Marilyn Miller "AS THOUSANDS CHEER" Clifton Webb / Ethel Waters 1933 Tryout

Description

This is a rare September 15th, 1933 "Playgoer" playbill from the Pre-Broadway engagement of the IRVING BERLIN and MOSS HART musical revue "AS THOUSANDS CHEER" at the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (The production would open September 30th, 1933 at the Music Box Theatre in New York City and run for 400 performances.) ..... The musical starred MARILYN MILLER, CLIFTON WEBB, HELEN BRODERICK and ETHEL WATERS (who would not receive above the title billing until the end of the Broadway run) and the cast included LESLIE ADAMS, JEROME COWAN, THOMAS HAMILTON, PEGGY CORNELL, HAL FORDE, HARRY STOCKWELL, HAMTREE HARRINGTON, HAROLD MURRAY and the CHARLES WEIDMAN DANCERS ..... Side Note
: The IRVING BERLIN and MOSS HART revue contained satirical sketches and witty or poignant musical numbers, several of which became standards, including "
Heat Wave
", "
Easter Parade
", "Supper Time" and "Harlem on my Mind". The sketches were loosely based on the news and the lives and affairs of the rich and famous, and other people of the day, such as
Joan Crawford
,
John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
,
Noël Coward
and
Josephine
Baker
. The revue was a successor to the creators'
Face the Music
and was
Marilyn Miller
's last stage appearance before her death. It was also the first Broadway show to give an
African-American
star
equal billing with whites, however ETHEL WATERS
would have to wait until the end of the run to see her name above the title
. (Wikipedia)
..... CREDITS: Music and Lyrics by IRVING BERLIN ("Music Box Revues", the Marx Brothers' "The Cocoanuts", "Face the Music", "As Thousands Cheer", "Louisiana Purchase", "This is the Army", "Miss Liberty", "Annie Get Your Gun", "Call Me Madam", "Mr. President"); Book by MOSS HART; Sets designed by ALBERT JOHNSON; Costumes designed by VARADY and IRENE SHARAFF; Choreographed by CHARLES WEIDMAN; Directed by HASSARD SHORT; Produced by SAM H. HARRIS ..... DETAILS: The twelve page playbill measures 5 1/4" X 7 3/4" inches and includes full production credits, cast list, scenes, musical numbers and wonderful vintage advertising, but no cast photos or bios ..... CONDITION: With the exception of a vertical fold and moderate creasing, 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.
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