Broadway Rose Theatre Company is a musical theatre company based in Tigard, Oregon . It presents a variety of mainstage productions throughout the year. The company also organizes summer children's musicals, educational camps for children and teens, and a technical internship program for developing theatre professionals.
144-783: Broadway Rose Theatre Company was founded by Sharon Maroney and Dan Murphy in 1991. In 1991, seven years after meeting in the summer stock production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat , in Shamokin Dam, Pennsylvania , Dan Murphy and Sharon Maroney, along with fellow performer Matthew Ryan and his partner Joseph Morkys, decided to move from New York City to start a summer stock theatre in Tigard. The team pooled their savings of $ 21,000 and, in November 1991, incorporated Broadway Rose Theatre Company as
288-584: A 501(c)(3) . In the summer of 1992, Broadway Rose Theatre Company performed its first season at the Deb Fennell Auditorium at Tigard High School. The company produced five mainstage shows and a children's show in eight weeks, with an average audience of 32 people per performance. The company lost $ 8,700 in its first season, but the following year, the company received a $ 3,000 grant from the Metropolitan Arts Commission,
432-797: A 1946 musical set in China, Lute Song , try for the role. Rodgers recounted the audition of the Russian-American performer, Yul Brynner : They told us the name of the first man and out he came with a bald head and sat cross-legged on the stage. He had a guitar and he hit his guitar one whack and gave out with this unearthly yell and sang some heathenish sort of thing, and Oscar and I looked at each other and said, "Well, that's it." Brynner termed Rodgers' account "very picturesque, but totally inaccurate". He recalled that as an established television director (in CBS 's Starlight Theatre , for example), he
576-612: A British lady to be governess to the royal children. At the time, the British community in Singapore was small, and the choice fell on a recent arrival there, Anna Leonowens (1831–1915), who was running a small nursery school in the colony. Leonowens was the Anglo-Indian daughter of an Indian Army soldier and the widow of Thomas Owens, a clerk and hotel keeper. She had arrived in Singapore two years previously, claiming to be
720-612: A Briton to teach his children and wives after trying local missionaries , who used the opportunity to proselytize. Leonowens initially asked for $ 150 in Singapore currency per month. Her additional request, to live in or near the missionary community to ensure she was not deprived of Western company, aroused suspicion in Mongkut, who cautioned in a letter, "we need not have teacher of Christianity as they are abundant here". King Mongkut and Leonowens came to an agreement: $ 100 per month and
864-720: A Broadway Rose show from the last half of its 2005 season (fall) or the first half of its 2006 season (spring). **The Drammys and the PAMTA awards concluded in 2020. Summer stock theatre In American theater, summer stock theater is a theater that presents stage productions only in the summer. The name combines the season with the tradition of staging shows by a resident company, reusing stock scenery and costumes . Summer stock theaters frequently take advantage of seasonal weather by having their productions outdoors, under tents set up temporarily for their use, or in barns . Some smaller theaters still continue this tradition, and
1008-519: A Shadow"). In her room, Anna replays the confrontation in her mind, her anger building ("Shall I Tell You What I Think of You?"). Lady Thiang, the King's head wife, tells Anna that the King is troubled by his portrayal in the West as a barbarian, as the British are being urged to take over Siam as a protectorate . Anna is shocked by the accusations – the King is a polygamist, but he is no barbarian – but she
1152-474: A basis for a musical when it was published, and their views still held. It consists of vignettes of life at the Siamese court, interspersed with descriptions of historical events unconnected with each other, except that the King creates most of the difficulties in the episodes, and Anna tries to resolve them. Rodgers and Hammerstein could see no coherent story from which a musical could be made until they saw
1296-579: A familiar actor or actress." William Shatner performed in summer stock after the cancellation of Star Trek . Some summer theaters specialize in a particular type of production, such as Shakespearean plays , musicals , or even opera . Some notable summer theaters include: the New York Shakespeare Festival (better-known as Shakespeare in the Park , although a number of other summer stock Shakespearean series use this name);
1440-568: A few summer stock theaters have become highly regarded by both patrons as well as performers and designers. Often viewed as a starting point for professional actors, stock casts are typically young, just out of high school or still in college. Summer stock started in Denver, Colorado, at the Elitch Theatre (part of Elitch Gardens ). A 1937 article in Time magazine reported: "Elitch's Gardens
1584-495: A firm grasp of Western languages. When Nangklao died in 1850, Mongkut became king. At that time, various European countries were striving for dominance, and American traders sought greater influence in Southeast Asia. He ultimately succeeded in keeping Siam an independent nation, partly by familiarizing his heirs and harem with Western ways. In 1861, Mongkut wrote to his Singapore agent, Tan Kim Ching , asking him to find
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#17328016078341728-544: A forerunner of the Regional Arts & Culture Council ), to help bring the organization out of debt. In 1993, the company produced Oklahoma! with no funds—putting the entire payroll on Murphy's credit card. The situation resolved itself as audiences picked up. In 1994, the company received a $ 4,000 grant from the Metropolitan Arts Commission. Audiences averaged 132 people per performance that year—a 313 percent increase from 1992. In 1995, The Collins Foundation provided
1872-754: A fully staged musical production. Need-based scholarships are offered each year. Broadway Rose offers high-school and college students paid internship opportunities designed to create and facilitate relationships between theatre professionals and students in order to train, encourage, and nurture those seeking careers or desiring to expand their expertise in theatre production. Students can gain experience in lighting design, costume design, set design, and more while working alongside local professionals. Broadway Rose has gone on to hire past interns to work on productions. Each school year, 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle creates an original educational musical that tours throughout
2016-570: A lengthy run as Anna, first on Broadway, then in London's West End, and finally on film. Lawrence won a Tony Award for her leading role, while Brynner won the award for best featured actor. The show won the Tony for best musical, and designers Mielziner and Sharaff received awards in their categories. De Lappe remembered the contrast between Lawrence's indifferent singing voice and the force of her performance: I used to listen to Gertrude Lawrence on
2160-491: A less arduous bow to show respect for the king, his father dies. Anna kneels by the late King, holding his hand and kissing it, as the wives and children bow or curtsey, a gesture of respect to old king and new. Act I Act II The King and I opened on Broadway on March 29, 1951, with a wide expectation of a hit by the press and public. Both Hammerstein and Rodgers professed to be worried. The composer complained that most people were not concerned about whether
2304-443: A new actress: "My first professional jobs were in summer stock, in small, medium and large companies that presented ten plays in ten weeks from June until Labor Day...At that time, the core of each summer stock company was made up of a stage manager and six resident actors: a leading man and woman, a character man and woman, and an ingenue and a juvenile. In some cases, five or six of the summer plays would be 'star vehicles', featuring
2448-415: A new ticket sales record for Broadway Rose and received much praise with one reviewer noting, "This troupe, without exception, nails every beat." Brenda MacRoberts left the organization in early 2015 to move out of state. Following her departure, the board of directors voted to replace the executive director position with a development director, and deShauna Jones was hired for the role. During the 2015 season,
2592-750: A nod to the production that brought the founders together back in the '80s and also led the company's first season. Broadway Rose received a $ 30,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts ' Access to Artistic Excellence program to produce Ripper by Duane Nelsen, the company's first-ever fully staged world premiere. For a third consecutive year, Broadway Rose was recognized on the "100 Best Nonprofits to Work for in Oregon" list by Oregon Business Magazine. In 2012, Broadway Rose received their second NEA grant to produce The Drowsy Chaperone . That year
2736-426: A part for her client, veteran leading lady Gertrude Lawrence . Holtzmann realized that Landon's book would provide an ideal vehicle and contacted Rodgers and Hammerstein , who were initially reluctant but agreed to write the musical. The pair initially sought Rex Harrison to play the supporting part of the King, a role he had played in the 1946 film made from Landon's book, but he was unavailable. They settled on
2880-489: A residence near the royal palace. At a time when most transport in Bangkok was by boat, Mongkut did not wish to have to arrange for the teacher to get to work every day. Leonowens and Louis temporarily lived as guests of Mongkut's prime minister, and after the first house offered was found to be unsuitable, the family moved into a brick residence (wooden structures decayed quickly in Bangkok's climate) within walking distance of
3024-760: A resident company and guest stars, a policy that has been followed with tremendous success for over fifty years." Most sources consider 1893 to be the first year of summer stock. For that summer season, Elitch Gardens employed the Frank Norcross Company. It was the first full-length season of summer stock. The first stock play presented at Elitch Theatre was Nancy and Company by Augustin Daly. It opened on June 10, 1893. The company's roster of actors included: Lilian Dailey, Marion Earle, Alfred Hampton, Jane Kenmark, Hudson Liston, Millie Liston, Charles Lothian, Jeanette Lowrey, James F. Neill (who had organized
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#17328016078343168-408: A search is on for Lun Tha. The King resolves to punish Tuptim, though she denies she and Lun Tha were lovers. Anna tries to dissuade him, but he is determined that her influence shall not rule, and he takes the whip himself. He turns to lash Tuptim, but under Anna's gaze is unable to swing the whip, and hurries away. Lun Tha is found dead, and Tuptim is dragged off, swearing to kill herself; nothing more
3312-621: A show for Lawrence, and asked her to see that her husband read a book that Holtzmann would send over. In fact, both Dorothy Rodgers and Dorothy Hammerstein had read the novel in 1944 and had urged their husbands to consider it as a possible subject for a musical. Dorothy Hammerstein had known Gertrude Lawrence since 1925, when they had both appeared in André Charlot 's London Revue of 1924 on Broadway and on tour in North America. Rodgers and Hammerstein had disliked Landon's novel as
3456-494: A special contract with Actors Equity to cover the work of actors and stage managers. Summer Stock at the Historic Elitch Theatre in Denver was the proving-grounds for a number of would-be stars. For the 1905 season, a 20-something Cecil B. DeMille was a minor player in the stock cast. Denver-natives, such as Douglas Fairbanks , Maude Fealy , and Antoinette Perry , all got their start in summer stock at
3600-636: A training ground for actors and inexpensive entertainment for vacationing East Coast urbanites. Craig Mamrick describes Louis Edmonds ' early summer stock experience: "Louis spent the summer of 1949 working as part of the repertory company at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit, Maine... The Ogunquit Playhouse was affiliated with the Manhattan Theatre Colony, an apprentice program that hopeful actors could attend (paying $ 150 for
3744-804: A very pleasant summer in stock at the Elitch Gardens. Today in Hollywood I can hardly go anywhere without meeting one or more now rather famous people who either during that summer or at other times played in what all actors and actresses consider one of the greatest cradles of the drama in American history." In the 1920s, summer stock expanded: The Muny , St. Louis, Missouri (1919) is the nation's oldest and largest outdoor musical theater; Manhattan Theatre Colony, first started near Peterborough, New Hampshire (1927) and moved to Ogunquit, Maine ; Gretna Theatre, Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania (1927) as part of
3888-566: A week you are losing the respect of 1,500 people". On August 16, 1952, she fainted following a matinee performance and was admitted to the NewYork–Presbyterian Hospital . She slipped into a coma and died on September 6, 1952, at the age of 54. Her autopsy revealed liver cancer. On the day of her funeral, the performance of The King and I was cancelled. The lights of Broadway and the West End were dimmed in her honor, and she
4032-572: A well-known theatrical actor play it. The obvious choice was Rex Harrison, who had played the King in the movie, but he was booked, as was Noël Coward. Alfred Drake , the original Curly in Oklahoma! , made contractual demands which were deemed too high. With time running short before rehearsals, finding an actor to play the King became a major concern. Mary Martin , the original Nellie Forbush in South Pacific , suggested that her co-star in
4176-418: A writer for Collier's who was allowed to attend the rehearsals, wrote of Lawrence preparing "Shall I Tell You What I Think of You?": She took the center of the barren stage wearing, for practice, a dirty muslin hoop over her slacks, with an old jacket thrown over her shoulders for warmth. She began rather quietly on the note, "Your servant! Your servant! Indeed I'm not your servant!" Then she gradually built
4320-399: A younger prince, then an understudy and later a replacement for Crown Prince Chulalongkorn. Mineo began a close friendship and working relationship with Brynner which would last for more than a decade. Another replacement was Terry Saunders as Lady Thiang. She reprised the role in the 1956 film. The last of the production's 1,246 performances was on March 20, 1954. The run was, at the time,
4464-542: Is an old flame of Anna's, and they dance in remembrance of old times, as Edward urges her to return to British society. The King returns and irritably reminds them that dancing is for after dinner. As final preparations for the play are made, Tuptim steals a moment to meet with Lun Tha. He tells her he has an escape plan, and she should be ready to leave after the performance ("I Have Dreamed"). Anna encounters them, and they confide in her ("Hello, Young Lovers", reprise). The play (" Small House of Uncle Thomas ", narrated ballet)
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4608-550: Is delighted; she is at last understanding the Siamese perspective. Anna tries to explain to him the Western customs of courtship and tells him what it is like for a young woman at a formal dance ("Shall We Dance?"). He demands that she teach him the dance. She does, and in that dance they experience and express a love for each other that they can never speak aloud. They are interrupted by the Kralahome. Tuptim has been captured, and
4752-425: Is heard about her. Anna asks the Kralahome to give her ring back to the King; both schoolteacher and minister state their wish that she had never come to Siam. Several months pass with no contact between Anna and the King. Anna is packed and ready to board a ship leaving Siam. Chulalongkorn arrives with a letter from the King, who has been unable to resolve the conflicts within himself and is dying. Anna hurries to
4896-402: Is now being edified… The strength of these companies, as well as the plays presented, are way above the average. Cecil B. DeMille , who acted in minor roles in the summer stock cast in 1905, would regularly send congratulatory telegrams to the theater on opening night. In 1926, more than two decades after his time at the theater, he sent a telegram stating: "It is a long time since I spent
5040-426: Is presented in a Siamese ballet-inspired dance. Tuptim is the narrator, and she tells her audience of the evil King Simon of Legree and his pursuit of the runaway slave Eliza . Eliza is saved by Buddha , who miraculously freezes a river and conceals her in snow. Buddha then causes the river to melt, drowning King Simon and his hunting party. The anti-slavery message is blunt. After the play, Sir Edward reveals that
5184-484: Is reluctant to see him after their argument. Lady Thiang convinces her that the King is deserving of support ("Something Wonderful"). Anna goes to him and finds him anxious for reconciliation. The King tells her that the British are sending an envoy to Bangkok to evaluate the situation. Anna "guesses" – the only guise in which the King will accept advice – that the King will receive the envoy in European style, and that
5328-889: Is supported by a dedicated team of volunteers who aid with fundraising and provide production, administrative, and front-of-house support. In 2023, the organization had over 300 volunteers give over 4,505 hours to the organization. In 2011, The Oregonian stated of Broadway Rose that "this once-small company has evolved into a bankable force in the Portland area's theater scene." The following year, BroadwayWorld.com reflected, "There's just something about this company that keeps you coming back." Broadway Rose Theatre Company and its artists have been generously recognized with awards including several for outstanding productions. Drammy Award Winners; Portland Area Musical Theatre Award Winners, BroadwayWorld Portland Awards, Washington County Visitors Association People's Choice Awards Note: The Drammys, and
5472-404: Is the great-grandfather of all U. S. summer stock companies... and nearly every personage in U. S. show business, from General & Mrs. Tom Thumb to Douglas Fairbanks, has at one time or another played Elitch's." According to the 1948 book Blueprint for Summer Theatre , "The first summer theater opened its doors at Elitch Gardens , Denver , Colorado on May 1, 1890. Plays were presented with
5616-445: Is the oldest summer stock theater. In general, theatrical companies do not enjoy invariable successes, but widespread popularity has made summer theater a major industry, so that there is virtually no section of this country that does not boast at least one such dramatic group. In his 1964 Ph.D. dissertation on stock theatre companies and James F. Neill (not to be confused with James O'Neill,) William Zucchero: "Denver could boast that It
5760-487: Is to teach those of his children whose mothers are in favor with him – several dozen – and is to teach their mothers as well. The princes and princesses enter in procession ("March of the Royal Siamese Children"). Anna is charmed by the children, and formality breaks down after the ceremony as they crowd around her. Anna has not given up on the house, and teaches the children proverbs and songs extolling
5904-408: The 1946 film adaptation , starring Irene Dunne and Rex Harrison , and how the screenplay united the episodes in the novel. Rodgers and Hammerstein were also concerned about writing a star vehicle. They had preferred to make stars rather than hire them, and engaging the legendary Gertrude Lawrence would be expensive. Lawrence's voice was also a worry: her limited vocal range was diminishing with
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6048-524: The 1956 film for which Brynner won the Academy Award for Best Actor , and the musical was recorded several times. In later revivals, Brynner came to dominate his role and the musical, starring in a four-year national tour culminating in a 1985 Broadway run shortly before his death. Christopher Renshaw directed major revivals on Broadway (1996), winning the Tony Award for Best Revival , and in
6192-714: The Chautauqua movement; the Cape Playhouse, Dennis, Massachusetts (1927); and the Berkshire Playhouse, Stockbridge, Massachusetts (1928). Many of the theaters of the heyday , the 1920s through the 1960s, were in New England. Part of the "straw hat circuit," theaters also were in New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, among other states. (Lakewood Playhouse near Skowhegan, Maine (1901 for summer),
6336-800: The Music circus . This began a new period of outdoor theater. In 1951 this new style of summer stock made its way west with the addition of the Sacramento Music Circus . The Cape Cod Music Circus (now the Melody Tent) in Hyannis , Massachusetts opened in 1950, the third tent theater to open, and The South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset , Massachusetts followed in 1951. A tent theater had opened earlier in Florida. Another theater in
6480-589: The crown prince , Chulalongkorn, disputes the map, the King enters a chaotic schoolroom. He orders the pupils to believe the teacher but complains to Anna about her lessons about "home". Anna stands her ground and insists on the letter of her contract, threatening to leave Siam, much to the dismay of wives and children. The King orders her to obey as "my servant"; she repudiates the term and hurries away. The King dismisses school, then leaves, uncertain of his next action. Meanwhile, Lun Tha comes upon Tuptim, and they muse about having to hide their relationship ("We Kiss in
6624-643: The dress rehearsal but managed to make it through the first public performance. The Variety critic noted that despite her recent illness she "slinks, acts, cavorts, and in general exhibits exceedingly well her several facets for entertaining", but the Philadelphia Bulletin printed that her "already thin voice is now starting to wear a great deal thinner". Leland Hayward came to see the show in New Haven and shocked Rodgers by advising him to close it before it went any further. Additionally, when
6768-475: The 2009 season with Hunter Foster and Malcolm Gets . Gretna Theatre, opened in 1927 in the Pennsylvania Chautauqua community of Mount Gretna , and has hosted performers such as Bernadette Peters , Faith Prince , Tommy Tune , Kim Zimmer , Charlton Heston . The Ogunquit Playhouse, begun in 1933, attracted performers such as Maude Adams , Ethel Barrymore , and Laurette Taylor in
6912-606: The Beach , and Tent Theatre (John Goodman Amphitheatre) in Springfield, Missouri , The Historic Elitch Theatre is still standing today, and after several phases of restoration, the foundation running the theatre hopes to have regular productions again in the next few years. In 1949, St. John Terrell began a new experience presenting summer stock theater under an arena-type ( circus ) tent in Lambertville, New Jersey ,
7056-426: The British threat has receded, but the King is distracted by his displeasure at Tuptim's rebellious message. After Sir Edward leaves, Anna and the King express their delight at how well the evening went, and he presents her with a ring. Secret police report that Tuptim is missing. The King realizes that Anna knows something; she parries his inquiry by asking why he should care, as Tuptim is just another woman to him. He
7200-643: The Dark , and Howard Keel in Kismet appeared. Kenley cast "movie stars and television personalities" who were nationally known. During Gypsy Rose Lee 's engagement in Auntie Mame at the Warren theater, Erik Preminger wrote: "Working for him [John Kenley] was a joy. Everything about his operation was first-class from the director and supporting cast he had assembled through the scenery, props, and costumes...He
7344-616: The Elitch Theatre. Additionally, Fredric March , Minnie Maddern Fiske , Beulah Bondi , Edward G. Robinson (see photo above), and Sylvia Sidney were all stock cast members at one time. In the summer of 1951, a young Grace Kelly (just 21-years old) was the ingénue for the stock company. While performing at the theater she received a telegram from Fred Zinnemann asking her to come to Hollywood to star in his film High Noon as Gary Cooper 's wife. She initially thought she had to decline because of her contract that lasted through
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#17328016078347488-759: The Gretna Theatre, Mount Gretna, Pennsylvania, Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, Grand Lake, Colorado , Summerstock Conservatory , Calgary Utah Shakespearean Festival , Cedar City, Utah , Santa Fe Opera , Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival , Becket, Massachusetts , Williamstown Theatre Festival , Williamstown, Massachusetts , Berkshire Theatre Festival , Stockbridge, Massachusetts , Glimmerglass Festival , Cooperstown , New York, The Barn Theatre in Augusta, Michigan, American Players Theatre , Spring Green, Wisconsin , Vancouver 's Bard on
