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Outstanding collection of three original vintage Broadway Playbill programs from 1973–1974, featuring three landmark musical productions:
Pippin at the Imperial Theatre
Jesus Christ Superstar at the Mark Hellinger Theatre
Candide at the Broadway Theatre
This is an especially appealing group for collectors of Broadway history because all three productions were created by major composers and directors and represent the adventurous style of American musical theater during the early 1970s.
These are genuine period Playbills containing original cast and production information, theater listings, articles, photographs, and wonderfully nostalgic advertisements for automobiles, watches, restaurants, liquor, and other products of the era.
Pippin — Imperial Theatre
This Playbill is from the celebrated original Broadway production of Pippin, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, book by Roger O. Hirson, and direction and choreography by the legendary Bob Fosse.
The musical follows Pippin, the young son of Emperor Charlemagne, as he searches for an extraordinary and meaningful life. Guided—and manipulated—by the mysterious Leading Player and a theatrical troupe known as the Players, Pippin experiments with war, romance, politics, revolution, and ordinary domestic life.
The score includes such enduring songs as:
“Magic to Do”
“Corner of the Sky”
“Morning Glow”
“No Time at All”
“With You”
“Spread a Little Sunshine”
“Kind of Woman”
The cast page shown in this Playbill lists:
John Rubinstein as Pippin
Northern J. Calloway as the Leading Player
Betty Buckley as Catherine
Priscilla Lopez
Dorothy Stickney
Eric Berry
Sandra Brewer
Kathryn Doby
Richard Korthaze
Paul Solen
John Rubinstein originated the title role and later developed a distinguished career in theater, film, and television. Betty Buckley, who played Catherine, later became one of Broadway’s most respected musical performers and originated the role of Grizabella in the Broadway production of Cats. Priscilla Lopez later created the role of Diana Morales in A Chorus Line.
Northern J. Calloway is also remembered for his many years portraying David on Sesame Street. His appearance as the Leading Player helps place this particular Playbill during a later portion of the original Broadway engagement. He began playing the role in February 1974, while Betty Buckley had joined the production as Catherine in June 1973. �
IBDB
The production’s remarkable creative team included:
Bob Fosse — Director and Choreographer
Stephen Schwartz — Music and Lyrics
Tony Walton — Scenic Design
Patricia Zipprodt — Costume Design
Jules Fisher — Lighting Design
Stanley Lebowsky — Musical Direction
Ralph Burns — Orchestrations
John Berkman — Dance Arrangements
Abe Jacob — Sound Design
The original production opened at the Imperial Theatre on October 23, 1972, and remained there until March 1977. Bob Fosse received major honors for both his direction and choreography, while Ben Vereen, the production’s original Leading Player, received recognition for his performance. The production was also honored for Tony Walton’s scenery and Patricia Zipprodt’s costumes. �
IBDB
The Imperial Theatre was designed as a major home for large-scale musical productions and became associated with many of Broadway’s most important long-running shows. The Shubert Organization describes it as a theater specifically conceived to house musical-theater hits. �
Shubert Organization
Jesus Christ Superstar — Mark Hellinger Theatre
Original June 1973 Playbill from the final month of the original Broadway engagement of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Mark Hellinger Theatre.
The date is printed inside as:
Volume 10 — June 1973 — Issue 6
Created by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, Jesus Christ Superstar is a groundbreaking rock opera dramatizing the final days of Jesus through a modern theatrical and musical perspective.
The story places particular emphasis on the conflicted relationship between Jesus and Judas Iscariot. Judas becomes increasingly concerned about Jesus’s growing following and the political danger surrounding the movement. The musical proceeds through the Last Supper, betrayal, arrest, trial, and crucifixion.
Unlike a traditional book musical, the story is presented almost entirely through music. Well-known numbers include:
“Heaven on Their Minds”
“What’s the Buzz?”
“Simon Zealotes”
“I Don’t Know How to Love Him”
“King Herod’s Song”
The photographed title page lists the following performers:
Dennis Cooley
George Mansour
Patrick Jude
Paul Ainsley
Randall’s Island
Kathye Dezina
Stephen Klein
The creative credits include:
Tim Rice — Lyrics
Andrew Lloyd Webber — Music
Tom O’Horgan — Conception and Stage Direction
Robin Wagner — Scenic Design
Jules Fisher — Lighting Design
Randy Barcelo — Costume Design
Abe Jacob — Sound Design
Robert Stigwood — Producer
Tom O’Horgan was one of the most adventurous stage directors of the period and was also closely associated with the original Broadway production of Hair. His highly visual staging helped establish Jesus Christ Superstar as one of the era’s defining rock musicals.
