Variety (November 1963)

“Seattle, Nov. is tre ” the “satti: Repertory Theatre's | 4 Lear,” | fst production, -. opened last Wednesday. (13): in the: = Center Playhouse. here, ‘hut. a byt, ' eut incidental music composed . Lockrem: Johnson. The score, con-: ‘sisting. mainly -af. short: cues, Was. -to: have’ been” tape: recorded — by. : eight © ‘local miusicians, © ‘but: ‘American Federation. of. Musicians. nixed the:.use of the taped music: unless -four: stand-by.: musicians . The -Repertory. Theatre. said. ‘it “Gould: net use the’ niusicians for “the. show ‘beeause there. .was' no _-place. for‘them in the theatre tthe. former «pit. area was. used. ‘for ex“pansion ..of stage), ‘the. “Lear”. budget’ could. not: ‘stand. the esti| : mated $4,000-$5, 000. added expense “gud that the taped. music would; have: been. ‘precisely | cued “The -opening ef the: Répertory » Pheatre’s first.season also: has. the gpeetre of: uncertain ‘boxoffice suR-. _, port. Advance. series ticket: sales. [2 ” (all five plays). were 7,800. as: of} = *: Nev. 9. The original goal was 25;| Ber vrawed Tue’ as Tener | ‘production. by ‘Leland Hayward of. “The “play. was. ‘first more and Cedric Hardwicke. “000, admittedly unrealistic, . “put. bs, general . feeling. is that: pales. are { less: than anticipated. | ‘No: estimate was. made for dingle aa ticket sales, which opened Oct :3 -by' William. -S_ Taylor, business ; day (14) of “The. total advance, . including “gales, was:a healthy $128,000. ‘The The = Repertory is backed ‘b: ¥: Century :21 Center, itself i in a financial bin hind af vat presefit.” The first twa ‘plays will! alternate until the opening Jan. 1 of “The} ‘Lady’s. Not’ for “Burning,” by Christopher Fry. Other ‘plays -set.} for the first ‘season are-“The Seat Gull,” by. Chekhoy,. opening. Feb:. 12). and ‘“Shadew of “Héroes’”by. Robert Andrey, opening: Aprit Ae Viennese Barn at News ‘Tarajan, on Opera Baton, | Paid More’n State Prez} “Mienna, Nov. 19." ““gtage ruled it: would not work an Italian: promptor, ‘although an Aus trian’ promptor Kurt. Homola: had ~-Fecently -‘worked at: La -Scala.inf . Milan: without: objections from the. . Italian’: technicians... Situation: is, to” gay. ‘the east, al mer are. mess. It is: also petty since. SocialDoon aE istic angles rather than artistie are. 10 ' uae -jnvolved, -What is ‘not.:recognized{ -[ here-is that Austria’s high. ‘prestige[: “* “becausé of its fine. opera. company: a “ts-being qiarred by. atotal: disre| gard for ‘the: paying. bublic: ot There is 2. good ‘deal of provin eal envy. involved apparently be-eause of the fees necessary. for the | “opéra. ‘house to -pay.: For: example, -_§t-is. émphasized here. that the chief. ., conductor. Herbert von: Karajan, is. res 7 Baid $26,500, some $3,000. more an “ Mually“president of the at of the Republic. _ | ‘lars SchunidtSchanidt-Stentoft . Copenhagen, Nov. 19. Lars Sehmidt,. Paris-based Swed ish theatrical publisher, has rented’. the: ‘1. ,200-seat Ny “Scala: Theatre: here i in partnership with Age Sten toft, former owner ‘of the house. The theatre is now owned.‘by. the i” : City: of Copenhagen. = > : The: partners _ will ‘produce * Danish. version of “How to Succeed. . 