Description
This is a rare autographed advertising handbill (flyer) promoting ticket sales for the Pre-Broadway engagement of the TENNESSEE WILLIAMS play "SOMETHING WILD IN THE COUNTRY" at the Shubert Theatre in Washington, D.C. beginning February 21st, 1957. (The production would be retitled "ORPHEUS DESCENDING" before opening in Washington and following another tryout in Philadelphia would open March 21st, 1957 at the Martin Beck Theatre in New York City and run for 68 performances.) ..... The play starred MAUREEN STAPLETON and ROBERT LOGGIA (replaced in Washington by CLIFF ROBERTSON) and featured LOIS SMITH, JOANNA ROOS, CRAHAN DENTON, JANE ROSE, ELIZABETH EUSTIS, ROBERT WEBBER, WARREN KEMMERLING, DAVID CLARKE, NELL HARRISON, MARY FARRELL, JOHN MARRIOTT, R. G. ARMSTRONG, BEAU TILDEN, JANICE MARS, VIRGILIA CHEW, ALBERT HENDERSON and CHARLES TYNER ..... Side Note: The flyer has a beautiful signature of the legendary playwright on the front. "SOMETHING WILD IN THE COUNTRY" had been the working title for Tennessee Williams' first play which opened and closed in Boston in 1940 as "Battle of Angels". Williams never gave up on the work and "ORPHEUS DESCENDING" was a revised version of that first play ..... CREDITS: Book by TENNESSEE WILLIAMS ("The Glass Menagerie", "A Streetcar Named Desire", "The Rose Tattoo", "Summer and Smoke", "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", "The Night of the Iguana"); Original Music composed by CHUCK WAYNE; Song: "Heavenly Grass" composed by PAUL BOWLES with Lyrics by TENNESSEE WILLIAMS; Sets designed by BORIS ARONSON; Costumes designed by LUCINDA BALLARD; Staged by HAROLD CLURMAN; Produced by ROBERT WHITEHEAD for THE PRODUCERS THEATRE ..... DETAILS: Advertising handbills (heralds) were distributed or inserted into the playbills of other productions to help generate ticket sales for upcoming shows and events. This single page, two-sided flyer measures 6" X 9" inches and includes TENNESSEE WILLIAMS' autograph, wonderful graphics and production credits on the front and promotional text and a ticket order form on the backside ..... CONDITION: This rare flyer is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.
