Variety (September 1952)

UgGlTUHAlV • The N. Y. City Opeti will ppen' Its ninth .year at City Center, N. Y., Sept. 18, with what promises to be its^most unusual fall season to date. Season wUl mark full year under direction of Jo>^ seph Kosenstock, who t^k over as general'i director last ‘ tasislo Halasz stepped out alter- a hassle with management, ' Highlight of the »even-week fall season will he the Center boW of vet conductor Tulllo Serafln, famed onetime Met Opera maestro and more recently artistic director at La Scala,' Milan, wholl conduct several Italian, works,. mcludmg the opening nighfi “Tosca. Kepertoire will comprise 18 operas, largest ever to he mounted in one season, and • probably the most varied of any company, with works in. French, Italian, Qerman and English, and emphasizing post- 1918 creations^ Three new productions will be included, Ravers Short “L'Heure Espagnole"; Bela Bartok’s short “Bluebeard’s Castle,” in its first TJ. S. stage presentation (NBC aired it In 1949), and Glan-Carlo Menotti’s full-length ”The Con- sul.” Last-named, which ran on Broadway for a full season two seasons^' ago, probably marks the first time that a Broadway legiter becomes a regular part of an opera company’s repertoire. Coin Loss Carryover Oreensboro, iSr.C., Sept 2, The 20%‘Federal amusement tax has been lifted from "Ixist Col- ony,” outdoor symphonic drama presented annually on Roanoke Is- land. This should mean a yearly saving to the show of $18,090 to $20,000 Bureau of Internal Revenue took the tax oft the pageant after bear^ ing North Carolina Att. Gen. Harry f ^ McMullen’s argument that it was a Westport, Conn., Sept. Z. ji^jj-p^ofit and educational venture. Faye Emerson gave the Westport show has in fact been sflhsl-' Faye’s Alternatiiii Roles in Westport . CowilderabU Cohfuiiloiii imd doubt*-apparemtly eilst In legit,circles regarding the new letup covering -ta^-free status of shows presented by profit groups. Rule is. that only ^e non-profit organization itself can retain, any of the waived levy, and that sharing terms with commer- cially-run tl;ieatres, etc., and royaltiesi itar percentages of the gross and the like, must be based on the regular admission ptfice, excluding tax. In' cases where" both the show management and the tfieatre have tax- fr^ status, the sharing can be on the taxrmclusiye higher amount. la all cases, however, the gross quoted by VjLkmx should be the tax- excluded lower figure. For example, the Los Angeles Civic Light Ooera Assn., a tax-exempt - organization, reports the regular gross of “South Pacific,” based on the admission price, printed on the lace of the ticket, and it splits with & Hammerstein) on that amount. ' Ik 4 « ft Country .Playhouse a dramatic the state of North.Caro- show management (Rodgers. & novelty last week by alternatmrm combmes the latter figures royalties, etc., on that basis. As a non-profit two principal roles; of ^James j... » ^ drama and music. nneration. however. Civic has tai ^ " " ' * i^iestley’s " “dangerous Comer” with "Ruth Matteson.' Ladies had limited rehearsals and only , two weeks’ playing time before this en- gagjement, but .carried off assign- ments well. . Luther Kennett, radio director, who staged the revival was an- nounced for the male lead here, but John Forsythe stepped mto the part at dress rehearsal. Forsythe had been with the com- pany in Olney and Falmtmth, Cape , Cod, but had begged off a third Kv'eek for a rest before other en- gagements. “Dangerous Comer’ Philadelphia, Sept. 2. operation, however, Civic has tax-free status, so it instead of turning over the 20% tax to the .Government, it retains this entire added amount, and does not split It with anyone. San Francisco Civic Light Opera^ not a non-profit ymture, collects the 20% tax and pays it to the Government in ihe standard way. ' In the case ,of “Porgy and Bess” at Dallas, both the' show manage- ment and the .Stale Fair Musicals organization are non-profit, so they shared the extra. 20%. In that instance; however, author and director royalties were based on the regular admission price, excluding the tax. For the Chicago, Pittsburgh and Washington engagements, the “Porgy” management kept the entire 20% levy, since the respective theatres ^ « • » ir«»* . . S -LX. - ^ J* 1_ , are commercial enterprises. However, in the case of Pittsburgh, tha Philly's 1952-53 legit season is higher gross (that is, with the 2Q% adde4> was erroneously reported getting off to an exceptionally late i„ variety. . " ' and slow start this year. Situation ^ Comer” company parallels very closely that of three **xhe Lady in Pink Tights,” nearly-completed operetta with music got in on a barn dance which years back (1949-M), when there hy the late Sigmund Romberg and book by Joseph Fields and Jerome Country Playhouse owners Law- was only one booking through the chodorov, is apparently a dead project. The piece Was near enough rence Langner and Armina Mai^ month of September. That was the jhiished, including about 10 Songs by Romberg, to go ahead with tenta- shall gave ^on opening night (25), musical tryout, “Touch and Go, • production plans. However, the problem of casting the femme lead, to celebrate the birthday of their .^vhich preemed at the Forrest Sept. „ French ballerina who could also sing and act and speak English fH«QfrAK 29. ' , clearly, was figured too tough. Because of the "show’s emphasis on This? year finds the season teeing dancing, Blevins Davis and Robert Breen, currently associated in the off next Monday (8) at the Erlanger revival of “Porgy and Bess,” had hoped to use the operetta, as a vehicle with the new edition of the old for Ballet Theatre, in which Havis has a financial interest. Max Meth, farce hit, “Ladies. Night,” now^ currently conducting the orchestra for “Pal Joey,” was to have been known as “Good Night Ladies,” musical director of “Pink 'rights.” which is cut-rating extensively for ' , an indefinite run. Only other Sep- . Reported spat recently between J. J. Shubert and Sam Gerson, the hrtnlrintf will be “Time of Shuberts’ representative in Chicago, has apparently been ironed out. son, Philip, one of the theatre’s two 'managing directors. Renaud, Barrault Troupe To Do 7-Play Rqiertory In Four B’way Weeks tember booking will be v* januDens' represemauve in v/iucagu, jua» weeu uut. the Cuckoo,” comedy tryout sked- immediately after the dispute, which is Said to have-occurred during ded for the Walnut Sept. 29. a visit to Chicago by Shubert, it was reported in managerial circles in vj. ^ ’ J xiii s n 't jujwiua X..WJI A CM... WU-. — — Although negotiations between New York that* Gerson bad been fired. However, Lee. Shubert is un- American voices added this fau. m Hurok will "present on Broadway fi^eatre management and unions derstood to have intervened and smoothed oven the situation, so Gerson addition, , Serafin is bnngtng^ a ^^eeks in November, will been held up and have hot was stiU ’on the job over last weekend and, according to one company couple of Italian singew offer a unique repertory of seven reached a satisfactory coriclu- manager, was making decisions he couldn’t have made without his cus- “while the company will be aaai- French plays. Modern'and classic, v-e nothin^ to do with tomary authority.' Gerson,.. whp has had the Chicago spot for th# Troupe comprises a varied group Madeleine Renaud, Jean of young TJ. S. singers,, with 14 new Barrault Co. which Sol American voices added this fall. In nurok will "present on Broadway couple 01 luuan singer uu**, offer a unique repertory or seven reached a satisfactory coriem- manager, was making decisions he couidn t have made witnout ms cus- “while the company French plays. Modern'and classic, nothing to do with tomary authority.' (Jrerpon,, whp has had the Chicago spot for th# tlonaUy augmented by the guest foperiory will include two MoUere iate seasonal opening. It’s just Shuberts for some 3(N)dd years, has recently told acquaintances that ' appearance of wa fnr of Manvaux, ^ matter of no shows available,^ he intends to retire soon.' Fuiiwara Opera Co. of Tokyo for A«oiiilh and Fevdeau. the Kafka- loao n«iv nfhpr vai-v Fujiwara O^ra “Madame Butterfly. Anouilh and Feydeau, the Kafjw- ^ ^ Only other very Gide-Barraull “Trial” and the. opening here in Philly came Chicago Stagehill,' legit theatre ’ program publisher, after polling Althougli the Center—a $2,famed pantomime sequence. Bap- middle ’20’s, when all local 1,323 theatregoers, has found.that the average stubholder is between 20 ■ * ' !,” that Barrault did in Ms film, ^cre dark until nearly Nov. and 30 years of age.' He or she goes to the theatre at least five times 1, due to a stagehands strike. a year and the average is nearer 10. The number of playgoers in the October prospects are a little earlier age bracket is 490,-compared to 297 between 30 and 40, and 271 rosier hut none too good. Musical between 40 and 50. Stagehill is coming out with * new format Sept, trvont “Buttrlo Square.” is sked- 2 and will run photos from past as well as current hits. As result of ?3.ou. Axne -«ici x^uscu «t tuc ^ * Forrest Oct. 6 and readers’-recommendations, the type used is much larger this season, fall, with top going from Marigny in Pans, is a private com- R«nana” returns to the Shu- so that seatholders can read under the aubdued theatre fighting. $8>. Since last faU, the Center has pany, with no federal support, but -^^^p nanana reuurxis» tu tuc — had a 10% increase in. salaries to the-French government is paying nert same aate. " musicians and stagehands, has. round-trip transportation, as a November will bring the mti- added social security and unem- .goodwill gesture. ' Hurok will mate revue, “Two’s Company, ployment insurance, and seen other handle all other expenses..., except with Bette Davis, for a preem at 1 —Canada, where the Canadian the Forrest, *and the newly formed Concert & Artists Corp. will Chartock Gilbert & Sullivan corn- handle. Company.of 30. is headed pany and “Stalag 17.” . ^ by Barrault and, Miss Renaud, his Late opening of legit season and the intervening opera wife (remembered here from the sparse number of bookings un- ^ w nnnnAr tour to Chicago and elsewhere film, “La Marternelle”). In addl- doubtedly helped inspire Theron Hoy, to be publishe J made some money. Center also lost tion to “Enfants,” Barrault is prom- Bamberger to prolong his strawhat Play Bureau and Intended for cot- $60,000 combined on its, fall and inent in the films “Symphonie Fan-^ season at the new Playhouse in the lege and little theatre performance spring ballet seasons in ’51-’52. tastique” and “La Ronde.” Park, plus fact that biz has been f!orri«. manager of the 000 biz run on a shoestring—if tlste carrying over a big loss from last “Les Enfants du Paradis.” In ad-' season, and faces increased costs dition, works wiR have incidental this year, the opera branch won’t scores by Honegger, Poulenc, and raise its top from last season’s I others. $3.60. (The Met raises^ts tariff this | Troupe, housed at the Theatre bouse expenses increased. Opera, in last year’s fall and spring seasons, dropped about $30,- 000 each session, for a 60G total, although the intervening opera Legil Stanley Kichkrds has collab- orated with Paul Sloewnb on a three-act comedy, “The HobMe-de- spring UClllCt OCaOVAA^ AAl VJ.” 44A&1.A *hIM. , Park, plus fact that biz has been The winter drama season made' Troupe will open on Broadway very good. Tent show outfit has a y^itorium Rochester, in town last about S50,000, but the spring ’52 Nov. 11, in a theatre to be selected. “Blithe Spirit” this week and fnr KnnVlnvj for the drama season for the first time, Four-week N. Y. run will be pre- Shaw’s “Devil’s Disciple” week of week to dicker ^or booking^ for the lost money,- for about a $35,000 aick. The Center may also lose the services of Morton Baum, chair- man of ite exec committee, and acknowledged sparkplug and co- ceded by four Canadian weeks, in Sept. 8. Montreal, XS^uebec and Ottawa. Hurok’s London Deals London, Sept. 2. 1 Sol Hurok planed into London irdlnator of its varied activities, from Milan last Thursday (28) and *aum is being prepped to run for in the next few weeks will finalize ' Y. State senator from his west arrangements for the presentation Montreal Drama Season Skaning Best in Decade; Aida Manhattan district Republican ticket. CoUege Into Mpls. Barn Act By Offering Credits Minneapolis, Sept. 2. College at Bemldji, got Into the act to give the Paul Bun- yan strawhat its most successful season and a policy that should keep it booming. Bemidji State Teachers college made a deal with Robert Gaus, Bunyan producer, to work summer Achool students into the theatre's program, offering college credits. A* result, students and home talent tinderstudied, supported profession- M actors in appearances, and stu- dents built all sets, handled props, iworked lights, made costumes and Acted as stage managers. Bemidji Playjjjioers Assn, fostered :he idea, and public service nature 'f the gimmick got full cooperation -om KBUN, Bemidji radio station, ..ad Bemidji Pioneer. Quest for jjcptrience drew not only kids from hat college, but students from U. >f Minnesota, U. of North Dakota Carlcton College as well, to w wp axtra summer credits. Arrangement goes for 10 weeks of lummer season and Is now. es- tablished as annual affair. on the t of several package shows in the United States and Canada. While in Paris Hurok inked the Renaud-Barrault company for a fall season with a repertory which will Include “Amphitryon,” “Sca- pin,” “Le Proces,”-- “Occupe-toi d’Amelie,” “Les Fausses Confi- dences” and the mime play, “Baptiste.’' During his. present‘Stay in Lon- don he will settle the third coast- to-coast tour of the Sadier’s Wells Ballet company and is also talking a deal with the Old Vic manage- ment. Hurok has again signed Em- lyn Williams and will take over his one-man presentation of “Bleak House” which opens in London tomorrow (Wed.) after a recent try- out at the Edinburgh Festival. Attenborough Set For ‘Mousetrap’ With Wife London, Aug. 26. Richard Attenborough is leaving the cast of “Sweet Madness” to be- gin rehearsals for Peter Saunders production of Agatha Christie’s thriller, “The Mousetrap,” in which Sheila Sim (Mrs. Attenborough) will co-star. “The Mousetrap” opens out of town Oct. 6 and moves into the West End on Nov. 25. Saunders produced the last