8 Business Without Really ‘Trying” -: presentation of the Danish. version Of 5 MY. Fair. Lady” three. ‘years: oa The. Ny. Scala: rental. marks ‘the-|t0 * return of Stentoft to Danish: show -business, in ‘which he was ‘a vital |: factor’ as’a writer, composer and producer .for ‘two decades before. settling in Spain two yéars :ago: in. . protest of Denmark's heavy ‘amhuse‘Ment. tax. : oa than. the. salary” paid mel ‘They also teamed for the. ‘invelving. his. production aegis, is ‘actually -mapping. another’: ‘suehventure. Although details are: presently: unavailable pending the Embassy: prez’s. return from : the |: ‘Coast, the deal is believed. virtually |: completed. ‘ Involved. -with “ Leviiie ‘in the tion: of ‘the’ show . Which ‘is -being. “The exact. ‘nature’ of “the: new deal won't be divulged: until Le‘vine -is available to ‘participate . in a discussion ‘of .the Plan. It is ‘understood that a. film:deal is also: ‘Part of the project. “Photo Finish” -produced ‘last winter..: Levine. has ‘Made no legit: .move since. ‘then; his ‘picture biz having: jumped. into. high‘wear in’ the Bast year. _ | Los Angeles, Nov. 19. ‘Tease, which expires at. loge of the ‘1964. summer : season... : GTA was: awarded. ownership of -the lease up to.now formally held. +by Doolittle, general . Manager of the’ operation. For several years ‘Doolittle ‘has.. asked. that title be. ‘transferred .to the Association and. the. latest commission “ni move: ‘was ae “Greek ‘Theatre in‘recent -Limonths has been involved in con-: a | siderable controversy, a number of: + | other producers bidding to take} over. the. facility.. Moet offered terms exceeding those’ proposed. by : ittle -andthe. GTA in | their |. petition for ‘renewal, ‘which upped 0. $60 60,000: for 1965, with $62,000 for. 1966. and. $64,000. for: 1967. | prove. the. Greek’ Thettre’ “Ass lease, but. this is generally: agreed Athy ‘Lrentlyproducing’a* series. of fail | U ~< f offerings ‘at the Westport ‘(Conn:) |. | o'Stenk heather, Be was formenty | ‘secretary of the organization, : ‘which ‘tions. Others elected were Rowena! . Songs for’ 2. ‘planned Broadway | -treasurer.. [a Musical version of “On. Bor-.t |: ‘rowed * Time’. have been.’ written the *by Harold Rome. Paul Osborn, who } “adapted the play from..a-novel 6f: *the.same name, ‘is writing the ‘book |. an funer. ‘He's finished a first} : hired for the run of: the. lay. | aay were. Pt prodsiced on tit ‘Broadway. -in 1938: ‘with “Dudley.[~ Digges, :' Dorothy Stickney. and [| pay Frank Conroy and Peter. Holden] = §, featured. It. was -revived on the}: 9} Main..Stem: in 1953 with Victor} ~..” = Moore . starred’ in the Digges role}... Jt . (and. Leo :G. Carroll and Beulah f-.:. ft F Bondj -in..the. Parts: originated by.|~. 4 ‘| Conroy.:and: ‘Miss ' Stickney. . Miss fF : Bondi -was. also in: the 1938. Metro | . filmization ef the play, in. ‘which | the male léads were Lionel: Barry: after | Joseph E: Levine, the. Embassy |{0°™. 2 bs ¥: ‘Pictures’ ‘chief who: had. ‘said. at. | season ' Miax Frisch. Other: ‘sources. “say the| the. time. his: “Phote : Finish” was. geo series |'on ‘Broadway that there. would ‘be ‘ other’ legit: projeets: in the future. tre: of Dublin, playing. Sean O’Ca‘sey’s “Juno ‘and the ‘Payeock” and “The ’ Plough and. the Stars,” the ‘Teatre. Wapolezeny from. ‘Warsaw: | ‘project. are 'British’ actor-writer [ oscow .Art Theatre, which on. its. ‘| Peter. ‘Cook’ ‘and: nitery-legit proe-}ducer Ivor: David Balding. | Cook <feame to the U.S. a year ago in-the |} | “Beyond: the: Fringe’. company and |* flater worked on “The. Establish-| ment,” which was. presented in an }: ‘off-Broadwaycabaret, He’s ‘pres: | ently: involved ‘with a:.second