea, Mario Fortuna and the Jazz Singers. It may Set a new landmark in local legit. Third hit is “Irma la Douce” at: Artur Kuscher’s Embassy Theatre-' Night Club, with Nuria Torray as Irma, also rated successful. | Univ. of Michigan Plans A Professional Theatre’ Ann Arbor, Oct. 31. Robert C. Sch nitzer, new head of the Univ. of Michigan's drama program, says the college will soon {set up .a resident professional the atre .. ‘Company. He explains the move ag part of a program to re vitalize the ‘American stage and ; |make Ann Arbor one of the top | theatrical cities in the nation. Though long-range plans call for ; building a new theatre within five ° years, the existing two houses will “We will offer opportunities for professional directors, actors, and. playwrights | in a year-round season,” Schnitzer | asserts. . Set Actor Fellowships In Chas. Coburn’s Honor : Indianapolis, Oct. 31. The: Avondale Playhouse man-, + “Fiorello,” which ended a 100week Broadway run Jast Saturday (28), had netted $371,661 on its $300,000 investment as of a Sept. 20 audit. The profit is figured to have increased somewhat since then, reflecting mostly the New York production’s share of income from the C. Edwin Knill-Martin Tahse touring edition, current at ;the Bushnell Auditorium, Hart| ford. As of the Sept. 20 accounting, the profit divvy on the musical, co-produced by the late Robert E. Griffith and Harold S. Prince, was $330.000. That amount, split equally between the management 'and the backers, gives the latter a 55¢ return on their investment. When it moved last summer from the Broddhurst Theatre. N.Y., {to the Broadway Theatre. the musiical reduced its admission prices and, on top of that, subsequently ‘eireulated discount exchange ticke ha ts. The tuner has a book by Jer1ome Weidman and George Abbott, music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. | ‘SIGN RON MOODY FOR ‘ALL AMERICAN’ TUNER Ron Moody, who relinguished the role of Fagin in “Oliver” after a year in London and also turned down the chance of playing the role in New York, has apparently vrofited by the decision, as he has been signed by Josh Logan and Edward Padula for “Ail American,” a musical due to open on Broadway in February. The deal could bring the actor around $250,000, which isn’t pocket money considering that eight years ago he was getting only $22 a week in an -offbeat theatre club revue. , Moody is still playing it canny. ‘The $250,000 project depends on ‘him appearing in “All American” ‘for a year, with another year’s an fen, “PH play the year.” sas iMoody, “but I don't know yet water T’ll want to remain in the U. S. for two years.” ‘Marriage-Go-Round’ A New U.S. Hit in Paris Paris, Oct. 31. Paris has another transplanted j Broadway hit, the Leslie Stevens j comedy, “Phe Marriage-GoRound,” as translated by Pierre Barillet and Jean-Piere Gredy and titled “Adieu Prudence,” The i Show opened Oct. 18 at the Gymj nase Theatre to a warm response, ‘With major critical praise for , Sophie Desmarets in the femme ! lead played originally on Broad| way by Claudette Colbert. Jean Chevrier costars as male lead, originally done in New York by Charles Boyer, and Veronique Vendell, making her local stage | debut as the Scandanavian siren land impressing with sexy looks that can hardly miss getting film l offers: Jacqques Mauclair staged the production. Other U.S. plays current here are “The Miracle Worker.” “The ‘Caine Mutiny Court Martial.” 1“Requiem for a Nun” and “Deut Liar,” with “Sweet Bird of Youth” ‘ due soon. ‘Dallas Forum Schedules 6 Subserpition Events Dallas. Oct. 31. The Friday Forum, a Iocal sub ; scription group in its fourth seaison, will offer six programs, all on ‘Fridays at the Fine Arts Theatre. t The shows include Reginald Gar(diner narrating “Tales of Witty and Wise,” Nov. 3; Texas Boys —— ; spearean | Festival. Ginger Rogers “ts ‘scheduled to |: 4on the 1961 playhouse roster. agement has set up two study | Choir, directed by George Bragg, grants as a memorial to legit-film | Dec. 1; George W. Healy Jr., v.p.star Charles Coburn, who died re' editor ‘of the New Orleans Times “You Can’t. Take It With You” at ; sions of a Global Flight,” Jan ‘9; the local strawhat. The grants, to , : Philip Cummings, economist, taike be made annually for at least five ‘ing on the Cuban situation with years, will send two Avondale ap;“Fingers in the Sugar Bowl,” Feb. prentices who are students at Indi| 16; Emily Kimbrough, taik on “Lisana ‘colleges or universities for ex! ‘ten While You Look,” March 23, pense-paid, two-week study courses ‘and the Nelle Fisher Dance Carniat the Stratford -(Ont.) Shake| val, April 6. The first’ winners will be se| Larry Fatrell 1s company manlected by director William Tregoe ; ager and Edward Howe is advance and staff from the 23 apprentices pressagent for the touring “World ,0f Suzie Wong.”