Variety (July 1957)

Wednesday, July SI, 1957 - PSStlffFr LEGITIMATE Gone Are the Off-Broadway Days Of Low Budgets and Offbeat Plays By JESSE GROSS Off-Broadway experimentation, once mostly a matter of doing unorthodox plays on shoestring 1 budgets, now tends to take the form of substantial financing and multiple-angle management. The varied formula theme is the peg for, at least, four projected ventures. Restaurants and other side activities figure in three of those, while the other takes in a four-way production spread. The proposed operations range from two in Greenwich Village to one in the Murray Hill sector and the fourth farther uptown at the Car- nrgie Hall Playhouse. _ These : ventures also represent peak financing for off-Broadway. That’s. exclusive of the Phoenix Theatre. The larger-seater is classified off-Broadway . because of its lower eastside location. Of the four setups, one is going after $40,000 financing and another ■ $60,000. The proposed financial outlay for the remaining two hasn’t been revealed. The $.60,000 is the capitalization target of Philip Posner and John Main for a Cabaret Theatre in the Village. As indicated by the name, the operation would present legit (Continued on page 118) Anna Wunan, Wanamaker Form Prod. Partnership Take Liverpool Theatre London, July 23. A neV theatrical firm, W.W. Productions Ltd., has been launched by U.S.-born producer Anna Deere Wiman and ex-Broad¬ way actor-director Sam Wana¬ maker. Miss Wiman is chairman of the new setup and Wanamaker is its managing director. First project under way by the new company is the take-over of Liver¬ pool’s Pigalle Theatre, which will be run as a theatre club. The initial production there will be Arthur Miller’s "A View From the Bridge,” opening Sept. 24. The play was a hit in London last winter in a -private-club presenta¬ tion at the Comedy Theatre. The drama has been banned by the Lord Chamberlain for public per¬ formance. W.W. Productions will work in 'cooperation with the New Water-¬ gate Theatre Club and the English Stage Co. to present productions prior to London, or after the con¬ clusion of their London runs. It will also be the Company’s policy to present new plays and revivals of past successes with headline actors in lead roles. In addition, it will put on shows like "At the Drop of a Hat” and Victor Borge’s one- man show "Gomedy in Music,” which had a socko run at London’s Palace Theatre recently. Foreign troupes, such as the Madeleine Renaud Sc Jean Louis Barrault company from Paris, the Brecht Theatre from East Berlin, tContinued on page 116) Jack Keating Quits Cue; Emory Lewis Succeeding John Keating has resigned as editor and drama critic of Cue magazine, effective this week. He’s held both posts since 1952, when he succeeded the late Gilbert W. Gabriel .as aislesitter and Ralph Major as editor. Emory Lewis, who succeeded Keating as feature edi¬ tor and has been a Cue staffer for the past 11 years, will fill the double vacancy, Keating is considering joining the entertainment section of an¬ other publication, but not as drama critic. Meanwhile, he’ll Vacation in; the Hamptons, Long Island, and! then undergo minor surgery.- Actor Charlie Stewart and Steve I Gottlieb, of Harvard U., won. the; ^Hudson Valley Men’s Doubles Ten-j "nis Championship at Newburgh, | N-Yviast fWndaY tash^-Stetfart : is’l a fomerU.<ef:Sd,utfowu^ i tennis player. I BUTVETSTflRT TELLERS® What, Another Theatre Shortage? Tup, And Probably the Worst Ever Cape Strawhat Offering Commuter Sho w Fridays A Friday, night "Commuter’s Curtain” has been initiated by Cross Right Stage, Falmouth, Mass. The strawhat outfit, operating at the Highfield Theatre, has get back its usual 8:30 p.m. curtain on Fri¬ day nights to 9:45 p.m. The move Is designed to give more leisure time to potential Boston & Maine rail commuter patrons. The air-conditiQped spot, which has a new subscription plan this season offering nine plays for the price of eight, also puts on kiddie programs at 2:30 p.m. every Thursday and Friday. Equity and AGVA Settle Coverage Of Industrials Actors Equity and the American Guild of Variety ' f Artists have reached an agreement covering performer jurisdiction- over indus¬ trial