7632-404: The King and Anna is marked by conflict through much of the piece, as well as by a love to which neither can admit. The musical premiered on March 29, 1951, at Broadway 's St. James Theatre . It ran for nearly three years, making it the fourth-longest-running Broadway musical in history at the time, and has had many tours and revivals. In 1950, theatrical attorney Fanny Holtzmann was looking for
7776-452: The King and Anna would be inappropriate in view of both parties' upbringing and prevailing social mores, Hammerstein wrote love scenes for a secondary couple, Tuptim, a junior wife of the King, and Lun Tha, a scholar. In the Landon work, the relationship is between Tuptim and a priest, and is not romantic. The musical's most radical change from the novel was to have the King die at the end of
7920-445: The King hesitantly touches Anna's waist, the chemistry was palpable. Pre-rehearsal preparations began in late 1950. Hammerstein had wanted Logan to direct and co-write the book, as he had for South Pacific , but when Logan declined, Hammerstein decided to write the entire book himself. Instead of Logan, the duo hired as director John van Druten , who had worked with Lawrence years earlier. The costume designer, Sharaff, wryly pointed
8064-468: The King may own her, but not her heart ("My Lord and Master"). The King gives Anna her first audience. The schoolteacher is a part of his plan for the modernization of Siam; he is impressed when she already knows this. She raises the issue of her house with him, he dismisses her protests and orders her to talk with his wives. They are interested in her, and she tells them of her late husband, Tom ("Hello, Young Lovers"). The King presents her new pupils; Anna
8208-423: The King of Siam to tutor his many children. Anna's young son, Louis, fears the severe countenance of the King's prime minister, the Kralahome, but Anna refuses to be intimidated (" I Whistle a Happy Tune "). The Kralahome has come to escort them to the palace, where they are expected to live – a violation of Anna's contract, which calls for them to live in a separate house. She considers returning to Singapore aboard
8352-413: The King's bedside and they reconcile. The King persuades her to take back the ring and to stay and assist the next king, Chulalongkorn. The dying man tells Anna to take dictation from the prince, and instructs the boy to give orders as if he were King. The prince orders the end of the custom of kowtowing that Anna hated. The King grudgingly accepts this decision. As Chulalongkorn continues, prescribing
8496-422: The King's lines, including his first utterance, "Who? Who? Who?", and much of the initial scene between him and Anna, are drawn from Landon's version. Nevertheless, the King is presented more sympathetically in the musical than in the novel or the 1946 film, as the musical omits the torture and burning at the stake of Lady Tuptim and her partner. With Rodgers laid up with back trouble, Hammerstein completed most of
8640-461: The Paul G. Allen Foundation for the project. The following year Brisa Trinchero became the company's first executive director. In 2008, Broadway Rose was hand-selected by Music Theatre International to be one of only 24 companies in the country to produce Les Misérables . In December 2008, the new theater and administrative building, designed by Soderstrom Architects and built by Robert Gray Partners,
8784-536: The Portland Area Musical Theatre Awards are evaluated and judged according to the traditional theater season, which laps two calendar years over fall, winter and spring. Broadway Rose, having begun as a summer stock theater, fell naturally into using the calendar year as its basis for describing a season, which it retained after adding fall and winter shows. For this reason, a Drammy or PAMTA given in (for example) 2005–2006, could be for
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#17328016078348928-458: The Sacramento and South Shore theaters continue to thrive today. In Sacramento, live musicals in the round are presented in a new permanent complex, The Wells Fargo Pavilion . The South Shore Music Circus and Cape Cod Melody Tent now serve primarily as intimate settings for musical acts including popular singers, oldies groups, and orchestras. The King and I The King and I is
9072-592: The West End (2000). A 2015 Broadway revival won another Tony for Best Revival. Both professional and amateur revivals of The King and I continue to be staged regularly throughout the English-speaking world. Mongkut , King of Siam , was about 57 years old in 1861. He had lived half his life as a Buddhist monk , was an able scholar, and founded a new order of Buddhism and a temple in Bangkok (paid for by his half-brother, King Nangklao ). Through his decades of devotion, Mongkut acquired an ascetic lifestyle and
9216-441: The administrative, financial, and operational aspects of the theatre company, ensuring its smooth functioning and growth. Each summer the company offers two drama camps for young performers aged 8 through 12 years old and one teen summer workshop. Young performers learn about all aspects of theatre and perform in the ensemble of the company's children's musicals, while the teen workshop participants hone existing skills by putting on
9360-954: The cast commonplace, except for Smith, whom he praised both for her acting and her voice. Atkinson commented, " The King and I is a beautifully written musical drama on a high plane of human thinking. It can survive in a mediocre performance." The musical was soon premiered in Australia, Japan, and throughout Europe. The first revival of The King and I in New York was presented by the New York City Center Light Opera Company in April and May 1956 for three weeks, starring Jan Clayton and Zachary Scott , directed by John Fearnley, with Robbins' choreography recreated by June Graham. Muriel Smith reprised her London role of Lady Thiang, and Patrick Adiarte repeated his film role, Chulalongkorn. This company presented
9504-417: The challenge of how to represent Thai speech and music. Rodgers, who had experimented with Asian music in his short-lived 1928 musical with Lorenz Hart titled Chee-chee , did not wish to use actual Thai music, which American audiences might not find accessible. Instead, he gave his music an exotic flavor, using open fifths and chords in unusual keys, in ways pleasant to Western ears. Hammerstein faced
9648-1072: The circuit. Plays and musicals that had closed on Broadway would play the circuit. By 1950, there were 152 Equity companies, including the Ogunquit Playhouse and Skowhegan Playhouse in Maine; the Woodstock Playhouse and the Forestburgh Playhouse in upstate New York; Falmouth Playhouse in Massachusetts (burned down in 1994); Priscilla Beach Theatre in Plymouth, Massachusetts , and the Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope (suburban Philadelphia), Pennsylvania (established in 1939). The Westport Country Playhouse in Connecticut , since renovated with
9792-478: The company also showcased The Sound of Music , which received a review from BroadwayWorld.com encouraging audiences to, "... go, and be a part of something big and wonderful that will stay with you for the rest of your life and maybe even past then". In 2013, the company produced the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic Cats with the assistance of a third consecutive NEA grant. The blockbuster show set
9936-481: The company launched a series of annual cabarets—adding play readings in 2004—at Tigard Friends Community Church, filling the 240-seat venue. The two series continued through 2008. In 2005, The National Alliance for Musical Theatre gave Broadway Rose $ 3,000 to support a developmental production of The Ghosts of Celilo . That same year, volunteers formed the Theatre Guild at Broadway Rose, and it continues to serve
10080-482: The company produced a nearly sold-out six-week run of Grease that broke New Stage ticket sales records. 2016 marked the company's 25th Anniversary Season, and its spring production of Church Basement Ladies sold out 25 of its 26 performances. In March, Dan was selected as Tigard's First Citizen by the Tigard Chamber of Commerce for his "in-depth, long-term volunteer contributions to the Tigard community over
10224-586: The company with a $ 5,000 grant, allowing Sharon Maroney to become the company's first paid employee. Platt Electric Supply became Broadway Rose's first title sponsor in 1996, providing a new level of stable funding (they would stay on as a title sponsor through 2012 when Harvey Platt sold the company). In 1997, co-founders Matthew Ryan and Joe Morkys left Broadway Rose and returned to New York. That year, Broadway Rose held its first drama camp for young performers aged 8–11. Also in 1997, Shoshana Bean , who would later become famous for portraying Elphaba on Broadway in
10368-560: The company), Frank E. Norcross, Bernard Reynold, and Weevie Vivian. The following year, James F. Neill and R.L. Giffen organized a company for the Manhattan Beach , Denver , with a cast list including: Anne Blancke, Kate Blancke, Alfred Burnham, Harry Corson Clarke , Henrietta Crosman , Josepha Crowell, Zula Hanes, William Ingersoll , John B. Maher, James F. Neill, and Mary Ryan as players, and with Alfred Fisher as stage director. In September 1894, Neill and Giffen also organized
10512-581: The company. In 2006, Broadway Rose approached the Tigard/Tualatin School District with plans to renovate an abandoned building on the C.F. Tigard Elementary School campus and turn it into a theater, and the school board approved it. Fundraising for the renovations began in 2007, and the company signed a twenty-year lease with the Tigard-Tualatin School District. The company received a $ 50,000 grant from
10656-578: The early years and more recently, Sally Struthers , Lucie Arnaz , and Lorenzo Lamas . Performers such as Ginger Rogers , Douglas Fairbanks Jr. , Angela Lansbury , Bob Hope , Sergio Franchi , Zero Mostel , Ann Miller , Jane Powell , and Debbie Reynolds performed at the Cape Cod Music Circus and its sister theater, the South Shore Music Circus. Colleen Dewhurst wrote of her experiences in summer stock as
10800-452: The end of the conversation, Rodgers stated, very briefly, that the lyric was fine. Josh Logan , who had worked closely with Hammerstein on South Pacific , listened to the usually unflappable writer pour out his unhappy feelings. It was one of the few times that Hammerstein and Rodgers did not display a united front. Although the part of the King was only a supporting role to Lawrence's Anna, Hammerstein and Rodgers thought it essential that
10944-831: The end of the summer, but her director at the theater quickly reminded her that she only had to give two-weeks notice and she could head to Hollywood. John Kenley , an Ohio -based producer, ran his own summer stock circuit, Kenley Players , in Columbus , Dayton , Warren , the Carousel Theatre in Akron , and Canton, Ohio , and sent many of the shows to an affiliated theater in Flint, Michigan . Starting in 1958 performers such as Dan Dailey in Guys and Dolls , Barbara Eden in Lady in
11088-458: The end she points her umbrella at him, or something like that, and the King says "Off with her head" or words to that effect, and the eunuchs pick her up and carry her off. The King says "Who, who, who?" with great satisfaction, and finds out that he has just thrown out the English schoolteacher. So he says, "Bring her back!" and she is ushered in ... we all loved it. This song, "Waiting",
11232-412: The entire stage cleared for "The Small House of Uncle Thomas". The show was budgeted at $ 250,000 (US$ 2,930,000 in 2023 dollars) making it the most expensive Rodgers and Hammerstein production to that point, and prompting some mockery that costs exceeded even their expensive flop Allegro . Investors included Hammerstein, Rodgers, Logan, Martin, Billy Rose and Hayward. The children who were cast as
11376-448: The fifth musical by the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein . It is based on Margaret Landon 's novel Anna and the King of Siam (1944), which is in turn derived from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens , governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in the early 1860s. The musical's plot relates the experiences of Anna, a British schoolteacher who is hired as part of the King's drive to modernize his country. The relationship between
11520-437: The first Tuptim, Doretta Morrow , sing the entire score to Lawrence, including Lawrence's own songs. Lawrence listened calmly, but when she met Rodgers and Hammerstein the following day, she treated Rodgers coldly, apparently seeing the composer's actions as flaunting her vocal deficiencies. Hammerstein and Rodgers' doubts about whether Lawrence could handle the part were assuaged by the sheer force of her acting. James Poling,
11664-502: The first act was lacking something. Lawrence suggested that they write a song for Anna and the children. Mary Martin reminded them of a song that had been cut from South Pacific , "Suddenly Lucky". Hammerstein wrote a new lyric for the melody, and the resulting song became "Getting to Know You". "Western People Funny" and "I Have Dreamed" were also added in Boston. Brynner regretted that there were not more tryout performances, feeling that
11808-1048: The first winter stock company at the Lyceum Theatre, Denver. Another company was placed in Salt Lake City in December 1894 under the management of T. Daniel Frawley, who later purchased the Neill-Giffen interests and moved the organization to San Francisco . The roster of the combined Denver and Salt Lake City company included: Belle Archer , Blanche Bates , Robert E. Bell , H.D. Blakemore, Anne Blancke, Kate Blancke, Fanny Burt, Madge Carr Cook , Harry Corson Clarke, Jean Coyne, Henrietta Crosman, Charles Dade, Lilian Dailey, George W. Denham, Harry Gibbs , William Ingersoll, Jane Kenmark, Howard Kyle , George W. Leslie, Phosa McAllister, Cara Morlan, Robert Morris, James F. Neill, Phyllis Rankin , and Fred Trader, as players, with Walter Clark Bellow as stage director. 1896
11952-662: The fourth longest ever for a Broadway musical. A U.S. national tour began on March 22, 1954, at the Community Theatre, Hershey, Pennsylvania , starring Brynner and Morison. The tour played in 30 cities, closing on December 17, 1955, at the Shubert Theatre, Philadelphia. The original London production opened on October 8, 1953, at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane , and was warmly received by both audiences and critics; it ran for 946 performances. The show
12096-584: The full season resumed with six mainstage shows and two youth shows. The summer productions returned to the Deb Fennell Auditorium after a five-year hiatus at that location. Sales from 2023 brought in more than $ 1.5 million, nearly the same revenue as pre-pandemic ticket sales. In October 2023, Broadway Rose hired a new executive director, Meredith Gordon, who was the first to be in that position in nine years. With 15 years of experience developing community partnerships, raising critical funds, and managing board leadership for mission-driven organizations, Gordon oversees
12240-546: The genteel widow of an officer and explaining her dark complexion by stating that she was Welsh by birth. Her deception was not detected until long after her death, and had still not come to light when The King and I was written. Upon receiving the King's invitation, Leonowens sent her daughter, Avis, to school in England, to give Avis the social advantage of a prestigious British education, and traveled to Bangkok with her five-year-old son, Louis . King Mongkut had sought
12384-538: The impression that the summer theater movement originated when certain daft individuals began producing plays in barns . The true beginning was in the theater built by John and Mary Elitch on their ranch at Denver, Colorado, in 1891. After several seasons of vaudeville and light opera, the stock company inaugurated the 1897 season with its first dramatic performance. The director was George Edeson, with James O'Neill, father of dramatist Eugene O'Neill, as leading man. An unbroken series of successful seasons followed. This, then,
12528-400: The mid-19th century. One such picture, of a Thai woman in western dress, inspired the song "Western People Funny", sung by the King's chief wife, Lady Thiang, while dressed in western garb. Producer Leland Hayward , who had worked with the duo on South Pacific , approached Jerome Robbins to choreograph a ballet for "The Small House of Uncle Thomas". Robbins was very enthusiastic about
12672-749: The musical Wicked , starred in the Broadway Rose production of Bye Bye Birdie . The company's offices moved from Dan and Sharon's home to a Platt Electric Supply branch office in 1999. Later that year, the Sherwood Arts Council contracted Broadway Rose to produce Broadway Goes Hollywood, a fundraiser for SAC held at the historic Robin Hood Theater in Sherwood , OR. As a result, Broadway Rose's annual budget rose to around $ 175,000, with ticket sales accounting for just under half of
12816-493: The musical again in May 1960 with Barbara Cook and Farley Granger , again directed by Fearnley, in another three-week engagement. Atkinson admired the purity of Cook's voice and thought that she portrayed Anna with "a cool dignity that gives a little more stature to the part than it has had before." He noted that Granger brought "a fresh point of view – as well as a full head of hair". Joy Clements played Tuptim, and Anita Darian
12960-474: The musical's book before many songs were set to music. Early on, Hammerstein contacted set designer Jo Mielziner and costume designer Irene Sharaff and asked them to begin work in coordination with each other. Sharaff communicated with Jim Thompson , an American who had revived the Thai silk industry after World War II. Thompson sent Sharaff samples of silk cloth from Thailand and pictures of local dress from
13104-456: The musical. Also, since Lawrence was not primarily a singer, the secondary couple gave Rodgers a chance to write his usual "soaring" romantic melodies. In an interview for The New York Times , Hammerstein indicated that he wrote the first scene before leaving for London and the West End production of Carousel in mid-1950; he wrote a second scene while there. The pair had to overcome
13248-428: The new king Chulalongkorn . In 1950, British actress Gertrude Lawrence 's business manager and attorney, Fanny Holtzmann , was looking for a new vehicle for her client when the 1944 Margaret Landon novel Anna and the King of Siam (a fictionalized version of Leonowens' experiences) was sent to her by Landon's agent . According to Rodgers biographer Meryle Secrest , Holtzmann was worried that Lawrence's career
13392-434: The orchestrations, and Trude Rittmann arranged the ballet music. The pair discussed having an Act 1 musical scene involving Anna and the King's wives. The lyrics for that scene proved to be very difficult for Hammerstein to write. He first thought that Anna would simply tell the wives something about her past, and wrote such lyrics as "I was dazzled by the splendor/Of Calcutta and Bombay" and "The celebrities were many/And
13536-481: The palace. In 1867, Leonowens took a six-month leave of absence to visit her daughter Avis in England, intending to deposit Louis at a school in Ireland and return to Siam with Avis. However, due to unexpected delays and opportunities for further travel, Leonowens was still abroad in late 1868, when Mongkut fell ill and died. Leonowens did not return to Siam, although she continued to correspond with her former pupil,
13680-501: The pandemic expansion plans were halted and didn’t resume until May 5, 2021. On June 20, 2022, Broadway Rose held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the completed project. The expansion was made possible by its board-designated cash reserve, foundation and corporate grants, and gifts from individuals who shared the company’s vision for the future of its community. Project support was provided by Scott Edwards Architecture LLP, B&B Builders, Shiels / Obletz / Johnsen Project Management. In 2023,
13824-472: The parties very gay/(I recall a curry dinner/And a certain Major Grey)." Eventually, Hammerstein decided to write about how Anna felt, a song which would not only explain her past and her motivation for traveling with her son to the court of Siam, but also serve to establish a bond with Tuptim and lay the groundwork for the conflict that devastates Anna's relationship with the King. "Hello, Young Lovers",
13968-424: The press to the incongruity of a Victorian British governess in the midst of an exotic court: "The first-act finale of The King and I will feature Miss Lawrence, Mr. Brynner, and a pink satin ball gown." Mielziner's set plan was the simplest of the four Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals he had worked on, with one main set (the throne room), a number of front-stage drops (for the ship and Anna's room, for example) and
14112-425: The problem of how to represent Thai speech; he and Rodgers chose to convey it by musical sounds, made by the orchestra. For the King's style of speech, Hammerstein developed an abrupt, emphatic way of talking, which was mostly free of articles, as are many East Asian languages. The forceful style reflected the King's personality and was maintained even when he sang, especially in his one solo, "A Puzzlement". Many of
14256-439: The project and asked to choreograph the other musical numbers as well, although Rodgers and Hammerstein had originally planned little other dancing. Robbins staged "The Small House of Uncle Thomas" as an intimate performance, rather than a large production number. His choreography for the parade of the King's children to meet their teacher ("March of the Royal Siamese Children") drew great acclaim. Robert Russell Bennett provided
14400-441: The public address system every night in our dressing rooms, and she'd get onto a note and sag down off of it. The night after I left the show to go into Paint Your Wagon , Yul Brynner gave me house seats and I saw her from the front and I was so taken by her. She had such a star quality, you didn't care if she sang off-key. She more than dominated the stage. Boy, was that a lesson to me. Lawrence had not yet discovered that she
14544-617: The record for the largest cast at the New Stage: 28 actors and nine musicians shared the space. Pandemic (2020-2022): In March 2020, mandatory closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic , brought live performances around the country to a halt. The company responded by launching online content, including weekly live-streamed cabaret performances throughout the summer. In October, the company released its first recorded production, Daddy Long Legs , which streamed for three weeks. The production
14688-632: The region, performing in school auditoriums and cafeterias. Over 3,500 elementary students in the Tigard/Tualatin School District experience this performance for free because Broadway Rose underwrites the performance expenses. Broadway Rose also hosts an annual logo contest for children in Kindergarten through 5th grade at a local elementary school in conjunction with the Tigard-Tualatin School District Art Literacy program. Students create artwork inspired by
14832-421: The resulting song, was the work of five exhausting weeks for Hammerstein. He finally sent the lyrics to Rodgers by messenger and awaited his reaction. Hammerstein considered the song his best work and was anxious to hear what Rodgers thought of it, but no comment came from Rodgers. Pride kept Hammerstein from asking. Finally, after four days, the two happened to be talking on the phone about other matters, and at
14976-424: The return of audiences at live performances. Streaming productions continued in 2021 with The Story of My Life and The Last Five Years . The final streamed production was the summer production of Analog and Vinyl , which also included in-person, live performances following COVID-19 protocols. In 2022, the last show that required proof of vaccination was Don’t Hug Me , performed in April of that year. 2022
15120-847: The round, the Valley Forge Music Fair (which closed in 1996), in Devon, Pennsylvania, was opened in 1955 by Shelly Gross , Lee Guber and Frank Ford . They then opened other theaters in the round, including Shady Grove Music Fair in Washington, DC, Painters Mill Music Fair in Maryland (closed in 1991), and the Westbury Music Fair on Long Island , opened in 1956. By 1957, there were 19 tent theaters, many located in Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey, and all presenting musicals only. (The musical The Pajama Game
15264-416: The rush to prepare, the question of undergarments has been overlooked, and the wives have practically nothing on underneath their gowns. When the British envoy, Sir Edward Ramsay, arrives and gazes at them through a monocle, they are panicked by the "evil eye" and lift their skirts over their heads as they flee. Sir Edward is diplomatic about the incident. When the King is called away, it emerges that Sir Edward
15408-422: The scene, slowly but powerfully, until, in a great crescendo, she ended prone on the floor, pounding in fury, and screaming, "Toads! Toads! Toads! All of your people are toads." When she finished, the handful of professionals in the theatre burst into admiring applause. At his first meeting with Sharaff, Brynner, who had only a fringe of hair, asked what he was to do about it. When told he was to shave it, Brynner