edi-. | for. three” weeks to: capacity audi ences. as — ‘Conthined tion page. 2 [Judson : ‘presented. by Bal di ing. at the Strolplan \ becoming ‘manager. of the -sNewaadiden ‘here. continue to Jers: Club, : N.Y, foous upen the second. ‘cancellation in. ‘a year ofa performance. at. the. ig“ Statoper, : A ~ plea. ‘by: ‘President |" is of. the: ‘Austrian © ‘Republic. was | : among those. dismissed because the’ Austrian. workers: collective back ‘Fo that | was. a money. loseron’ Broadway, {in the 1926s. . a ‘ships within the concert ‘empire “-; founded by -Judson aré. well-pro* . Fteeted trade ‘secrets. It is known | _, +} that Judson has not been an officer r gp fat CAMI in’ recent: years, and did | ,| not: draw ‘salary. . 2 iitened has, of course, a ibecn notably | Jamnes A; ‘Doolittle: and the Greek Py the death of _Fheatre Assn., .operators: of: the city-owned. open-air Greek Theatre for: the ‘last. 11 “years, : ‘appear to { [have won ‘out in their efforts..to ‘gain a three-year Tenewal of their’ 1 Judson: complex. The L.A. ‘City: Recreation. & Park| : |Commission ‘last. week adopted. a: -. 4 motion calling -for. preparation ef. , "Taine lease with the Greek Theatre. _ J Assn. At the. same. meeting. the. Te De Danish wl i monopoly. lease .of. $15,000 ‘guarantee: }eo-equal.with -CAMI,: has. been Final disposition of the ‘future. of: the theatre still rendins'in the hands “of. the Commission, . to’ ap-. n.. __-baome ‘weight. ° James 5 McKenzie, “whe's. cur. ‘19 -‘miajor stock opera( Ve Paes Stevens, vice-president; Charles. oobey, secretary, and John ‘Lane; |. ‘The “board: of directors includes 1 ‘Michael Ellis,. Sidney Gordon, ced training Henry. Richards, ‘Milton, Stiefel | pects &. Deana Dept. of Catholic and Alton. ‘Wilkes. . Univ. of America, Washington, plus ————$——— | ing experience as sal. a aried meer oe National Plevers : "fF venture: which ‘also ‘operates © yam + Olney . (Mid)}-Theatre and St. yy | Parks Vt. | “London, ‘Nov. “18. ar ‘The “Royal: Shakespeare: Co; and Sain Peter , Daubeny. will: Present * 12: at c lipo. Go.. of Wales, ‘the Abbey Thea and the: Teehnic Theatre of Athens. | Winding. up. the: season, . witha! run of three weeks, will’ be the. ‘Vancouver. last’ ‘London visit in 1958-appéared | rth J Judson ~ | travel. by train and, in some in stanees;. bus.and truck: A company D. Orchestra in “1915. é added, in 1922, manage-|New York for the: ‘Vancouver enment, of fhe N.. Y. Philharmonic. ; gagement, . adelphia was to “give. New|: ; ‘York ‘and’ the: Columbia Broad|: _ Barbara. Meister, who's been £0casting System a: number of ‘in-. novators.. The Judson Program Co‘wasS.a prime radio-feeding -service CBS came into being | put Judson and: the Philharmonic | @>l : ‘were. ever ; after. close to William S.. Paley: a a * ‘Stock. ownerships: ‘and -partner-| ‘production. with John Myhers, wilt ‘move over to. the Guettel operaappear opposite. her: The in Toronto, has been touring since ‘musical, Leland Hayward, Richard date Oscar‘Hammerstein. 2d. LOU. WILSON’S LEGIT. PROD.; LONDON ‘CLOWNS’ CAMI of} principals. It dates back to 1928 with the absorption of the Wilson ‘Musical Bureau, ‘Gating back © to “7884,. ‘in America. Haensel: Se. Jones, ‘Evans & ‘Salter: and the ‘old American Opera.Co. were later ‘absorbed’ into. partnership, at’ the. tine: CBS.. was half-owner -of ‘the ‘Banner: ‘Associates’ legit, production ent: production: -of «© “tA. ‘Thousand . | Clowns,” -by ‘Herb Gardner which : Judson: is credited with founding the “organized: audience”: concept in. 1930.