Original Listing Description

This is a rare autographed May 1983 "Showbill" playbill from the Off-Broadway revival of the MARC BLITZSTEIN musical "THE CRADLE WILL ROCK" at the American Place Theatre in New York City. (The production opened May 9th, 1983 at the American Place Theatre, transferred to the Douglas Fairbanks Theatre on July 12th, 1983 and ran for 64 performances.) ..... The cast included PATTI LuPONE, MICHAEL BARRETT, CASEY BIGGS, DANIEL CORCORAN, GERALD GUTIERREZ, JAMES HARPER, LAURA HICKS, JOHN HOUSEMAN, RANDLE MELL, BRIAN REDDY, TOM ROBBINS, MARY LOU ROSATO, SUSAN ROSENSTOCK, DAVID SCHRAMM, CHARLES SHAW-ROBINSON, HENRY STRAM, PAUL WALKER and MICHELE-DENISE WOODS ..... (Note: The title page was signed by cast members PATTI LuPONE, MICHAEL BARRETT, JAMES HARPER and MARY LOU ROSATO) ..... Historical background: Originally part of the Federal Theatre Project, The Cradle Will Rock is a Brechtian allegory of corruption and corporate greed which takes place in Steeltown, U.S.A. during a union drive. The WPA temporarily shut down the original project four days before it was to begin previews on June 16th, 1937 at New York's Maxine Elliott Theatre. The WPA claimed that due to budget cuts, it would be reorganizing all of its arts projects (WPA plays, musicals, concerts and gallery showings), putting everything on hold until after July 1st, 1937; however, many asserted that the musical had been censored because the pro-union plot was too radical. The theatre was padlocked and surrounded by security to prevent anyone from stealing the props and costumes, as these were considered U.S. Government property. Director ORSON WELLES, producer JOHN HOUSEMAN and composer MARC BLITZSTEIN, seeking a way to privately produce the show, rented out the much larger Venice Theatre and a piano just in time for the scheduled preview. The 600 audience members, who had gathered outside the Maxine Elliott Theatre for the preview, traveled 21 blocks north to the Venice Theatre, many on foot. The sold-out house grew even larger when the show's creators invited people off the street to attend for free. The musician's union refused to play for the show unless producer JOHN HOUSEMAN could provide their full salaries, and Actors' Equity Association stated that its members could not perform onstage at the new theatre without approval of the show's original producer (the Federal Government). The show's creators thus planned for Blitzstein to perform the entire musical at the piano and the cast members would sing their parts from the audience. On June 18th, 1937, HELEN DEUTSCH, press agent for the Theatre Guild, agreed to serve as the new financial backer for The Cradle Will Rock. John Houseman announced that the musical would continue to be performed with Blitzstein playing piano onstage and the cast members singing from the audience. The success of the production led ORSON WELLES and JOHN HOUSEMAN to form the MERCURY THEATRE. The Mercury Theatre's production of The Cradle Will Rock opened January 3rd, 1938 at the Windsor Theatre and ran for 108 performances. The show was recorded with the original cast and Blitzstein's piano accompaniment making it the first Original Cast recording. (Wikipedia) ..... CREDITS: Book, Music and Lyrics by MARC BLITZSTEIN; Sets designed by MARK FITZGIBBONS; Costumes designed by JUDITH DOLAN; Musical Direction by MICHAEL BARRETT; Directed by JOHN HOUSEMAN; Produced by MARGOT HARLEY for THE ACTING COMPANY ..... DETAILS: The 40 page playbill measures 5 5/8" X 8 1/2" inches and includes full production credits, cast list, synopsis of scenes, a tribute to MARC BLITZSTEIN and bios of each of the leading actors and members of the creative team as well as rehearsal photos from the original 1937 production and the 1983 revival (last scanned image) ..... CONDITION: With the exception of minor edge discoloration, 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 by stiff cardboard.

Note: This item has been sold and is no longer available. This page serves as a historical price reference for Playbill collectors and appraisers.