Variety (April 1964)

\ -vestablish -. yepertory companies, with :mobile: touring ‘units, in major: population " sought. | ae producer Philip Rose is being used:| y | on ‘ie _ by FST as the mailing address for'| I yyy -" eontributions, ‘scripts and offers. of: ava 2. Ossie. Davis, oes Douglas. ‘Turner and Ann: Flagg: .-. ave-on. thé production schedule of. :°, “SFST,-which intends using specially } ~Music,” _ Brooks,’ : stock fours this summer by. <-..: K. Lerman ‘and Bret Adams.: The. a “Lady” | ‘package, which: Bill’: Fran-: ‘cisco will direct; wil open the 14th ... Beason June’ 22. of. the’. Corning: : MN, ¥.) Summer. ‘Theatre, at ‘which , blishing live Co. dure -ofthe newly-formed. Free ” “Southern: ‘Theatre... -.~ Yo The: plays care: to" “be: presented -" Jpefore Negro. ‘and, in’ ‘time, © in °° 4egrated audiences. <FST,. ‘which. * ‘also.intends using. integrated casts 4 some of its productions, hopes.to ‘centers . throughout. the ‘south, . " "A. mumber of prominent per: a formers. ‘and -others” inthe -arts,.} “pothNegro and white, are spon: -.... goring the undertaking, : for ‘which Sie fund of -.$100,000 is’. being: The office. of ‘Broadway |” participation.” . Live theatre; the. ‘FST. Believes, i -.ayill provide. the -most: effective} | “means. of filling -the: “void created}. *.”:. by. the: degrading effect-of inferior | -education. in segregated: ‘southern | schools; the omissions. and-distor-]| __. > tions of local. press, . radio and tele-(|. 7 . -vision,: which effectively keep: the } “-< Negro.in ignorance of:the problems |. -"”. which : most -directly concern “him : “land. the. deliberate. exclusions. of | ~ the Negro. ‘community. from ‘all but. the most. meager: cultural resources: _ that ‘combine ‘to ensure ‘the -intel|. _Jectual and: cultural isolation of. the ; Negro in: the. south. me, | by. Langston: . ‘Hughes; oY James. Baldwin, John: O. Killens, . Richard Schechiner, |: : Plays: . “équipped. central “theatres plus -eonimunity: | ‘eenters, 5 ee ~ehurches: and fields: in rural, areas. + :. 4.) The “companies. will comprise |: woe participants. ‘from . the: local Negro -."eommunities and, with; the coopera_ tion of ‘the appropriate unions, pro-: o fessional: actors, directors and tech: . Bicians. “) Ehere’s... to. “be | no: _ admission -charge to ‘the ‘productions: ‘munities. Each of the presentations «Continued. ‘on Page’ 82) ° Pay Lady’ ‘and Sound’ tock Packages-For 2 Season at Corning, NY. ---Packages of “My. Fair: ‘Lady,”. 'cQan starring ‘Allyn. Ann McLerie: and -George:* Gaynes, and “Sound... of headlining | . ‘Lerman: ‘is the producer. , “The “Music”. package, which Bob : . . Herget will stage, will be the wind-| C “up bill of the Corning season, which: :--will.also include resident: company | ) presentation of": “Oh Dad, Poor} 2° “Take: Her, She's: “Mine,” [#08 “A Rainy Day -in Newark,” as well | Fas) aproduction . of:*“The . Fanta| : -gticks,”. starring. Moreley' Meredith . ‘of: the Metopera. “The Fantasticks” |-_ “38 a’ special: production Lerman is |’. =. doing with John. Daggett’ ‘Howell of)’. ‘Dad. as the Chautauqua Institute. “fey. vA ceompany --of 18. ‘will “be ‘used. a for. the.“Lady”. package, priced: at -” “around. $5,500... The . tab: “will -. be -:-, about the same. for. the. “Music”. “package, which ‘will: employ. a-com-. -. pany. of .19.. Esther: ‘Scott, resident . “designer: at the Corning -showcase,’. . is doing: ‘the designs for both pack-: ages. Don Jennings is. musical -di-: rector: and -KenCostigan’ advance’ “Lady. ” | Al. Evans is musical. director. and director, ‘respectively, for’. Ed. Aldridge advance. director,. ‘Te _ . spectively, : ‘for “Music.' wo “8 ‘State: Council. on -the: ‘Arts. A pilot préject, a8 a start. toward — : theatre in the], gp:0:° me . “. deep. south -to:. acquaint ‘Negro j; -’ -gudiences : with plays that reflect} -—" "fhe. straggle “of the: “American |" |. ° Negro, “is. ‘scheduled for: this sum-. > gmer in. Jackson; Miss... A 10-week |: “geason of legit offerings is planned } .. forthe Masonic. Temple. there beginning: June. 33 .as-the initial venj resional ‘the US “permanent ... stock -and |]. schools, ° weal Five‘). “.