-Community Concerts lined |. up some 1,000. U.S. ‘communities, . ‘arge.-and smajl;. for. guaranteed | Snert series. . This. was’ matched |. Liaaparoes certs, a similar SBS ‘with. the Banner. group on ‘several ‘and -NBC -were big. talent manage‘ment. operators.in their. formative period until the. Dept. -of .Jastice | ‘began . to frown: . -on: "Protential Robards,: Jr., starring. :. ay. . ently, in: ‘development. . agement. .He. has served: in, various : exec Although some tradesters naively assumed that ‘Judson’s’ exit from. ‘CAMI recently: implied retirement, those who know. his energies best profess not. to be surprised that he ‘is back in: business on: his own: How: a -new. Judson ‘setup. relates to the. Present . ‘situation’ in’ concert: management is a matter of opinion. ‘National: Conceérts, once -. nearly |. | ris: Ageney,~Steiner. During World. War If, Wilsen. took a leave ‘of absence from William. Morris . to.-head up. the under shadow .: since: ‘sold. to’ and | sold by Lauben: Vichy, a Met. Opera. basso. In general the concert world. ‘of Iate ‘has: ‘been. dominated by Sol ‘Hurok:: -CAMT :: with Herbert. there, he was. prime: mover in for Barrett: ‘and ‘a few other: offices of: V Pent uo. London Variety Club ‘en Prince. Littler in the operation of PO “meen are. carrentty being with : ‘Players, sa. non-profit ‘corporate: .-* | Michael’s Playhouse, Winooski + scenery elevator or an apron. «Actors chosen fot Players “p J yron, | ing ts 2D feet high, 50 feet wide, mh, & , _ | the East-West house's series. of * nt road will. be without, “The. three § | aS. ‘Sound. of: Music” for ‘only, a short j at a ‘atre of Berlin, the. Peppino ‘de Fil-time. after the tuner’s “cloging next ‘fections 1 so a variety: of sizes can Saturday’ (23) at the O'Keefe. Cen-} tre, ‘Toronto. . Henry Guettel, who. ‘toured a ‘bus-and-truck ‘edition of | The the tuner last season, is: reactivat-. ing . the _ production ‘company he: formed: for that:-venture in order] to send out another unit for a. tout | ; starting: Dec. 30 ‘at the Auditoriom, ‘This -time: the Guiettel présenta-| } ‘tion -will _play, mostly prime time, |. ‘|‘as opposed ‘to the split-week stands covered. ‘by. his motorized produc-| theatre — 1 tien. last. season: The new .com=. { pany, which -will pick up. dates ‘that were to have. been played by. |. the production now in Canada, will) -@f about 60 will be planed from‘; starring in ‘the current touring] | tion. John van Dreelen will prob-| three read Oroduction;. whichis folding | February, 1961. It .was.sent out by ‘the Broadway’ producers . of the Halliday,. Richard Rodgers. and the: “Lou Wilson, : ‘executive «with Bob. producing or-| mod ‘ganization,’ is establishing Ais. One . He leaves: for. London. Nov.. 30. te set) “had.a.run on Broadway with Jason. In Britain Wilson will. fiegotiate rights. to. ‘several English: plays for. Broadw Wilson’ wiil‘continue to. work television. and stage projects: Pres | casian Chalk. Circle,” “Born “and raised: in New York, laboratory production. ‘Wilson. has. spent much ‘of his. | career. abroad, in. theatrical. map utive eapacities. for “William-.Mor-| MCA and Ashley overseas ‘division cf USO’ ‘camp. “working with” Abe Last-. : ‘Later, Wilson ‘served: as special | aide-de-camp. to ‘British impresario: ‘producer and director, Stoll ‘Theatres.in Lenden: While! Honolulu, Nov.. 19. . ‘The East-West theatre has just | been completed onthe Univ. of. Hawati campus,” ‘The structure, t provided half, | Goverhnmen , and the state and college supplied the balance, including: the’ and, equipment and staff. | The theatre is an integral part jjef the East-West Center and, as ‘such; will blend the theatrical tratwo | ditiens of Asia and the western 0 | world. | torium has 638 permanent uphol-.’ ‘stered seats, which. can be in‘the | creased to 710 as needs warrant. A forestage elevator can serve as ‘The air-conditioned | audi-.__ the pit for a 4@-piece orchestra, a The maximum proscénium openmatching the cailing height. and I }anditorium width and thus avoid.{ Panels at ‘stage front can be re-{moved to reveal small side. stages [on. two levels. This area. alse can. { be tsed for overflow. seating. = any “picture frame” feel. t: . . ‘Backstage, an a Clectric consdle | makes possible the preset lighting ' of 10 successive scenes and an in panel “feeds” 276 cir | eults and €0 C-core. dimmers. Of interest to theatre eperators 26-by-55 "pat with detachable be. utilized. Two. operate as travetse-WaEONS, their normal of stage being the stage. wings. third moves upstage dowhdate and is stored in the supstage bay behind the stage. It’s believed that this represents first American i stch ced in Bits, Ge was wntte Oo be a ‘Tevolu-"s a supplemental *hexible.‘form laboratory theatre designed for both ‘prosce ‘whom and open forms of. staging. Seating capacity. tange from 125 to 175, again depending upon need, Ajoint design ‘venture of the. | architect firms. of I. M.. Pei, of New York, and Young & Henderson, of Honolulu, the showhouse | can: mount both . standard and un{ conventional western theatre plus all forms of Asian. theatre. The. house will apen Dec. 4, with a rep-— ertory of “Benten Kozo,” a Japanese Kabuki play that. runs about hours, and “Hamlet” and “Of Thee I Sing.” | Dr. Earle Ernst, U-H. drama de ‘partment chairman, points*sut that because of the blend of oriental: and. occidental cultures here, the East-West theatre presents a o launch an {unique — ‘unparalteled expenment in theatre ‘|and. -international. understanding. | He played a key part in: the. de -| cision to set up an East-West Cen T fer technical theatre trainee pro-. gram. To date, 10young Asians (have come here for a year of on job: training: in all aspects of luction — design, stag-. . costumes, makeup, ern: ing, lighti: ‘Yehearsal and even management. “If modern theatre in the Orient is to. develop, there ‘has. to be some place where these people can Jearn © ‘all facets. of production,” he ex plains. A range of diverse presen tations is being scheduled for the East-West. These include “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “Hedda. ‘Gabler,” avant-garde comedies by Schisgal, ‘Congreve’s “The Way of the World,” and Brecht's “The Cau-the: latter. 2 Concerts and recitals will in ‘elude the Sahm-Chun-Li’ Korean. dancers and musicians, Shante Rao: {and a company of south Indian dancers and musicians, and Japa nese musie and dances by Kimio. Eto, Suzushi Hanayagi and Tadao Nomura, the latter two items due for preview staging in the show house even: before the fermal opening. | Stella ‘Holt. ‘and: Sidney Waiters; respec-. tively,of. the off-Broadway pres-. ‘entation of ‘William. Hairsten’s dramatization of Hans Habe’s novel, . “Walk in Darkness.” plancoproducing Hairston’ s “Swan Song | of the Ith Dawn.”