Courtesy of Tony Finstrom: 1865 - OUR AMERICAN COUSIN, starring Laura Keene, is in performance tonight when John Wilkes Booth shoots President Abraham Lincoln at the Fords Theatre in Washington D.C. Booths brother Edwin refrains from acting for the next two years, and, in 2007, playwright Charles Busch will recreate this fatefull night at the Manhattan Theatre Club with his new play OUR LEADING LADY. 1904 - Birthday of master actor Sir JOHN GIELGUD (1904-2000), born today in London, England. He will define acting in the years between the world wars and thereafter. In addition to his memorable HAMLET and other classical roles, he created notable roles in works by Pinter, Albee and Rattigan. He also directed extensively. 1937 - Need to make some money so you wont be sent to the county farm? Hey! Put on a show! So much for the plot involved in BABES IN ARMS. It opens tonight at the Shubert Theatre for a run of 289 performances, with a cast that includes Mitzi Green, Dan Dailey, the Nocholas Brothers and Alfred Drake. George Balanchine choreographs, and the new musical is full of Rodgers & Hart songs, such as Where or When, I Wish I Were in Love Again, My Funny Valentine, Johnny One-Note and The Lady is a Tramp. 1960 - The Elvis Presley phenomenon gets spoofed in the lighthearted musical BYE BYE BIRDIE, with a score by Charles Strouse & Lee Adams. Dick Van Dyke plays the put-upon manager of rocker Conrad Birdie, who is trying to get him to give One Last Kiss to a fan on the Ed Sullivan show before hes drafted. Chita Rivera, Dick Gautier, Paul Lynde, Kay Medford, Michael J. Pollard and Susan Watson also star in this show, directed and choreographed by Gower Champion. It opens at the Martin Beck Theatre tonight, and runs for 607 performances, with Charles Nelson Reilly standing by for Van Dyke. 1961 Tony Awards are won for Best Musical, director, choreographer and featured actor (Van Dyke.) 1975 - Produced by Aaron Russo, in association with Ron Delsener, BETTE MIDLERS CLAMS ON THE HALF SHELL REVUE opens tonight at the Minskoff Theatre for a limited run of 80 performances, under the direction of Joe Layton, starring The Divine Miss M. 1992 - Good old reliable Nathan Detroit is back to his old tricks on Broadway as Frank Loessers GUYS AND DOLLS is revived tonight at the Martin Beck Theatre. Nathan Lane stars, with Faith Prince as his perpetual fiancée, Peter Gallagher as the high-betting Sky Masterson, and Josie de Guzman as the missionary. The show will garner director Jerry Zaks, actress Prince, set designer Tony Walton and the revival itself 1992 Tony Awards, and run for 1,143 performances. 2011 - The National Theatre of Great Britain production of WAR HORSE, the visually arresting play about the bond between a young man and his horse set against the backdrop of the first World War, opens tonight on Broadway at Lincoln Centers Vivian Beaumont Theater for a run of 718 performances. Nick Stafford adapted Michael Morpurgos 1982 childrens novel (originally told from the point of view of the horse) for this production, which incorporates a series of life-sized equestrian puppets that have the capability of strikingly lifelike movement. Directed by Marianne Elliott & Tom Morris, it will win five 2011 Tony Awards in June, including the trophy for Best Play.
Posted on: Mon, 14 Apr 2014 12:04:15 +0000
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