Dennis Cooley was associated with the Broadway company as a performer and understudy for Jesus. Paul Ainsley was also part of the original production’s company. Other actors connected with the engagement included Ted Neeley, who later portrayed Jesus in the famous 1973 motion-picture adaptation. �
IBDB
The original Broadway production opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on October 12, 1971, and closed on July 1, 1973. Because this Playbill is dated June 1973, it comes from approximately the final month of the historic original run. �
IBDB +1
The Mark Hellinger Theatre
The Mark Hellinger Theatre was one of Broadway’s grand musical houses. It was renamed in honor of newspaper columnist, theater critic, and writer Mark Hellinger and was formally dedicated under that name in 1949.
The theater hosted numerous major productions, most famously the original Broadway production of My Fair Lady. The building is no longer operated as a Broadway theater, making Playbills bearing the Mark Hellinger name especially evocative pieces of New York theatrical history. �
Wikipedia
The cover of this Playbill has a blue-ink signature or inscription. The identity of the signer has not been authenticated and is therefore being offered simply as an unidentified signature.
Candide — Broadway Theatre
Vintage Playbill from Harold Prince’s celebrated Broadway production of Candide, presented by the Chelsea Theatre Center of Brooklyn at the Broadway Theatre.
Based on the famous satirical novella by Voltaire, Candide follows an innocent young man who has been taught by his tutor, Dr. Pangloss, that humanity lives in “the best of all possible worlds.”
Candide’s optimism is repeatedly tested as he and his beloved Cunegonde encounter war, natural disaster, persecution, corruption, poverty, and personal betrayal. Beneath its comedy and extravagant adventure, the work questions blind optimism and concludes that people must take responsibility for improving the small part of the world within their reach.
The musical features:
Music by Leonard Bernstein
Lyrics by Richard Wilbur
Book adapted from Voltaire by Hugh Wheeler
Additional lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and John La Touche
Direction by Harold Prince
Choreography by Patricia Birch
Musical direction by John Mauceri
Orchestrations by Hershy Kay
Scenery and costumes by Eugene Lee and Franne Lee
Lighting by Tharon Musser
The photographed cast page lists:
Lewis J. Stadlen
Mark Baker
Maureen Brennan
Sam Freed
June Gable
Deborah St. Darr
Lewis J. Stadlen performed multiple characters, including Voltaire and Dr. Pangloss. Mark Baker played Candide, while Maureen Brennan played Cunegonde. Both Baker and Brennan received Theatre World recognition for their performances. �
IBDB +1
The celebrated Bernstein score includes:
“The Best of All Possible Worlds”
“Oh, Happy We”
“It Must Be So”
“Glitter and Be Gay”
“You Were Dead, You Know”
“I Am Easily Assimilated”
“Make Our Garden Grow”
“Glitter and Be Gay” became one of the most technically demanding and admired soprano showpieces in the musical-theater repertoire.
This production began with the Chelsea Theatre Center and was praised for its lively, intimate, and imaginative presentation. The revised version used Hugh Wheeler’s book and retained much of Bernstein’s music and Richard Wilbur’s lyrics, with additional contributions from Stephen Sondheim and John La Touche. �
The New Yorker
The production opened at the Broadway Theatre on March 10, 1974, and remained there until January 4, 1976. Harold Prince received recognition for his direction, while Eugene Lee and Franne Lee were honored for the production’s scenic and costume work. �
IBDB +1
The Broadway Theatre
The Broadway Theatre is unusual because it is one of only a small number of Broadway houses whose entrance actually fronts directly on Broadway. It has long been suited to large musicals and visually ambitious productions. �
Shubert Organization
About This Collection
Together, these Playbills represent three very different but enormously influential approaches to musical theater:
Pippin combines pop-influenced music, Fosse choreography, theatrical spectacle, and a philosophical coming-of-age story.
Jesus Christ Superstar helped establish the large-scale rock opera as a commercially successful Broadway form and became one of the defining works of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.
Candide combines Leonard Bernstein’s sophisticated score with Voltaire’s satire, Hugh Wheeler’s revised book, and Harold Prince’s imaginative staging.
The programs also contain fascinating period advertising and editorial material, creating a time capsule of Broadway and New York entertainment culture during the early 1970s.
Condition
All three are original vintage programs showing age-appropriate characteristics from handling, storage, and theater use. The covers retain strong, attractive graphics and remain highly displayable.
Visible characteristics include light discoloration, surface wear, handling marks, softened corners, edge wear, and occasional creasing. The Jesus Christ Superstar cover contains an unidentified blue-ink signature or inscription. No claim is being made regarding the identity or authenticity of the signature.
Please review all photographs carefully, as they show the actual programs included and form an important part of the description.
A wonderful collectible lot for admirers of:
