Jimmy Durante "KEEP OFF THE GRASS" Ray Bolger / Jackie Gleason 1940 Playbill

Description

I'm currently listing a large number of playbills from out-of-town tryouts prior to the Broadway runs. Many are from early performances when revisions were common and include song titles that were cut before opening in to New York. (See cut songs below.) ....... This is a rare April 30th, 1940 playbill from the Pre-Broadway engagement of the JAMES McHUGH and AL DUBIN musical comedy "KEEP OFF THE GRASS" at the Shubert Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts. (The production would open May 23rd, 1940
at the Broadhurst Theatre in New York City
and close after only 44 performances.) ..... The musical starred JIMMY DURANTE, RAY BOLGER, JANE FROMAN and ILKA CHASE and featured JACKIE "Jack" GLEASON (making his Broadway debut), BETTY BRUCE, NAN RAE, MAUDE DAVIS, LARRY ADLER, VIRGINIA O'BRIEN, ALEXANDER D'ARCY, SUNNIE O'DEA, THE DeTUSCANS, JOSE LIMON, DAPHNE VANE, ROBERT SHACKLETON, SID WALKER, PEANUTS BOHN, HAL NEIMAN, EMMET KELLY, MARGERY MOORE and DODSON'S MONKEYS. Among the dancing emsemble was a young JEROME "Jerry" ROBBINS ..... CREDITS: Music by JAMES McHUGH; Lyrics by AL DUBIN; Sketches by MORT LEWIS, PARKE LEVY and ALAN LIPSCOTT, S. JAY KAUFMAN and PANAMA & FRANK; Sets and Costumes designed by NAT KARSON; Choreographed by GEORGE BALANCHINE; Directed by EDWARD DURYEA DOWLING; Produced by the Messrs. LEE and J.J. SHUBERT ..... DETAILS: The twelve page playbill measures 5 1/2" X 8 1/8" inches and includes full production credits, cast list, scenes, musical numbers and wonderful vintage advertising, but no cast photos or bios ..... CUT SONGS: The list of musical numbers includes "I'm In the Mood", "Life With Mother" and "Three Little Topical Debutantes" which were cut out-of-town ..... CONDITION: With the exception of light soiling and minor edge wear, this rare playbill is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or historian
. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.