Variety (March 1957)

l<EOITI]»IATE 65 Wednegday, March' 27^ 1957 _ < _ \ 154S B’way k The New Legit Hub, Supc^^ding Sardi Bldg. & W. 42nd St. The southwest corner of Broad-' way, at 46th Street, is emerging as a focal point of New York legit production. Several of the top prpdiicing offices' are now situated in the building above the Victoria 1 Theatre. Consequently, a hefty share .of the seasonal play output is emanating from there. Among the managements lo-, cated in the .building (1545 Broad¬ way) is thia- season’s most active producing outfit, the Prijducers Theatre. The firm is currently represented on Broadway by five plays, all having preemed this semester. They include “Separate Tables,” co-produced with Harold Hecht & Burt Lancaster; “Major Barbara,” co-produced with Kob- ert L. Joseph; “Waltz of the Toreadors,” “Hole in the Head” and “Orpheus Descending.” Earlier in. thC; season, the Pro¬ ducers Theatre was partnered with Gilbert. Miller in the flop Broad¬ way production of “The Sleeping Prince.” Also, headquartering at the 46th Street location is Ker- mit Bloomgarden, whose current Broadway product includes “Diary of Anne Frank”" and “Most Happy Fella,” Whiqh he co-produced with Lynn Loesser. Besides those, both holdovers from last season, Bloomgarden" toured '.‘The Lark” this semester and mounted~two new productions, “Night of the Auk” and “Maiden Voyage,” The latter closed re¬ cently. during its pre-Broadway tryout, while the former did a fast New York fold. The Playwrights Co. is another major producing'. firm operating out of the building at 1545. . The organization has nothing on Broad¬ way at present, havinf^ mounted two flops earlier in the season. Those were “Build With One (Continued on page 68) ‘Kiofdm Come’ to Opea Rdi^iis Ikama Series.. Outdoors at Salem, Vp. 'Salem, Va., March 26. “Thy Kingdom Come,” the first in a projected series of outdoor religious dramas planned for the 2,094^8eat Sherwood Ajnphitheatre here,- will preem June 23. " The drama, based' on the story of St. Paul, is. by Kerinlt Hunter, vet au¬ thor of al fresco dramas and meitf- ber of the. dramatic art staff of Hollins College. ^ . The production, financed by the Roanoke (Va.) Valley Dran]|a Assn., will, run through Bept. 2. It’s .figured the.cost of opening the pro-, duction will run around $75,000 That coin has been,, raised by the sale, of ^ non-interest bonds. Any money made oii the venture will go to retiring the bonds and to the Lions Club for work with the blihd. After the bonds have been paid off, 75% of the profits," up to. $75,- 000, will go to the Lions Clubs, while thC: other 25% Will be di¬ vided among other charities se¬ lected by the association, pf which JackE. Andrews is executive direc-. tor. The drama, which will use a cast of 60 paid actors, dancers and singers, will be directed by G. Dean Goodsell.' The vocal chorus will be directed by Oscar J. McCullough, with cho¬ reography by Paula J. Levine and Dr. David Weiss, technical director of the U. of Virginia Theatre^^ as designer, technical director and stage mahager. Composer of the musical background is Jack Fred¬ erick Kilpatrick, who’s collaborated with.Hunter on prior projects. James R.. Goodwin Jr. a local in¬ surance-realty agent, is responsible for development of the venture and the amphitheatre. tRIALOFMARY DUGAN’ - IN REAL COURTROjOM Hartford, March 26. The" Probate Court Chambers in the Municipal Building here will double as a theatre' for a Hillyer College production of “The Trial of Mary Dugan,” Edgar Kloten, director . of Hillyer’s . Theatre Workshop,' received permission from city officials' to stage, the courtroom drama in the realistic locale, fhe production is scheduled for April il-13. ‘Hunting’ Is Ballyhooing Meiman as N.Y. Hostess Designation of Ethel Merman as official hostess for the fourth an¬ nual “New 'Vork is a Summer Fes¬ tival,” beginning June 20, has pro¬ vided publicity fodder *for. the Broadway production of “Happy Hunting,” in which she’s starred. Bill Fields, pressagent for the musical, took off last Sunday (24) op a 10-citynine-day tour to bally¬ hoo the event. A $6,000 ad-promo- tion outlay has been provided by the production for the purpose. Fields is visiting Rochester, Buf- "falo, Cleveland, Toledo, Detroit, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Columbus