Jerry Orbach "42ND STREET" Gower Champion 1980 Preview

This is a rare broadside (single page playbill) from one of the six preview performances prior to the August 25th, 1980 opening of the HARRY WARREN and AL DUBIN Song and Dance Fable of Broadway "42ND STREET" at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City. (The production opened August 25th, 1980 and ran for 3486 performances.) ..... The Tony Award winning "Best Musical" starred TAMMY GRIMES and JERRY ORBACH and featured WANDA RICHERT, LEE ROY REAMS, JOSEPH BOVA, CAROLE COOK, DANNY CARROLL, JAMES CONGDON, DON CRABTREE, KAREN PRUNCZIK, ROBERT COLSTON, STAN PAGE, GINNY KING, JERI KANSAS, RON SCHWINN and BILL NABEL ..... Side Note: The opening night triumph of "42nd Street", highlighted by eleven curtain calls was overshadowed by tragedy. Following the final ovation, Producer DAVID MERRICK went onstage and announced, "This is tragic," drawing laughter from the ecstatic audience. He went on to explain that Director GOWER CHAMPION had lost his battle with cancer just hours before the performance, and the shocking announcement, made before the sold-out Opening Night house, including many critics and cameramen, drew a stunned silence. The producer had advised only book writer MARK BRAMBLE of Champion's death, managing to keep the news a secret from the cast (including WANDA RICHERT, the director's girlfriend), crew, and the public in order to guarantee nationwide headlines and extraordinary media publicity for the show the following day. "42nd Street" proved to be not only Champion's last show but Merrick's final success ..... CREDITS: Book by MICHAEL STEWART and MARK BRAMBLE based on the novel by BRADFORD ROPES; Music and Lyrics by HARRY WARREN and AL DUBIN; Sets designed by ROBIN WAGNER; Costumes designed by THEONI V. ALDREDGE; Directed and Choreographed by GOWER CHAMPION; Produced by DAVID MERRICK ..... The single page, two-sided playbill measures 5 5/8" X 9" inches and includes full production credits, cast list and synopsis of scenes, but no cast photos or bios ..... CONDITION: This rare broadside is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or historian ..... Check my "Other Auctions" for additional rare Broadway playbills and programs, Original Cast CD's and other theatre related memorabilia. Multiple purchases are always combined to save on shipping costs ..... NO RESERVE! ..... This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard ..... U.S. SHIPPING: Buyer pays choice of $2.95 USPS first class/ media rate shipping with delivery confirmation (50 cents for each additional program or playbill purchased when combined into a single payment - U.S. addresses only) or $5.95 USPS Priority with delivery confirmation. (*Insurance required on all PayPal payments over $100.00. If your combined purchases exceed $100.00, please wait for an invoice before submitting payment so that the insurance fees can be adjusted.) PayPal and money orders preferred. Personal checks accepted (U.S. only) but delay shipping by 10 days ..... INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMERS: (Please Note!) Due to restrictions established by PayPal, all items must be shipped by USPS PRIORITY INTERNATIONAL recorded delivery. Also, I no longer accept PayPal payments from customers outside of the United States for purchases over $100.00 ... I can ship by USPS International First Class Airmail ($3.00 to Canada / $4.50 to all other international destinations), however the only methods of payment accepted for this shipping option are cashier's checks and money orders issued in U.S. dollars. Please email me if you would like a quote for multiple purchases or for any other inquiries ..... THANKS !!!

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