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110 In The Shade
''110 in the Shade'' is a musical with a book by N. Richard Nash, lyrics by Tom Jones, and music by Harvey Schmidt. Based on Nash's 1954 play '' The Rainmaker'', it focuses on Lizzie Curry, a spinster living on a ranch in the American southwest, and her relationships with local sheriff File, a cautious divorcé who fears being hurt again, and charismatic con man Bill Starbuck, posing as a rainmaker who promises the locals he can bring relief to the drought-stricken area. Nash's book is faithful to his original play, although all the interior scenes were moved outdoors to allow for the addition of townspeople for ensemble numbers and dances. Many of Jones' lyrics come directly from Nash's play. Productions Original Broadway Production Following the success of ''The Fantasticks'', the project was the composing team's first for Broadway. The original score was almost operatic in scope, and when the show's running time in Boston proved to be too long, the creative team began trimm ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Harvey Schmidt
Harvey Lester Schmidt (September 12, 1929 – February 28, 2018) was an American composer for musical theatre and illustrator. He was best known for composing the music for the longest running musical in history, ''The Fantasticks'', which ran off-Broadway for 42 years, from 1960 to 2002. Biography Schmidt was born in Dallas, Texas. He attended the University of Texas to study art, but when he met Tom Jones at the university, he started to accompany the drama student on the piano. They soon started writing musicals together, the first being a revue. However, after serving in the Army, Schmidt moved to New York and worked as a graphic artist for NBC Television and later as an illustrator for ''Life'', ''Harper's Bazaar'', ''Sports Illustrated'', and ''Fortune''. All of Schmidt's major musicals were written with lyricist Tom Jones. The duo is best-known for the musical ''The Fantasticks'', which ran for 42 years off-Broadway, from 1960 to 2002 for a total of 17,162 performances. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Opera
Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a librettist and incorporates a number of the performing arts, such as acting, scenery, costume, and sometimes dance or ballet. The performance is typically given in an opera house, accompanied by an orchestra or smaller musical ensemble, which since the early 19th century has been led by a conductor. Although musical theatre is closely related to opera, the two are considered to be distinct from one another. Opera is a key part of the Western classical music tradition. Originally understood as an entirely sung piece, in contrast to a play with songs, opera has come to include numerous genres, including some that include spoken dialogue such as '' Singspiel'' and '' Opéra comique''. In traditional number opera, singers employ two styles of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Motley
Motley is the traditional costume of the court jester, the motley fool, or the arlecchino character in ''commedia dell'arte''. The harlequin wears a patchwork of red, green and blue diamonds that is still a fashion motif. The word ''motley'' is described in the Oxford English Dictionary as a cognate of ''medley'', although the unrelated ''mottled'' has also contributed to the meaning. The word is most commonly used as an adjective or noun, but is also seen as a verb and adverb. When used as a noun, it can mean "a varied mixture". As an adjective, it is generally disparaging: a ''motley collection'' is an uninspiring pile of stuff, as in the cliché motley crew. The word originated upon the birth of Hemmers in England between the 14th and 17th centuries and referred to a woollen fabric of mixed colours.Apparel Search GlossarRetrieved on: 15 Jan 2020 It was the characteristic dress of the professional fool. During the reign of Elizabeth I of England, Elizabeth I, motley served ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Oliver Smith (designer)
Oliver Smith (February 13, 1918 – January 23, 1994) was an American scenic designer and interior designer. Biography Born in Waupun, Wisconsin, Smith attended Penn State, after which he moved to New York City and began to form friendships that blossomed into working relationships with such talents as Leonard Bernstein, Jerome Robbins, Carson McCullers, and Agnes de Mille. In his early 20s, he lived at February House in Brooklyn with a coterie of famous people centered on George Davis and W. H. Auden. He tended the furnace, washed the dishes, and soothed the tempers of both residents and visitors. His career was launched with his designs for Léonide Massine's ballet ''Saratoga'' in 1941 and de Mille's '' Rodeo'' in 1942. Smith designed dozens of Broadway musicals, films (''Guys and Dolls'', ''The Band Wagon'', ''Oklahoma!'', ''Porgy and Bess''), and operas ('' La Traviata''). His association with the American Ballet Theatre began in 1944, when he collaborated with Robbins a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gretchen Cryer
Gretchen Cryer (née Kiger; born October 17, 1935) is an American playwright, lyricist, and actress. Early life Cryer was born Gretchen Kiger in Dunreith, Indiana, the daughter of Louise Geraldine (née Niven; 1911-1991) and Earl William "Bill" Kiger, Jr. (1911-2004), who sold school supplies and ran a home printing business. Cryer attended DePauw University as an English major. Career In one of her music classes, she met Nancy Ford, and the two forged a friendship that eventually led to a number of professional collaborations as the first female composer-lyricist team in Off-Broadway and Broadway New York theater. Their first work, ''For Reasons of Royalty'', was produced at DePauw University and their musical ''Rendezvous'' was done at Boston University. Their first professional New York production was '' Now Is The Time For All Good Men'' (1967), a highly political piece about Cryer's pacifist brother, who spent time as a teacher in a conservative mid-western high school, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lesley Ann Warren
Lesley Ann Warren (born August 16, 1946) is an American actress and singer. She made her Broadway debut in 1963, aged 17, in '' 110 in the Shade''. In 1965 she received wide recognition for playing the title role in the television musical production of ''Cinderella''. She later had starring roles in the Disney musical films ''The Happiest Millionaire'' (1967) and ''The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band'' (1968), both co-starred opposite John Davidson. In the 1970s, Warren worked mostly on television, receiving a Golden Globe nomination for playing Dana Lambert in the CBS drama series '' Mission: Impossible'' (1970–71). In 1978, she won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama Series for the NBC miniseries '' Harold Robbins' 79 Park Avenue''. In 1983, Warren was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for playing Norma Cassidy in ''Victor/Victoria''. She received two additional Golden Globe nominations for performances in ''Songwriter'' (1984 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Will Geer