and Pittsburgh. He’s due back early next week. In Central Park A permit has finally been is¬ sued for legit production in New York’s Central Park. Michael P. Grace and Chris F. Anderson have succeeded in Wreaking the ice in dbtaining an okay to convert the park’s Wollman Memorial Skating Rink into' an outdoor theatre next summer. Grace, who’s been represented on Broadway as producer and is a member of "the Grace shipping family, and Anderson, who’s been active in summer stock, plan a series of musical presentations for the park. The project was given the. greenlight by Robert Moses, City Commissioner of Parks. Getting the permit rates as a coup for Grace and Anderson, since use of the park for summer legit has long been eyed by Broadway producers. The theatre will be a 3,000-seater, Tickets for perform¬ ance, to be given every night in the week, will range from $1.15-$3.45, including, tax. The season, slated to begin June 8 , Will take in three-to-seven shows. It’s figured tfiie cost of the project will run from $150,000-$200,000, with the park. department having the final say on who will be per¬ mitted to invest and th^ selection of productions and actors. DETROIT HIGH SCHOOLS niUNG LEGIT SHELF Detroit, March 26. By. promoting .special student tickets in 50 area high schools, the Shubert Theatre Is adding $2,000 a week to its gross and is making an effort to insure future audi¬ ences by exposing thousands of young people to the entertainment value of the legitimate theatre, ac¬ cording to Joseph Nederlander, Shubert treasurer. Like other theatres around the country, the Shubert’s 300-seat second balcony, scaled at $2,20, remained empty night after night.'*' Nederlander wrote letters to drama and English teachers in the area’s 50 high schools offering to sell sec¬ ond balcony tickets in blocks of 25 or more for 90 cents. The two plays selected for the experiment were “The Lark” and “Fanny.” Nederlander reported that the response was so great that thousands of requests for tickets had to be denied for lack of room. “The Detroit Board of Education and Mayor Albert E. Cobo is Solidly behind this effort to enable, students to see legitimate produc¬ tions,” Nederlander declared. “The Shubert ,wlll continue this policy for it is not only good business but good for the legitimate theatre.” Drops Can^ian Barn Ottawa, March 26. Canada’s oldest straWhat, Brae Manor Theatre in Knowltoh^ Que., may fold, after 21 seasons. Mrs. FilrUore Sadler, widow of its founder, is retiring and the spot is for sale. Manny Kaye has joined the Leo Brode, Inc.* theatrical sign firm. ShuffleToilriiqf ‘Fanny’ Bookies So ‘Matchmaker Can Extend in Chi - , ----- ^ N.Y. State Measure Would ' \yp Ticket Broker Fee . Albany, March 26. The N.Y, State Assembly passed the Farrell blU last Thursday (21) to amend the General Business Law to Increase from $1 to $1.25 (plus tax) the maximum premium for tile resale of theatre tickets. It’s now subject to Senalte vote and if passed, approval by Gov. Harriman. The measure, which had been amended, would take effect imme¬ diately. Taradiso'Credits May Outnumber The incoming Broadway produc¬ tion of “Hotel Paradiso” 'vdll re¬ present a sign-painter’s and print¬ er’s field day. The show/not only has one of the most elaborate man¬ agerial setups in years, but also an unusually complicated billing line¬ up of stars., featured players, au¬ thors and adaptor-director, The comedy, due to open April 11 at the Henry Miller Theatre, N.Y., is -being presented by two managerial firms, Bichard Myers & Julius Fleischmann and Charles Bowden, Richard Barr & H. Ridg- ley Bullock Jr., but there is an ex¬ tra Credit line for the original Lon¬ don presenters, Hardy W. Smith- and H. M. Tennent Ltd. The star lineup includes Bert Lahr, Angela Lansbury, John Erp- ery (succeeding- Arthur Treacher), Vera Pearce and Douglas Byng, with Carleton Carpenter, Sondra Lee and Sorrell Booke feature^ Peter ‘Glenville is billed as adaptor and stager (he’s also silently part¬ nered with Smith, the co-presen¬ ter -of . the London edition). The co-authors of'the balf-century-old original French fare arc Georges Feydeau and Maurice Desvallieres. The billing for decor is fairly simple for an imported show, with Osbert Lancaster, who designed the scenery and costumes for tlie London