15552-407: The schedule did not give him an adequate opportunity to develop the complex role of the King. When he told this to Hammerstein and Rodgers, they asked what sort of performance they would get from him, and he responded, "It will be good enough, it will get the reviews." In 1862, a strong-willed, widowed schoolteacher, Anna Leonowens, arrives in Bangkok, Siam (later known as Thailand) at the request of
15696-403: The show for Easter week to give her a chance to recover fully. They denied his request, but agreed to replace her with the original Ado Annie from Oklahoma! , Celeste Holm , for six weeks during the summer. Meanwhile, Lawrence's performances were deteriorating, prompting audiences to become audibly restive. Rodgers and Hammerstein prepared a letter, never delivered, advising her that "eight times
15840-421: The show left New Haven for Boston for more tryout performances, it was still at least 45 minutes too long. Gemze de Lappe , who was one of the dancers, recalled one cut that she regretted: They took out a wonderful scene. Mrs. Anna's first entrance into the palace comes with a song in which she sings, "Over half a year I have been waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting, waiting outside your door." At
15984-452: The show until June 1, 1953, and waived the star's usual veto rights over cast and director, leaving control in the hands of the two authors. Hammerstein found his "door in" to the play in Landon's account of a slave in Siam writing about Abraham Lincoln . This would eventually become the narrated dance, " The Small House of Uncle Thomas ". Since a frank expression of romantic feelings between
16128-468: The show was good, but whether it was better than South Pacific . Even the weather cooperated: heavy rain in New York stopped in time to allow the mostly wealthy or connected opening night audience to arrive dry at the St. James Theatre . Margaret Landon, author of the book on which the musical was based, was not invited to opening night. Brynner turned in an outstanding performance that night, nearly stealing
16272-425: The show. Lawrence knew that the company was nervous because of her illnesses. The director, John van Druten, described how her opening night performance put all worries to rest: "She came on the stage with a new and dazzling quality, as if an extra power had been granted to the brilliance of her stage light. She was radiant and wonderful." The rave reviews in the newspapers lifted Lawrence's spirits, and she expected
16416-685: The stories of the company's two summer children's theatre productions and one illustration for each production is selected to appear on the show program. Winners are awarded prizes, free show tickets, and a backstage tour of the theater. Founding Managing Director Dan Murphy regularly provides theatrical services to local schools. He has directed and choreographed productions for Tualatin High School and has choreographed for Southridge High School in Beaverton. Additionally, he has assisted with productions at Twality Middle School in Tigard. Broadway Rose
16560-427: The summer) to learn their craft and observe—and possibly work with—professionals. Such stage luminaries as Maude Adams, Ethel Barrymore, Lillian Gish, and Ruth Gordon had trod the boards here. Students took classes in acting, stagecraft, makeup, and voice, and if they were talented enough, they might be asked to appear in plays with the resident acting company." Additionally, many notable performers spent their summers on
16704-918: The support of Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman , was also part of the summer stock circuit. The circuit toured in Florida and the Southeast during the winter. Venues included the Beacham Theater in Orlando and the Royal Poinciana Playhouse in Palm Beach, Florida (closed since 2004) where performers from Bob Cummings in 1958 to Arlene Francis (1961) and Richard Chamberlain (1966) appeared. Stars of Broadway, film, and television would regularly spend summers performing in stock. The Council of Stock Theatres (COST) negotiated
16848-413: The total, and Dan's general manager position officially became funded, making him an employee rather than a volunteer. In 2001, The Meyer Memorial Trust awarded Broadway Rose a $ 90,000 three-year grant, allowing the company to hire Alan Anderson as the marketing director. Overall attendance increased 33 percent from 2000, and the company presented its first-holiday show at Tualatin High School . In 2002,
16992-421: The vessel that brought them, but goes with her son and the Kralahome. Several weeks pass, during which Anna and Louis are confined to their palace rooms. The King receives a gift from the king of Burma, a lovely slave girl named Tuptim, to be one of his many wives. She is escorted by Lun Tha, a scholar who has come to copy a design for a temple, and the two are secretly in love. Tuptim, left alone, declares that
17136-405: The virtues of home life, to the King's irritation. The King has enough worries without battling the schoolteacher, and wonders why the world has become so complicated ("A Puzzlement"). The children and wives are hard at work learning English ("The Royal Bangkok Academy"). The children are surprised by a map showing how small Siam is compared with the rest of the world (" Getting to Know You "). As
17280-633: The wives will be dressed in Western fashion. Tuptim has been writing a play based on a book that Anna has lent her, Uncle Tom's Cabin , that can be presented to the guests. News is brought to the King that the British are arriving much earlier than thought, and so Anna and the wives are to stay up all night to prepare. The King assembles his family for a Buddhist prayer for the success of the venture and also promises before Buddha that Anna will receive her own house "as provided in agreement, etc., etc." The wives are dressed in their new European-style gowns, which they find confining ("Western People Funny"). In
17424-423: The year Lawrence's strength returned, and she resumed her full schedule, but by Christmas she was battling pleurisy and suffering from exhaustion. She entered the hospital for a full week of tests. Just nine months before her death, the cancer still was not detected. In February 1952, bronchitis felled her for another week, and her husband Richard Aldrich asked Rodgers and Hammerstein if they would consider closing
17568-401: The years, while her tendency to sing flat was increasing. Lawrence's temperament was another concern: though she could not sing like one, the star was known to be capable of diva -like behavior. In spite of this, they admired her acting – what Hammerstein called her "magic light", a compelling presence on stage – and agreed to write the show. For her part, Lawrence committed to remaining in
17712-509: The years." In 2017, founders Dan and Sharon performed opposite one another—for only the second time in the company's history—as Herbie and Rose in Gypsy. Later that season, Broadway Rose was named Tualatin Valley's favorite attraction. The company received funding to hire a community engagement coordinator following the culmination of an 18-month authentic community engagement plan. Amaya Santamaria
17856-525: The young actor and television director Yul Brynner . The musical was an immediate hit, winning Tony Awards for Best Musical , Best Actress (for Lawrence) and Best Featured Actor (for Brynner). Lawrence died unexpectedly of cancer a year and a half after the opening, and the role of Anna was played by several actresses during the remainder of the Broadway run of 1,246 performances. A hit West End London run and U.S. national tour followed, together with
18000-455: The young princes and princesses came from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds, including Puerto Rican or Italian, though none were Thai. Johnny Stewart was the original Prince Chulalongkorn but left the cast after only three months, replaced by Ronnie Lee. Sandy Kennedy was Louis, and Broadway veteran Larry Douglas played Lun Tha. Shortly before rehearsals began in January 1951, Rodgers had
18144-489: Was Lady Thiang. City Center again presented the show in June 1963, starring Eileen Brennan and Manolo Fabregas, directed by Fearnley. Clements and Darian reprised Tuptim and Thiang respectively. In the final City Center Light Opera production, Michael Kermoyan played the King opposite Constance Towers for three weeks in May 1968. Darian again played Lady Thiang. For all of these 1960s productions, Robbins' choreography