shows. The two unions had been deadlocked for some time on the question. The accord breaks the industrial shows into four categories. The division takes in straight variety productions, which automatically fall under AGVA jurisdiction; musical’ comedies and dramatic productions, which automatically fall under Equity jurisdiction, and revues, which may come under the jurisdiction of either union accord¬ ing to a prescribed formula. The agreement also calls for the unions to adopt a principle of mutual recognition of each other’s cards on the basis of specifically outlined qualifications, COSTUME FIRMS-UNION CONFAB ON CONTRACT Substantial wage increases and various fringe benefits are being demanded for theatrical costume workers in New York. That's the crux of a proposed three-year con¬ tract submitted recently to New York manufacturing and rental costumers by the Theatrical Cos¬ tume Workers Union, I.L.G.W.U. Local 124. The present pact..be¬ tween the costumers and the union expires Sept. 15. Highlights of the union demands are as follows: a 10% wage in¬ crease beginning next Sept 15, a tightening up of overtime regula- tions { the establishment of a re¬ tirement fund financed by em¬ ployer contributions of 4% of the total weekly - payrolls, a hike to SVc% in employer contributions to the Health Sc Welfare Fund and an automatic wage boost of $4 per Week at the end of each year of the pact. The demand would also place a limitation on the amount of work proprietors and supervisors could do in place of subordinates. There’s also a provision for $10 weekly increase in the • •minimum wages for different categories of workers. This is figured .to be mainly for the establishment of a more realistic bottom salary, since the costumers are understood to pay substantially more than the minimum, requirements. The costumers generally jclaim that the demands are exorbitant and are seeking a compromise. Meanwhile, they’re losing onie of their top sources of revenue in the swingOYer of television production to the Coast, besides tv’s increased ^ accent on panel and quiz shows j where costumes aren’t usually nec¬ essary. The loss of this one-time lucrative . market has. .already caused/sdroe costume .firins' to pare; staffs and trim, salaries. ---r-—-+■ The Broadway theatre shortage . By HOBE MORRISON ... — u this season is evidently going to be Broadway is in for a busy season LlVin5fStOIl-l!.VanS M&V the worst ever. Already, more than during 1957-58. The prospective ° J a month before Labor Day, the quality of the shows is uncertain, 1L, V>vi0t fnr 1 anfain traditional start of the busy fall however. UV iJUUgS 1W VdpiOlU perio d f only a single house is with- According to the advance lineup Tunes for the -projected Broad- out a firm commitment. Several are of scheduled opening, this will be way musical version of "Captain’s already doubling up with interim a busy autumn for first-nighters. Paradise” may be provided by the bookings. The premiere calendar is so full, in film songwriting team of Jay Liv- At the moment, the only Broad- fact, that the relative availability of ingston and Ray Evans. If so, it’ll way theatre not booked for the j theatres may be a factor in the sea- mark their entry into the legit field, fall is the Alvin. General manager i son’s volume of productions. (See Donald Coleman, head of the Herman Bernstein, operating it separate story in the Legit Section Theatre Corp. of America, which for the owner, the Columbia Broad- on the theatre shortage.) has the property under option, re- casting System, is being courted by At the moment, there are 11 new veals that Livingston and Evans a half-dozen or so producers with musicals more or less definitely set are interested in taking on the as- prospective new shows and no for production during the season, signment, but that contracts have theatre to house them. Meanwhile, plus 35 straight plays, a transfer not been signed. Coleman denied several current productions -are from off-Broadway and a return a previous report that., the songs hanging on only until scheduled engagement of a revised old revue, would be turned out by Sammy new entries force them out. In addition, there are two