~Offerings are’ planned for. the ‘pilot : .* gedson in Jackson, with the plays |. “2. t0 be presented also in nearby..com-. “Lawrence | -ate-: being . prepared. for. r’}: jall thecompany’s " shares;. having. .. * Besides his stock ‘activities, Ler} ..o Man ‘is: also administrating~ thé. . ‘Touring Arts: Program at. the N. ¥. the * founders. an? ‘which * ] theatre will present in: ‘celebration : At: the’. end of. the year, Schach : is: ‘slated to go. to.-Tel. Aviv ‘to direct. “After : the. Fall” for: the Camert ‘Theatre: there. : ‘of ‘Shakespeare’ 8. 400th. ‘anni: Pan Alley: ‘version of ‘the. ‘Actors { Studio, will audition a musical: adaptation . of Joshua’ Logan’s “The -Wisteria’ Trees”: April 28 .at ‘fhe Maidman Theatre, N.Y.,:before {an ‘invited: audience. of ‘prodiicers, 4 [RITA MORENO SET FOR” This. ‘nusual” ‘event will’ be. ‘the .” last. of three: one-hour ‘show¢ases {. to: be. presented atthe: Maidman. “consecutive “Puesday {°f ‘afternoonis © at. 5.P. m.; “beginning | ‘next Tuesday: (14).- . The. Musical “Theatre “Workshop. “was established: four years ‘ago by. | Broadcast : ‘Music. Inc. ‘to. provide { composers’ and — lyricists with’. “an: Lopportunity :to. work creatively: in ‘the theatrical: medium... This takes. in exercises: ranging ‘from. musical | o | adaptatioris” of classics. and. temporary -dramas_ to. the creation. ‘directors; “music. "publishers: . and agents. eat ‘on’ “three... of. original works, will: conduct: the showcase: programs. The ‘adapta ‘tion. «of “Wisteria,” limitation, “is” ‘titled, “Dancing; Dancing;. ‘Goodbye’ ‘and. has book ‘and ‘lyrics -by: Marvin..Schofer: and’ ‘music . by William | Goldstein, “It originated’ as.a workshop exercise, ‘as. did “Hexagon,” .:which ‘will ‘be next. Tuesday’ 's' workshop’ presenta-: ‘tion. “Hexagon” is. an original-mu‘Sical :with book’ byRaleigh Bond, dyries.. by Francine::. Forest and ‘Music ‘byGordon. Eis. “Incidentally, | “|: Logan’s -*Wisteria”.is:. based._ on ““The . Cherry t Anton. Chekoy's.” Orchard.” ‘The April 21. ‘offering will con; ‘sist. of.. songs written: to‘a variety: of plays With. music and. lyrics. by (Continued, on ‘page. 82). Century Lighting. Sold: Ed Kook ‘Remains: Prez 7: The. Century. ‘Lighting ‘Co., president:: ‘The entire. stock. of Céiitury . is included in the: sale. Kook’ and. his: daughter, Patricia: ‘K. Gibbs, : held: bought ‘out several: other“ partners. ‘about. a. year ‘ago. ‘Century “was! formed -in 1929, with, Kook, one eof. Leonard: ‘Schach, ‘South. ‘African. | -director-producer, is. in: New York following a. ‘three-month’ tour. of}. repertory. companies‘. in : He’. made. the ‘trip;. ar| ranged. by the. American National: Theatre & Academy, as.a guest of |& Ug . the U.S. State Dept. While in}: ‘Madison,..Wis.;.he directed a-pro-|. ©. 9 duction at ‘the. Union. of {Hodag, "+ . &by: David ‘Peterson: :. ye ‘Sechach returns. to. ‘South’ “Africa. oe ‘soon’: to. stage. ‘Twelfth Night,” | : that. country's . ‘national | "The BMI Musi¢al. Theatre’ ‘Work: | | ‘shop; regarded ‘by some as .a Tin. ‘eon “which will. naturally: be: auditioned. in. abbrevi|. ‘| ated. form. ‘because of: the: time ‘Bruce Birkenhead to Do. ‘Scozzati Play Off-B’way:| ’ Bruce Birkenhead, business ‘man| | agerlast. summer. at, the. Cape Cod ‘Joan Bender, ‘William Dyer;: ee | {Sherwood and’ Patrick. O’Neal. are Jearmarked ‘for: key. :. O'Neal | also scheduled ‘to. ‘direct.’ The © presentation, © “budgeted at $20; 000, ~~ will -. have. /seenery by . a | Phillip ‘Rosenberg... a “4 leading’ firm: ‘in legit, Television |. and architectural . illumination, has}. been © bought by > the” ‘Progress ‘Manufacturing: Co., ‘Inc:, “of. Phila| delphia, ‘a producer. of. Tésidential. ‘lighting fixtures-.and ‘other. -electrical equipment. However, . it: will: ‘retain. its ‘name and. identity, ‘with: ‘the same _ personnel: : and | -with Edward F. Kook. continuing ast. m ‘ney, Md, Se a "Mets ¢ Tonring “I Divas _. Minneapolis, Aprila: ‘from six: to four so days, and seven to. five per f° a -Hformances, the annual Metro-. [Bg -politan Opera. engagement at. j .:. | Northrop Auditorium bere, | '... May. 21-24, will. present Renata. a | -Moffo,' Joan *. +t. Pebaidi; 4 + Sutherland * a. n ao ‘Leontyne | | Ppriee in. “‘LaBoheme,” '.j 2 7 7 _“Manot,”: “Lucia: diLammor-. res: re ie moor,” “Don: Giovanni” and sn "Male. ‘complement.’ will’ in 7 a aude Richard, Tucker, Cesare. A “Siepi, Jerome ‘Hines, Giorgio‘. “ Tozzi, Carlo. Beaconzi,. Ariselmo:. : Colzani and Theodor: ‘Uppman. = :‘Minneapolis, April * 1 being somewhat. naughty. ‘in spots | and ‘scarcely: a. show. for. the . juve-. nile’ trade, .. the : touring: “A: ‘Funny: ‘Thing Happened. on the: Way ‘to the Forum”-.has: ‘gone: after. youthful patronage, including even teen/:Jagers, for its engagement: at’ the |" | Orpheum Theatre hére this week.| .|]. Highschool and ‘college. students j ~ "| were: informed ‘they’d be. ‘admitted |. to the better seats onthe ‘engage _ ... | ment's ‘first two nights, lastnight ~{(Mon.)..and: tonight -(Tues.), atthe) . (ty | 4. .-fsubstantially reduced price of $1.95.) 2 4 che regular top. is. .$5.95-$6 50, the} 3" latter: on. Friday. -and. ; Saturday . inights. ..The young patrons had to} tbay their tickets: dast Friday: and, Saturday: (3-4)... : Explaining the. inducement, the. management. referred: to: producer’ “Martin Tahse’s: program. to inter ést: young people’ in. the. ‘theatre. and to-give. them an: oprortunity to: see good sheatres: at prices: ‘they can afford.” ” London, ‘April’ 7. | ‘Theatre. on April. 29, swith Anne Rogers. starring. . : Miss ‘Porter. has: had to. withdraw. owing to an acuté.‘attack of jaun-|. ‘dice: Miss Moreno, who appeared {in ‘the: film. “West Side Story,’ way abe making her: "West ‘End debut, ‘The “upeoming™ “ ghiowéad® ° series a — represents the first-time the work-] ‘shop will be ‘displaying: its mem-}. : | bers’: ‘works to.'a ‘collective group’ a of. -proféssionals: from. the. theatre | ‘| and‘ publishing ‘fields, . 2 Broadway’ m:u si cal conductor | / ‘Lehman. Engel, who's: in charge of. ee the. workshop; : Francisco. The -presentation .is. a tuner with: book by. Richard: Morris, | Music -byJohn Kander. .and. lyrics |. by, Fred’ Ebb.. Kander and Ebb 1. ‘planed. ‘to‘the Coast’ last Friday. (3) {. to confer with.Tahse and Morris. ‘Tahse,.. currently presenting » “A Funny Thing Happened: ‘on “the “Way: to. the Forum” on: ‘the road,’ is due back at his New York office . this week. . moving. ‘into’ ‘the. off-Broadway area. as’ producer ‘of..“The™ Bouzingos, ” by Richard .Scozzari: . Madeleine Toles, ‘with “Players: Plan Summer. Players Ine: “will, ‘begin. ‘its 14th. season July. 7 at St.‘Michael’s Play-: house,.: Winooski: -Park,.. Vt." ‘schedule’ will. run six. weeks. Donald Rathgeb. is resident. manager. Of: the: operation. The company is ‘also 4 touring. this | year-with “Oedipus Rex” and: “The: ‘Taming ‘of-the Shrew.” In addition, ‘arrangements ‘are . being. ‘diseussed. for..another: ‘overseas. trip :-before ‘the ‘company | -assembles | ‘at St. Michael's: ‘in’ June. ‘During. the summer . “another Players. company. operates. in . ol “Although it-has the reputation of |‘ |:play. .: “LOVES ME’ IN LONDON | "Hollywood: actress: Rita “Moreno { \‘is. to’ take over a leading role’ in } “She Loves Me,” from Nyree:Dawn. ‘Porter. ‘The tuner, ‘a-hiton Broad-. way, is’ “due. ‘to open: at. the. Lyric j-out’ a. license. ment. was. brought: to. the. attention. of . Alexander. Racolin and Martin | ‘| Rubin, who.hold a. 20-year. lease on: ‘the Gramercy. ‘Arts, they. “dispos-: of contract. The} 7 Midway: Theatre, NY, . Mare Biitestein, who. was killed ; by brawling: seaman ‘on a: -jisland: during the winter, will: ‘be: "| memorialized ..April: 19 at Phil-; “4 harmonic’ Hall, N.Y. Phyllis Cur-. . 