18288-531: Was a critical success and inspired the onstage proposal and surprise wedding of its two actors. While Broadway Rose was able to produce live-streamed shows, ticket sales were reduced to $ 99,000 which was a big drop from the projected 1.6 million ticket sales for the year. Broadway Rose was voted “The First Theatre You Want to Go Back To!” in the Broadway World Regional Theatre Awards, and the company ramped up preparations for
18432-400: Was a trio for Anna, the King, and the Kralahome (the King's prime minister). "Who Would Refuse?", the Kralahome's only solo, was also dropped. Left without a note to sing, Mervyn Vye abandoned the show and was replaced by John Juliano. "Now You Leave", a song for Lady Thiang (played by Dorothy Sarnoff in the original production), was also cut. After the cuts, Rodgers and Hammerstein felt that
18576-410: Was also the first year all the productions were performed live, though it was a reduced season of five shows. Building Expansion: In 2019, the company officially launched a $ 3.4 million capital campaign to expand its New Stage facility, adding a new studio space, costume shop, larger scenic shop, and additional administrative offices. Construction was scheduled to begin in April 2020. However, due to
18720-516: Was an earlier theater, but it was an established stock theater that had then been used as a summer venue.) The structure was to present different plays in weekly or biweekly repertory, performed by a resident company, generally between June and September. The usual fare consisted of light comedies, romances and mysteries. The theaters were located in rural areas. Touring companies would carry hand props and costumes to each venue, where sound, lights and set would be awaiting them. Summer stock provided
18864-870: Was attentive, supportive." Performers such as Paul Lynde , Bill Bixby , Karen Morrow , Phyllis Diller , Andy Devine , Gordon MacRae and Patrice Munsel starred in Kenley stock productions. Ethel Merman performed in Call Me Madam at the Kenley Players in 1968 (as well as appearing at the Parker Playhouse and Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami earlier that year). The Cape Playhouse in Dennis, Massachusetts opened in 1927 with The Guardsman , starring Basil Rathbone , and has continued through
19008-655: Was buried in the ball gown she wore during Act 2. Carpenter assumed the role of Anna and went on to play it for 620 performances. Other Annas during the run included Holm, Annamary Dickey and Patricia Morison . Although Brynner later boasted of never missing a show, he missed several, once when stagehands at the St. James Theatre accidentally struck him in the nose with a piece of scenery, another time due to appendicitis. Also, for three months in 1952 (and occasionally in 1953), Alfred Drake replaced Brynner. One young actor, Sal Mineo , began as an extra, then became an understudy for
19152-530: Was completed and aptly named The New Stage. The inaugural New Stage performance was Celebrate Home - A Broadway Rose Christmas. In 2009, Oregon Business Magazine included Broadway Rose Theatre Company on its "100 Best Nonprofits to Work for in Oregon" list. Broadway Rose also was selected as the 2009 "Business of the Year" by the Tigard Chamber of Commerce. In 2010, the company staged The King and I with 55 cast members—its largest cast to date. Brenda MacRoberts
19296-630: Was fading. The 51-year-old actress had appeared only in plays, not in musicals, since Lady in the Dark closed in 1943. Holtzmann agreed that a musical based on Anna and the King of Siam would be ideal for her client, who purchased the rights to adapt the novel for the stage. Holtzmann initially wanted Cole Porter to write the score , but he declined. She was going to approach Noël Coward next, but happened to meet Dorothy Hammerstein (Oscar's wife) in Manhattan. Holtzmann told Dorothy Hammerstein that she wanted Rodgers and Hammerstein to create
19440-488: Was hired as the new executive director, following Brisa Trincheros' departure to develop new musicals and produce on Broadway (where she would go on to win multiple Tony Awards.) Also that year, the Portland Business Journal ranked Broadway Rose 10th on the list of the "Top Arts Nonprofits." In 2011, the company launched its 20th anniversary season with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as
19584-529: Was horror-struck and refused, convinced he would look terrible. He finally gave in during tryouts and put dark makeup on his shaved head. The effect was so well-received that it became Brynner's trademark. Lawrence's health caused her to miss several rehearsals, though no one knew what was wrong with her. When the tryout opened in New Haven, Connecticut on February 27, 1951, the show was nearly four hours long. Lawrence, suffering from laryngitis , had missed
19728-476: Was nearing death from liver cancer , and her weakened condition was exacerbated by the demands of her role. At the age of 52, she was required to wear dresses weighing 75 pounds (34 kg) while walking or dancing a total of 4 miles (6.4 km) during a 3 1 ⁄ 2 hour performance eight times a week. Lawrence found it hard to bear the heat in the theatre during the summer months. Her understudy, Constance Carpenter , began to replace her in matinees. Later in
19872-451: Was reluctant to go back on the stage. His wife, his agent and Martin finally convinced him to read Hammerstein's working script, and once he did, he was fascinated by the character of the King and was eager to do the project. In any case, Brynner's fierce, mercurial, dangerous, yet surprisingly sensitive King was an ideal foil for Lawrence's strong-willed, yet vulnerable Anna, and when the two finally came together in " Shall We Dance? ", where
20016-635: Was reproduced by Yuriko , who had played the role of Eliza in the original Broadway production and reprised the role in the City Center productions. The Music Theatre of Lincoln Center , with Rodgers as producer, presented the musical in mid-1964 at the New York State Theater , starring Risë Stevens and Darren McGavin , with Michael Kermoyan as the Kralahome. Lun Tha, Tuptim and Thiang were played by Frank Porretta , Lee Venora and Patricia Neway . Costumes were by Irene Sharaff,
20160-495: Was restaged by Jerome Whyte. The cast featured Valerie Hobson , in her last role, as Anna; Herbert Lom as the King; and Muriel Smith as Lady Thiang. Martin Benson played the Kralahome, a role he reprised in the film. Eve Lister was a replacement for Hobson, and George Pastell replaced Lom during the long run. The New York Times theatre columnist Brooks Atkinson saw the production with Lister and Pastell, and thought
20304-578: Was selected to fill the role which focuses on the company's equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts. The company's 2018 production of Mamma Mia! smashed box office records with over 12,000 tickets sold—surpassing the previous record holder ( Cats , 2013) by over 30%. In 2019, Broadway Rose produced all its shows at the New Stage Tigard location due to construction occurring at its usual summer theater venue –Tigard High School’s Deb Fennell Auditorium . The summer production of Footloose set
20448-501: Was the major show making the tent circuit in the summer of 1957.) The theatre-in-the-round concept brought Broadway-style musicals to northern California under a big top tent each summer. Original producers Russell Lewis and Howard Young presented their first production, Show Boat , the same opening production at both the Lambertville and the South Shore Music Circus. The original Lambertville theater closed in 1970, and both
20592-406: Was the only city in the country that could and did support two summer stock companies:" He went on to quote an 1896 article stating: The summer theatrical season Is now at its height and both Manhattan Beach and Elitch's Gardens are doing splendid business, and deservedly, too, for nowhere in the country are to be found better attractions or better Summer stock than those with which our local public
20736-520: Was the second stock season and J. H. Huntley was signed to direct the resident stock company, headed by leading actress Jennie Kennark. The season opened with Rosedale , a play by Lester Wallack . However, opinions differ on the official first year of summer stock. In a 1955 article for the Princeton University Library Chronicle, the authors suggest it was 1897: Devotees of the straw hat circuit are usually under
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