possible Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen. The regular “Scheduled N. Y. new musicals and 24 straight plays. A1 Morgan and Jose Ferrer are Openings” listing elsewhere in this As always, too, there are dozens, writing the book for the musical, section indicates the situation, perhaps even hundreds of proposed which has been announced to s p e c i f y i'll g 25 incoming shows shows, a handful of which may preem on Broadway next Jan. 28. booked to arrive through Dec. 28, ultimately reach actual production. -- - --- plus eight with announced premiere As last year at.this time, there • 1 Ml dates but without theatres. That is are not many exciting hit prospects lln/v/ivl 1 on/I I av 511 addition to such longrun current among the probable and possible |IfT||L|l |ffIII I flX entries as "Belis Are Ringing,” new shows. Unlike last year, there "Li’l Abner,” "My Fair Lady,” is not a likelihood of distinguished m “New Girl in Town,” probably new works or revivals of past au- I maiihIaa “Visit to a Small Planet” and the thors (last year it was chiefly Eu- IllflfDlcS 1 IffKIIH due-to-reopen smashes, "Aimtie gene O’Neill and.G. B. Shaw). H . * D Marne” and "Long Day’s Journey the season follows precedent, how- n «_ . .. ^ Into Night.” ever, there will be a number of Vlo^lasrlti' an ■ ■ Cn * he basis firm future sleeper hits among the modest- tjInlHyfll. Ill IV* L»- bookings, at least three current (Continued on page 116) U * hows . otherwise con- Deficit and Tax Troubles Plague Starlight in K.C. plus eight with announced premiere dates but without theatres. That is in addition to such longrun current entries as "Belis Are Ringing,” “Li’l Abner,” "My Fair Lady,” “New Girl in Town,” probably “Visit to a Small Planet” and the due-to-reopen smashes, "Aimtie Marne” and "Long Day’s Journey Into Night.” On the basis of firm future bookings, at least three current shows that might otherwise con¬ tinue indefinitely, despite reduced (Continued on page 114) Chi’s Drury Lane Will Reopen in Restaurant Chicago, July 30. Drury Lane Theatre, which fold¬ ed recently when a severe rain- -- { Kansas City, July 30. L * r 1 • | Financial and admissions tax | (Continued on page 114) rrQnrA./lfrtAI’fr^n J troubles have hit the non-profit < - I 1 (1111/11 fllllUl 11/(III I Starlight Theatre here. Wi-aaLa A U A cumulative deficit of around lUeCKett Bj [UUIlStOnil, 1VI ¥ f • J $88,000 spurred a recent vote by PL** H I HFMI r 8 511 /C I IIOV1 I lYMTft- the executive committee of the al LIU S l/Hiry L&116 Will [ 1 Mljr ^ Licau lilllgU ; fresco operation to call up $91,000 • n * ! previously pledged by 720 Duslness- A60D6H 111 IYCSfalir&ni Paris, July 30. men-guarantors. The coin short- nwwutow j This coming legit season in Paris age is attributed mainly to losses Cmcago, July 30. should see flush of American plays last season and a budget increase Drury Lane Theatre, which fold- transferred to the French boards, of about $89,000 this year. ed recently when a severe rain- And, vice versa,-plenty of Paris The. guarantors -had originally storm wrecked its tent, Is being origins will be on Broadway. put up approximately $111,000 to revived Aug. 13 In the air-condi- Paris will give belated recogni- get the outdoor project underway. « on ea basement of the adjacent tion to Eugene O’Neill with mount- Thus far this season, grosses have Martinique Restaurant, Strawhat- ings of his *>Long Day’s Journey been only moderate for the presen- ter Is savaged by a new Into Night” and "A Moon for the Rations at Swope Park. To date, corporation headed by Tony De- Misbegotten.”' Also skedded are the spot has had Llberace’s unit Santis, owner of the Martinique Gore Vidal’s “Visit to a Small for one week, "South Pacific” for and previously operator of the sum- Planet,” "Janus,” "No Time for a fortnight and “High Button me A r Ti v t **. ,, , . , , _ Sergeants,” "Inherit the Wind” and Shoes” and "Can-Can” for a week - u £?} the theatre is absolved probably at long last a Paris try each. * he Iglnal slate of future book- at a sophisticated U. S. musical . The admissions tax problem J ng ® 7 ? e J^ct of God clause with "Pal Joey.” A version of Gra- stems from a recent edict by the 111 tde Equity contracts, the new ham Greene’s “The Potting Shed” Bureau of Internal Revenue that 2? a ^ gem . ent , (c r aa is also on th agenda..the Starlight productions, .other ?“ g n ga ^ A in to ^ e ^ 0 ^ e ^ *° Duggan in “Seven Year Itch” to French shows heading for the than opera, light opera and con- open . th e second half of the #ea- U. S. are Marcel- Achard’s “Pat- certs, would be subject to the tariff. “.“J® 11S A th f ate,” "The D a z z 1 i n g Hour,” The tax, therefore, is applicable to 7?.° w n J? d f° f a J* «« “L’Oeuf” (The Egg), the musical musical comedies, which make up "Irma La Douce” with Zizi Jean- about 90% of the productions 'Snti^STi maire or Line Renaud, and Jean offered. Santis will employ the tent s pr^ Anouim’s^Leocadia”^ be known | The/ Bureau is allowing the} as “Time Remembered.” has already retained the original OLlVfER-'ENTERTAINER’ TO REPEAT IN LONDON Tentatively, the theatre will con- itte to be called Drury Lane but. London, July 30. uy upii-proin civic thoygh the new corporation isn’t was^actually taiued in 1953 and u aM | for the losses of its prede- reaffirmed in 1955, according to a It maT decide to chan „ val of "Titus Andronicus” at the Stoll Theatre, may make a return appearance this fall in the title role in "The Entertainer,” John Osborne’s backstage drama about an egocentric, thitd-rate vaudeville performer. The show, produced originally PLAN LEGIT MUSICAL . Laurence Olivier, currently star- ™ e sentotjtoe of the Internal c f ssor ’ lt “ ayd< ; cide ch , ang ® ring in a limited-engagement revi- Ata the name to skirt possible legal val of "Titus Andronicus" at the Revenue Department - . , difficulties. The new management Stoll Theatre, may make a return is extending the season into Sep- appearance this fall in the title DI All I Cf IT MTTCiril tember (originally it was to have role in “The Entertainer,” John lLrtll LCUil UIUjU/AL closed Sept. 1^ to help make up Osborne’s backstage drama about D ACnVAU‘IITf 1 !! VrVAU’ for lost and there’s even a an egocentric, thitd-rate vaudeville DaulI/ Uil lllllll rtUUn chance that, if successful, it will performer. v „ , T , T t continue into the fall. The show, produced originally A , q1 . a Enormous basement of the Mar-' last spring at the Royal Court The- ' tmi< l ue can seat 700 and Is l n * x : afre by the English Stage Society. Sr™?” ceIleIlt repair f management had will be presented at a regular West ^ s ? g 5 + N * planned to use it for big parties End theatre Production of the legittuner isj and speciaI events'this winter). . _ planned by Dimitri *Tiomkm, who; Tent operation had its dressing r it a • t 9 won an Academy Award for his ; rooms j n the Martinique lower Xiatter Uay baints ZUtn musical score for the picture and- level anywa y, so that won’t present Anrii Rplioio^n Show his collaboration on the title song.: a pro blem. DeSantis, who owns the Anm onuw The rights to the property are property , had leased the summer The Church of Jesus Christ of owned by Cyrno Corp., which took theatre to Monos at the season’s the Latter-Day Saints tomorrow over the various titles when the i s t ar t. (Thurs.) through Saturday (3) its original Stanley. Kramer produc-i ’ ___ annual dramatic and musical pa- tion firm dissolved. The Kramer i lT n • U . geant, "America’s Witness for outfit produced “Noon,” which was ■ Klan njgW Ham 111 fCmiOIlt Christ,” at Hill Cumorah near Pal- distributed* by United Artists. If I _ .. . T i myra, N. Y. Last year, the session the rights can be cleared, the legit; Burlington, July drew 70,000 gratis guests. . edition will be called “Tin Star,”!. An outdoor summer theatre is There are 250 Mormon actors in j the title of John Cunningham’s included in plans for a $17S.0UU the show cast and another 80: original Colliers mag story on long-range _ development project church members in the crew. Dr.: which the film was based. , for Burlington s Municipal (North) Crawford Gates, on the faculty of ------ j Beach, according to Mayor C. Brigham Young 1 U., composed the! Legit pressagent Karl Bernstein' D( ^ gla ! Cairns. . ... music for the -spectacle, which!is due back Aug. 11 from a Euro-; The improved North Beach will this year has its 20th anniversary. I pean jaunt. s serve the Greater Burlington area.