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Book by George Abbott
Music & Lyrics by Frank Loesser
Based on "Charley's Aunt" by Brandon
Thomas
By arrangement with Music Theatre
International, New York NY
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Creative Team
Producer - Jack Shapira
Director/Choreographer - Walter Burgess
Music Co-ordinator - Glen Harrison
Set Design - Jack King
Lighting Design - John Stammers
Orchestra Conductor - Bob McMullin
Chorus Master - Peter Buchan
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Honourary Patrons
His Honour
W. J. McKeag
Lieutenant Governor of
Manitoba
The Honourable Ed Shcreyer
Premier of Manitoba
His Worship Major Stephen Juba
City of Winnipeg
Honourary Advisory Board
Mrs. D.J. Cannell
Mervyn M. Levine
Jack M. Davidson
G. Campbell MacLean, Q.C.
Chris H. Flintoft, C.A.
Hon. Saul A. Miller
Fred James
Duncan, J. Jessiman, Q.C.
Bernie R. Wolfe
H. S. Brock-Smith
Reginald Hugo
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Board of
Directors
Past
President-Rory M. MacLennan
President
- Laurie A. Mainster
Executive Vice-President (House)
Victor L. Pinchin
Vice-President (Finance)
David A. Richie
Vice-President (Development)
Fred R. Cotton
Chairman (Fund Raising)
T. K. Thorlakson M. D.
Chairman (Production)
David J. Jandrisch
Chairman (Public Relations)
Norman Cowan
Secretary
David N. Rothstein
Treasurer
Paul E. Cholakis
Honourary Councel
David Sokolov, Q.C.
Managing Director-Jack Shapira
Mrs. T. Beighton
Bernard Brick
Lorne M. Cameron
J. Arthur Coulter
Samuel A. Cross
Levi A. Feller
Kenneth J. Galanchuk
Clifford Gardner
Ralph Horley
Judge Ben Hewak
Mrs. A. Johanson
Thomas Kinahan
Abe Kovnats
A J. MacIver
Dr. Kenneth D. McKenzie
Peter MacDonald
H.C. MacFarlane
Douglas McBride
(The Pas)
Arnold A. Portigal
Jack M. Ross
Mrs. Kaye Rowe (Brandon)
A. M. Runciman
Clifford J. Shirley
Magistrate R. Trundel
W. L. Waddell
Abe Yanofsky
Brian J. Zilkey |
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Story
Synopsis
WHERE'S CHARLEY? opened
on Broadway, at the St. James Theatre on October 11, 1948. boasting a cast
headed by Ray Bolger, a score written by Frank Loesser, a book by George
Abbott and choreography by George Balanchine, it ran 792 performances making
it the tenth longest running musical in Broadway history. In February 1958,
Norman Wisdom made his musical comedy debut as "Charley", when the
production opened at the Palace Theatre, London and ran 404 performances.
"CHARLEY" marked Frank Loesser's first efforts in
Theatre as both composer and lyricist. Ironically, while the songs went
largely unappreciated by opening night critics, today they are the chief
reasons the musical continues to enjoy repeated revivals. Following the
premiere of the New York City Centre Production in 1966, Richard Watts Jr.,
wrote in the N.Y. Post..."there's still agreeable elementary fun to be found
in the vintage farce, but it is those songs with their continues fresh tunefulness
and charm that give the evening its atmosphere as winning festivity". And
Vincent Canby in the Times..."Mr. Loesser was working within the
prescribed limits of formula musical comedy. But even within such limits, he
was exhibiting the wit, perception and lyricism that later were to be so
highly praised."
WHERE'S CHARLEY? was based on the durable farce - CHARLEY'S
AUNT, which Brandon Thomas had written in 1892, and Loesser made good use of
the musical cues found in the original text. The major change in the story was
elimination of the character of 'Lord Fancourt Babberly', the friend who aided
Jack's and Charley's romantic quests, by donning female vestments to pose as
Charley's Aunt. For the musical version, George Abbott combined the role with
that of Charley himself, so that the actor playing the part could both clown
in skirts and sing and dance in trousers. Basically then, the plot remains
unchanged. Charley's Aunt, a wealthy millionairess, is to chaperone a lunch
Jack and Charley plan for their fair ladies. She fails to arrive as expected
and Charley, appearing decked out in women's clothes for his role in the
student theatrical, finds himself playing Donna Lucia. Meanwhile, Jack's
widowed father reveals they have no money and Jack's practical advice is to
marry Charley's soon-to-arrive Aunt. Sir Frances, ready to woo the heiress, is
introduced to the bogus Donna Lucia. Amy's uncle, