Van Johnson "ON A CLEAR DAY" Linda Lavin / Alan Jay Lerner 1966 Playbill

Description

This is a rare October 24th, 1966 "Playgoer" playbill from the National Tour engagement of the ALAN JAY LERNER and BURTON LANE musical "ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER" at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut. (The Original Broadway production opened October 17th, 1965 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre in New York City and ran for 280 performances.)  ....... In retrospect, it is amazing that "ON A CLEAR DAY ..." reached the stage at all. The project began auspiciously enough, with a creative team composed of ALAN JAY LERNER, RICHARD RODGERS, and famed choreographer GOWER CHAMPION. Originally titled "I PICKED A DAISY", the show was scheduled to open in March of 1963. Unfortunately Lerner had by this time become deeply addicted to prescription drugs which had a devastating impact on his dedication to the project. Frustrated at the almost complete lack of progress, Rodgers quit the team and BURTON LANE was enlisted to replace him. As a lesser partner, Lane simply endured the long delays in silence. Co-star ROBERT HORTON was let go (and went into the already-in-rehearsal "110 IN THE SHADE", resulting in Hal Holbrook being fired from that show); Champion left the project, taking up David Merrick's "HELLO, DOLLY!", and the "Daisy" production date was put off to 1964. Even then the book and lyrics weren't ready, and the show didn't reach Broadway until 1965, with Lerner still in constant contact with his doctor ..... The musical starred VAN JOHNSON and featured LINDA LAVIN, JOHN MICHAEL KING, CHRISTIAN GREY, ROWAN TUDOR, RITA METZGER, JOAN JAFFE, ANN McGREEVEY, FRED BENNETT, SEAN WALSH, ELAINE JOHNSON, DON WOFFORD, RICHARD DENNY, DAN MICHAELS and BARBARA BROWNELL ..... CREDITS: Book and Lyrics by ALAN JAY LERNER ("Brigadoon", "Love Life", "Paint Your Wagon", "My Fair Lady", "Camelot", "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever", "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue", "Carmelina", "Dance a Little Closer" and "Gigi"); Music by BURTON LANE ("Hold on to Your Hats", "Finian's Rainbow", "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever", "Carmelina"); Dance Arrangements by MARVIN HAMLISCH; Sets designed by PETER WEXLER; Costumes designed by PATTON CAMPBELL; Choreographed by LEO KHARIBIAN; Directed by PETER COE; Produced by MARTIN TAHSE by arrangement with MONTFORT PRODUCTIONS, INC. ..... DETAILS: The 28 page playbill measures 6" X 9" inches and includes full production credits, cast list, synopsis of scenes, list of musical numbers and bios of each of the leading actors but with the exception of the front cover, no cast photos. The playbill includes a full page ad for the Original Broadway Cast recording of "ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER" on RCA Records (fourth scanned image) ..... CONDITION: 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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