Christie play, “The Hollow,” v.'hich Lee Shubert has acquired for a Broadway run in the fail. fall season ... Theatre party agent Lenore Tobin back from Fire Is- land, N. ' Y., vacation . . . Body Heath back from visit to her fami- ly on the Coast after vacationing in Europe and appearing in her original role in the Pallas produc- ¥ ' I • II* WiL I *1 tion of “Tree Grows in Brooklyn Longhair Vies With Le®il H Montreal, Sept. 2. j^ey” and “In Any Language” . . . Upcoming legit season in Mon-- Nancy Sheridan, back from play- treal looks the best in a decade, ing a featured role in 'On Approv- For obvious reasons, His Majesty’s al.” string Theatre has been renamed Cape May^N. J.. Juan in Hell”) of “Macbeth” at Lucille Lortel’s White Barn, West- I>ort, Conn., Sept. 14... Mary- Anne Reeve playing the femme lead this week in “Love or Money” at the Jennerstown (Pa.) Play- house. Windsor Lewis will be produc- tion stage manager and John Trcl- fall stage manager of “Bernadine” . .. Richard Aldrich dub back from Cape Cod next week after shutter-1 ing his strawhats at Dennis, Fal- mouth and Coonamessett, Mass. . . . Charles. K. Freeman will direct and partner with John Wlldberr in the' production this season of “For- ever Young” an adaptation by Gilbert Sddes Of Cesarc Mcano’s “La Nascita ^ di Salome” (“The Birth of Salome”). The play may. be done first in London , , . “The Last Island,” 'by Eugene Raskin, will be premiered in January by Margo Jones at her Theatre ’53 . . . Additional backers of the $60,000 production of “Gypsies Wore High Hats,” not included among the names previously printed, are Sylvia Golden, author of the origi- nal novel, “The Neighbors Needn't Know,”’ from which the play is adapted, with a $1,200 slice; CBS Majesty’s and general manager Phil Maurice of Consolidated The- atres, who operates Montreal’s only legit house, opens the season this week.with “Goodnight Ladles,” and is booked solid into November. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” with Iva Withers, is skedded for Sept. 15, followed by Cornelia Otis Skin- ner in “Paris ’90” for a week start- ing §ept. 22. “Bagels & Yox” takes over Sept. 29 for a six-day session. Tentative bookings for the follow- ing months and into ’53 are en- couraging with “Four Poster” and “Belf, Book and C."mdle” included in the many possibles. Between offerings booked by the theatre, concert and ballet dates are heavy. Canadian Concert At Artists Corp. brings in Jose Greco S^pt. 10; following with Slavenska- Franklln-Danilova Oct.'7 and Ana Maria Spanish Ballet Oct. 10, With Ballet Theatre doing five days start- ing 'Nov, 25. CCAC will also handle the Madeleine Renaud-Jean- Louis Barrault company for Sol Hurok in Montreal, and interest is high with local French theatre- goers for this outfit, which opens Oct. 15 and offers six plays through to Nov. 2. and Actors Fund president Walter Vincent, $2,400. Van Heflin will star in “The Shrike,” which Kermtt Bloomgar- den will send on tour, opening Oct. 16 in New Haven . . . The Em- pire, N. Y., will be tom down next June to make way for an office building . . . Although Thomas Hammond is going ahead with im- mediate production of “The Gam- bler,” thus postponing plans for the presentation of. “Portrait of a Lady” until mid-November, there's no mention of Olivia dc Havilland reverting to her original intention of starring in the latter play, de- spite the fact that she’ll probably be finished wjth her current stint in “My Cousin Rachel” at 20th-Fox considerably before that. .. Ernest H* Martin, co-producer of “Guys and Dolls,” leaves tomorrow (Thurs.) for London to arrange for a presentation of the musical there. His partner, Seymour Feuer, has returned from. the Coast, where's he's been huddling, with Cole Por- ter, Abe Burrows and Michael Kidd on their new show, “Can- Can.” Although Nat Dorfman is new general press rep for the Theatre Guild, Reginald Denenliolz contin- ues as press rep for the Gmlq- American Theatre Society and i* also handling press for “Seagulls Over Sorrento.”... Mrs. Fli^cnee Jakob (“Jake”), vet Theatre Guild. N.Y., receptionist, quitting... Tony Buttltia, press head for L.A. ana Frisco Civic Light Opera groups, due in N.Y. shortly, en route to Eu- rope. Together with Bill Zwssiff, and Ed Hensley of the Ansett Travel Service, Buttitta is sponsor- ing a European tour this fall to cover various festivals. Tour pub- licity bears the Frisco Opera group’s endorsement. - Joe Moss, business manager ot the Boston' Summer Theatre this season, has been appointed gen- eral manager, of “The Gambler, which is skedded to go mto re* hearsal in N.Y. Sept.' 11. E. Danford, a Syracuse U. puDUc relations assistant for three years, has been named to t new pdst of public rector for the RPI Field Hou^ . Vi m.,.,,. •KT -V