production, listed for the same assignments here, plus “light¬ ings and supervision” credit to lo¬ cal designer Charles tisanby. The whole billing setup is much more complex than that for the re¬ vival of “Major Barbara,” current •at the Morsoco, N.Y. The latter opened with five costars, Charles Laughton, Burgess Meredith, Gly- nis Johns, Eli Wallach and Corne¬ lia Otis Skinner (all but Miss Johns are stiU in the show, with her sue-, cessor, Anne Jackson, getting fea¬ tured listing). ' 5 As an extra Wrinkle in the “Hotel Paradiso'?. billing' situation, there will be seven names on the Miller Theatre marquee, including the five stars, adaptor-stager Glenville and top-featured actor Carpenter. Shep Traiibe Tries Art, Instead ef Crix Quotes In ‘Holiday’ Display Ads Producer Shepard Traube appar¬ ently goes along with the adage, “a picture is worth a 1,000 words.” After holdirig 'off six weeks on any large-scale New York newspaper ad displays foi* his Broadway pro¬ duction of “Holiday for Lovers,” Traube broke through this past weekend with five-column spreads in the Journal-American and Sun¬ day Times. The ads, however, were, in the form of photos showing “a typical capacity audience enjoying the comedy hit.” -Besides'those ads, the^ production takes ’ 3-sheet posters for spotting on Long Is¬ land and Ne^^Yo^k-New Haven & Hartford railroad stations. Milwaukee Season Ending; Miller Theatre's 10 Plays Milwaukee, March 26, “Bell, Book and Candle,” costar¬ ring K..T. Stevens and Hugh Mar¬ lowe, will wind up the 10-play stock season at the Fred Miller Theatre here April 22-May 11. “Roomful of ■ Roses,”' starring Louise Albritton, Is current through March 30. The next-to-closing bill, April 1-20, will be “Member of the Wed¬ ding,” with Ethel Waters recreat¬ ing the role she originated on Broadway. Mull Eva Bartok For Playwrights’ ‘Lucrece’ Jlva Bartok, Hungarian-born film and legit actress, may make her Broadway debut next, season in Christopher Fry’s adaptation of the Jean Giraudoux play, “So Like Lucrece,” to be produced by the Playwrights Co, Before leaving for the Coast last Friday (22) Miss Bartok disclosed that she and Roger L. Stevens, of the Playwrights, have discussed the venture, but as yet plans have not gone past the discussion stage. Two seasons ago the actress co- starred opposite Sam Wanamaker in a London production of “The Lovers,” based on Emile Zola’s “Therese Raquin.” Playwr^htsCo. Has FuD Slate The Playwrights Co., 'v^hich slowed ifp its production pace to two shows this season, is stocking up for the future. That includes projected co-production and inde¬ pendent ventures. On its own, the producing organ¬ ization is slated to present “Time Remembered,” Christopher Fry’s adaptation of a French original by Jean Anouilh, with- Susan SLras- berg mentioned for the lead. There’s also a'-possibility the com¬ pany’s member playwrights, Max¬ well Anderson and Elmer Rice, may have scripts ready for produc¬ tion next season. The co-production slate includes Morton Wishengrad’s “Rope Dancers,” with Gilbert Miller, and Stanley Young’s “The Little Giants,” with Ponald Qenslager. The latter property was tried out several years ago under the title, “The Big People.” Other co-production prospects, in which the Playwrights may par¬ ticipate are “Saturday Night Kid,” by Jack Dunphy; “So Like Lu¬ crece,” a Fry adaptation of a French play by ' Jean Giraudoux, and “West Side Story,” the Arthur Laurents-Leonard Berpstein-Steve- Sondbeim musical, to be done in partnership with. Cheryl Crawford. The two shows mounted by the Playwrights this season were “Build With One Hand” and “Small War on Murray HilL” Both were flops, the former folding during its out- of-town tryout ^d the latter shortly after its Broadway bow. ‘PATRICK’PAYS $6,000; TOTAL IS NOW $58,500 Backers of “Loud Red Patrick,” which folded on Broadway earlier this season, received another '$6,- 000 repayment last week on their $75,000. That brought the total returns, thus-far on the Richard W. Krakeur - Robert Douglas - David Wayne production to $58,500. The latest distribution repre¬ sented income from the final pay¬ ment on the purchase of the stock and amateur rights for a $25,000 advance. A deal has been made on the English rights with Jack Buchanan and John Nash, and the German rights have also been sold. The film rights have not been sold, Arhur Kennedy and ^ David Wayne costarred in the John Bo- i'uff-Ruth MoKenny comedy, which had a 93-performance run at the Ambassador, Theatre, N.Y. Cain Park Music Shows Dead for This Summer Cleveland, March 26. . Cain Park summer strawhat the¬ atre, operated by the city of Cleve¬ land Heights for 19 years, has been scuttled as a result of dissension am'ong it disgruntled civic spon¬ sors. Series of open-air tuneshows in the 3,000-capacity amphitheatre lost money . steadily igr the last two or three years. It was pointed out by councilmen who voted four- to-two to drop the project. Shutter¬ ing of theatre also kicked the props from under several theatrical or¬ ganizations which often, borrowed guest-stars from it. A four-week extension of “The Matchmaker” stand’at the Black- stone Theatre, Chicago, has re¬ sulted in the juggling of several bookings and the cancellation of three dates. David Merrick, co¬ producer of the comedy and the touring “Fanny” has rerouted the latter show, to fill some of the va¬ cancies resulting from the Chicago holdover. “Matchmaker,” originally booked. into the Blackstone for four weeks ending next Saturday (30), will now • remain at the theatre until April 27. It was slated to move from Chicago to the Nixon j Pitts- bul'gh, for a week beginning. April 1. Subsequent dates -were April 8-20, at the National, Washington; April 22-27, at Ford’s, Baltimore; April 29-iVIay 4, at Her Majesty’s, Montreal; May 6-11, at the Royal Alexandra, Toronto, and May IS¬ IS, at the Hanna, Cleveland. Merrick could switch the dates in Washington, Baltimore and Cleveland by altering the original “Fanny” sked for those cities also. However, he was unable to do the same in Pittsburgh, Montreal and Toronto, “Fanny” had already played the Canadian houses, while the Nixon has booked" the film “Around the World in 80 Days” for a run starting April 11. The three theatres that were cancelled, although there’s said to be no cancellation clause in their contracts, are reportedly stewing (Continued on page 68) London’s Drury Lane Had 112G Deficit in'56; Lost $126,000 on‘Fancy’ London, March 28. As a result of losses of over $126,000 on the run of “Plain and Fancy,” the Drury Lane Theatra ended last year more than $112,- 000 in the red. During that same period, however, the theatre paid the Treasury over $84,000 in ad¬ missions tax. The losses wiped out the reserve of $98,000 built up im the past years and, as a'result,' the company Is passing its dividend. In the pre¬ vious year there was a distribution of 5%. “Plain and Fancy” was the first financial failure at Drury Lane since the house started the policy in 1947 of staging ace American musicals. OVer the years “Okla¬ homa,” “Carousel,” “South Paci¬ fic” and “The King and I” grossed around $7,764,000. The theatre is currently playing “Fanny.” The next Broadway im¬ portation, “My Fair Lady,” is not due until the spring of 1958. In the event that “Fanny” does not continue until then, the Drury will probably offer a production of “Titus Andronicus,” starring Laur¬ ence Olivier and Vivien Leigh. The revival is set for a European tour this spring and summer. DALLAS MUSICALS SET BIGGEST STAR UNEUP Dallas, March 26. State Fair Musicals’ 16th sum¬ mer season, June 10-Sept. 1, has the six fortnightly shows skedded by managing director Charles R. Meeker Jr., with lead roles set for all but “Fanny,” the second show. The producer returned today (Tues.) from New York, where he sewed up several loose ends. Opener is the Judy Garland re¬ vue, June 10-23; “Fanny,” June 24-July 7; “Texas Li’l Darlin’,” star¬ ring Jack Carson (rf repeat for the comedian, from the 1951 season), July 8-21; “Annie, Get Your Gun,” starring Gisele MacKenzie, July 22- Aug. 4; “South Pacific,” starring Patrice Munsel, Aug. 5-18, and “Rose Marie,” with Anna Maria Alberghetti and Carla Alberghetti, Aug. 19-Sept. 1. Tt’sr the heaviest star lineup in the series history. Meeker’s revamped staff to date includes Donald Saddler, new stage director; ' Dania Krupska, new dance director and Peter Wolf, returnee scenic designer. For its annual fall, booking. State Fair of Texas has signed the na¬ tional company of “My Fair Lady,” starring Anne Rogers and Brian Ahernei for a 16-day, 24-perform' ance run at the expo, Oct. 5-20.