Will Geer (born William Aughe Ghere; March 9, 1902 – April 22, 1978) was an American actor, musician, and social activist, who was active in labor organizing and other movements in New York and Southern California in the 1930s and 1940s. In California he befriended rising singer Woody Guthrie. They both lived in New York for a time in the 1940s. He was blacklisted in the 1950s by Hollywood after refusing, in testimony before Congress, to name persons who had joined the Communist Party. In his later years, he was well known for his role as the grandfather figure Zebulon Walton in the TV series ''The Waltons'' until his death. Early life Geer was born in Frankfort, Indiana, the son of Katherine (née Aughe), a teacher, and Roy Aaron Ghere, a postal worker. His father left the family when he was 11 years old. He was deeply influenced by his grandfather, who taught him the botanical names of the plants in his native state. Geer started out to become a botanist, studying the subje ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stephen Douglass
Stephen Douglass (September 27, 1921 – December 20, 2011) was an American actor-singer. Born Stephen Fitch in Mount Vernon, Ohio, Douglass had a distinguished theatrical career and appeared occasionally on television. He was the last performer to play Billy Bigelow in the original Broadway production of ''Carousel'' and he created the role in the West End production in London. He was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actor for his performance as Joe Hardy in ''Damn Yankees'', and he originated the role of Ulysses in Jerome Moross and John Latouche's '' The Golden Apple''. Other Broadway appearances included '' Make A Wish'', ''Destry Rides Again'', '' 110 in the Shade'', '' Rumple'', and ''I Do! I Do!''. He also portrayed Gaylord Ravenal in the 1966 Lincoln Center revival of ''Show Boat''. He retired to England in 1972, but continued working in musicals, most notably as Tevye in ''Fiddler on the Roof''. His final musical appearance was in a U.K. production of ''Oklahoma ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Inga Swenson
Inga Swenson (born December 29, 1932) is an American actress and singer. She appeared in multiple Broadway productions and received two Tony nominations. She also spent seven years portraying Gretchen Kraus in the ABC comedy series ''Benson''. Early years Inga Swenson was born in Omaha, Nebraska, the only child of Geneva Pauline ( Seeger) and Axel Carl Richard "A.C.R." Swenson. She graduated from Omaha Central High School in 1950. While attending OCHS, as a junior, Swenson won the state title in the National Forensic League's speech contest and later, she won the NFL's national contest. As a high school senior she was considered the school's best vocalist and she was also the president of the Central High Players. She studied drama at Northwestern University under Alvina Krause, among others, and was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority. Family She married sound engineer Lowell Harris in 1953. The couple had two sons, one of whom predeceased his parents. Career Early in her ca ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Robert Horton (actor)
Mead Howard "Robert" Horton Jr. (July 29, 1924 – March 9, 2016) was an American actor and singer. He is known for playing Flint McCullough in ''Wagon Train'' (1957–1962). Early life One of two sons, Mead Howard Horton Jr. was born on July 29, 1924, in Los Angeles, California. His parents were Mead Howard Horton Sr. and Chelta McMurrin. Horton said that he never felt he fitted into his proper Latter-day Saint household because at times he was rather impetuous. He survived several surgeries in childhood, including hernia repair and treatment for an enlarged kidney. Horton attended California Military Institute in Perris, where he played football. After graduation in 1943 at age 19, he enlisted in the Coast Guard, but was medically discharged because of his kidney. In 1945, a chance encounter with a talent scout led to an uncredited part in Lewis Milestone's film '' A Walk in the Sun'' (1945). He first studied dramatics at the University of Miami but later changed schools and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Broadhurst Theatre
The Broadhurst Theatre is a Broadway theatre, Broadway theater at 235 West 44th Street (Manhattan), 44th Street in the Theater District, Manhattan, Theater District of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 1917, the theater was designed by Herbert J. Krapp and was built for the Shubert family, Shubert brothers. The Broadhurst Theatre is named for British-American theatrical producer George Broadhurst, who leased the theater before its opening. It has 1,218 seats across two levels and is operated by The Shubert Organization. Both the facade and the auditorium interior are List of New York City Landmarks, New York City landmarks. The neoclassical facade is simple in design and is similar to that of the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, Schoenfeld (formerly Plymouth) Theatre, which was developed concurrently. The Broadhurst's facade is made of Buff (colour), buff-colored brick and Architectural terracotta, terracotta and is divided into two sections: a stage house to the west and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Agnes De Mille
Agnes George de Mille (September 18, 1905 – October 7, 1993) was an American dancer and choreographer. Early years Agnes de Mille was born in New York City into a well-connected family of theater professionals. Her father William C. deMille and her uncle Cecil B. DeMille were both Hollywood directors. Her mother, Anna Angela George, was the daughter of Henry George, the economist. On her father's side, Agnes was the granddaughter of playwrights Henry Churchill de Mille and Matilda Beatrice deMille. Her paternal grandmother was of German-Jewish descent. She had a love for acting and originally wanted to be an actress, but was told that she was "not pretty enough", so she turned her attention to dance. As a child, she had longed to dance, but dance at this time was considered more of an activity, rather than a viable career option, so her parents refused to allow her to dance. She did not seriously consider dancing as a career until after she graduated from college. When de ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