1 tain will ‘take ‘the’ title rele in a . |) revival .of ‘the. composer’s: opera, foe “Regina, ” 1 Hellman drama, “The Little Foxes.” | Julius Rudel, head of the NY. City | _] Opera,: Will’ conduct; as “he :.did. “| originally. in. 1953. . ‘Miss: Hellman. }. 1 will. read .a. ‘narration.. . “Whe -second: portion: ‘of concert | { will, be-Blitzstein’s first big “The. ‘Cradle Will Rock.” : Leonard ‘Bernstein will ‘handle the | based on the’ ‘Lillian success. baton. It is: intended . to set.up a ‘name... ing. Actors Studio revival of “The ‘Perhaps... by ‘berg, her mother. and the wife of artistic: head’ of. the: ‘Studio...°Although’ an ‘April ° opening. on} “Sisters,” | pleted, ‘it's assumed that the pro +. a -{ duction will bé:delayed.. Miss Stan| ol. [ley is to play Masha..in as Chekov | ‘ 2 1 comedy-drama, and 1 Miss age will: Cate’ on. Bn way. Next Fall We “Golden -Gate,”". earmarked ‘for. f |. Broadway production: by. Martin. “Tahse, is. to begin a: tryout ° ‘tour. | Sept. -28 at. the Geary. Theatre, San: portray ‘Olga: : The. “Sisters” ‘production’ is “be: |.ing financed. from thé proceeds of a grant to. the Studio: from. the Ford) ° ‘Foundation. Off-Brway “ ‘Madman’ Sets | Hearing. Due.onLicense “Diary of a' “Madman”: ‘Wilk have itsAmerican -preem April 16. ‘at \ the Gramercy Arts. Theatre, NY.. ‘The opening was originally: set for April. 14 at-the.:same house. .* An ‘-order,. ‘signed recently by NY: Su-! ipreme' Court Judge Frederick: © | Backer, adjourns | ‘until. April 20 a hearing * to’ show .cause: ‘why ‘the suspension of. the. Gramercy Arts” license. by. former. “N.Y. License Commissioner Bernard ‘J. . ‘O’Con-{& neji should be upheld: : «The adjournment. "Festored the | theatre’s jicense, which | was_ sus-: {pended March 23° for 90 days ‘bejcause of a film society. which was. using the’ premisés for..aMonday. night series of documentaries: com mitted | an alleged violation. by..ac cepting money. for’ admission with-. When the ‘infrirfge sessed the film. society for violation Racolin ‘arid Rubinare. co-producers of “Diary” with Ninon Tal- Jon:. Karlweis and ’ Alex. Hassilev.: The Gogol play; with Zack. Mafalon playing the solé‘role. evenings and. ‘William . Hickey, :the ‘show’s direc-. tor, spelling him -at’ ‘matinees, is . now giving previews, . t: “The Pinter” ‘Plays,’? which had to’move from. the’ Pocket. Theatre, 'N.Y:, -when. the house™:.was’ | porarily closed. recently for’ ‘show-. ‘ftem ing..an unlicensed. film; “is now -at Se Hal, NY. ] tempting te eae the union in stage } has withdrawn ‘Lee Strasberg, who is. staging . the ‘Anton’ Chekhov ‘work; is: set to ‘be stand-by ‘for the three. title. roles: } ‘It -will be’ her first acting . assign-' ment. in some years. Strasberg, be-: ‘}sides being the director, is: the raed ministrative . body will make. any Broadway. had been. anounced for} no. theatre. has’ ‘been | _ | booked. and, ‘with casting ‘not come } By JESSE GROSS * Actoad Rauity je again embroiled Yt0 a factional ‘fracas. agi Bel the election . officers: and. councillors ‘that’s to be completed: May 8. The retiring prez, lengTegarded..as a moderate, has. claimed that. the: faction is represented by. ‘Eddie Weston and | Theodore ‘Bikel, the nominating. J committee's. candidates for the posts of. president and first vicepresident, respectively. Bellamy is supporting an opposition ‘ticket on whieh the prez and first. veepee candidates are Frederick .Q’Neal ard Lillian. Gish, . respectively. At the annual’ Equity meeting. last Friday. (3) Bellamy, Jin New-York. fr the Coast to. ‘music. theatre award. ‘in Biltestein’s | om preside, was. criticized by William . 4Prince: for ‘publicly attacking 4 Westen and Bikel in a.N.Y. Times oso “interview March. 31. Besides the T1.. 4) factional charge, Bellamy also ac“-".. 4 eussed the two. of conducting “unae ‘principled 9 | campaigns:. and: misieadi ng” ‘The. Friday :.session, at “which ) ‘candidates for officer and council-. | lor ‘posts in the union. made. state> 4ments, was open. to i bers only. It’s been learned, howa J 1 ever; that aside from the remarks Kim Stanley, whowithdrews ‘several weeks ago from the forthcom-. Equity mem | by” the ‘eandidates, the only discussion in connection. with. the election. . was Prince’s criticism . of... ] Bellamy. ‘and latte ra-. Three Sisters,” has ‘changed her} ¥ the rs Teltel ae mind‘and agreed ‘to appear in the | coincidence, |: : Susan Strasberg, ~who was to have | costarred with Miss. Stanley ‘and. 7 Geraldine . ‘Page, from . ‘the _production. ‘No successor. has ‘been. enkaged| ‘so far: to.replace ‘Miss Strasberg in‘ | the role of Irina; but Paula Stras-. tion of his factionalism charge. Big. Turnout _ The ‘meeting. drew an: unusually. large turnout,’ many with more : than. just. the. election.-on their minds; Of. major concern was the recent hike .in' Equity dues. and initiation fee. Discussion in ‘this. area Tesuited in the adoption of ‘a. resolution asking the Equity coun‘cil to restudy the changes: instituted in the dues structure. The council; in a ‘referendum. of the ‘membership, had urged ap ‘proval of the dues hike because of.” increased. ‘expenditures, and it’s considered: unlikely that the ad drastic. changes in the newly-, adopted dues setup: | At the meeting, which ran about ‘four: hours, the membership decided: against floor discussion after the reading ef the: campaign: (Continued on page 82) 3 Mets ee Of Madrid’s ‘Ferem’ Co. ‘Madrid, April 7.American legit interests made an. initial: appearance. on the Spanish Scene when Gilbert. Miller. and. | Spanish. producer-director |. Jose’ Osuna: opened .a coproduction version. of “Funny. Thing Happened on: ‘the way. to. the. Forum”. in. Madrid last ‘week. “The deal was made. with Miller’s. general ‘mana-. ger, George Banyai, who is represented here by: Andres Kramer. . ' ‘Coproduction. with Spain is not: ‘as formidable as it seems.. Theater ‘budgets, even for a hit musieal . comedy, areonly a fraction of ‘stateside’. figures. While amounts are not revealed, Miller’s participation’ is ‘estimated: at under $5,000. -” “Funny ‘Thing Happened” opened . lat the Téatro Maravillas with a’ ‘libretto adapted for Spain by Jose’ Luis Coll and Manuel Ruiz Castillo, and an adapted score by Moreno Buendia. Unable to come up with a suitable local version. of ‘the original ‘title, ‘Osuna named, it “Golfus de. Roma”. _ ‘ Jose Sazatornil ‘stars as the slave; ae Erasmo: ‘Pascual and. Carmen Mar tinez play .Senex and -kis wife,” Domina; the ‘role of Philia goes to | Aliefa’ de. Ia: Victoria: her lover is. ‘Pedro Pecci: Yenanacio. Muro is the ‘second . ‘slave, and Ricardo Royo ‘plays’ the victorious soldier. Eye filling © courtesans . were ‘Yeeruited from. among: foreign beauties ap pearing at: local cabarets as. ‘well. ‘as. from local guapas. . Ranking cartoonist, Mingote, de: ‘signed sets and. costumes. The. latter, fashioned daringly for Spain, : were buttoned up. considerably fol-. lowing: traditional censor modifica tions .atthe final rehearsal -per-. , «A formanee. mr