Description
This is a rare July 22nd, 1935 program (playbill) from the Municipal Opera production and AMERICAN PREMIERE engagement of the ROBERT STOLZ, LAURENCE SCHWAB and LESTER O'KEEFE Musical Play "BELOVED ROGUE" at the Municipal Open Air Theatre, Forest Park in Saint Louis, Missouri. (The musical premiered as "BELOVED ROGUE" on July 22nd, 1935 at the Municipal Open Air Theatre in Saint Louis and ran for one week. A revised version retitled "VENUS IN SILK" would open October 1st, 1935 at the Nixon Theatre in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and close at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C., canceling the scheduled Broadway opening.) ..... The ensemble cast included JACK COLE, LESLIE ADAMS, ROY GORDON, NANCY McCORD, AUDREY CHRISTIE, CLARENCE NORDSTROM, ROBERT HALLIDAY, DUKE McHALE, EARLE MacVEIGH, VICTOR CASMORE, FRANK HAZZARD, JERRY GOFF, JOHN "Jack" SHEEHAN, BELA LOBLOV, AL DOWNING, ALICE DUDLEY, CLAUD KAHMAN and ROSEMARY DEERING ..... CREDITS: Music by ROBERT STOLZ; Book by LAURENCE SCHWAB and LESTER O'KEEFE from the original "Venus in Seide" by ALFRED GRUNWALD and LUDWIG HERZER; Sets designed by RAYMOND SOVEY; Costumes designed by KAY MORRISON; Choreographed by WILLIAM HOLBROOK; Directed by ZEKE COLVAN; Produced by LAURENCE SCHWAB for THE MUNICIPAL THEATRE ASSOCIATION OF ST. LOUIS ..... DETAILS: The fifty page program measures 6 3/4" X 9 1/2" inches and includes full production credits, cast list, synopsis of scenes, list of musical numbers, the story of the opera and wonderful vintage advertising, but no cast photos or bios ..... CONDITION: With the exception of a light vertical fold, moderate creasing and minor edge wear, this 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 with stiff cardboard.
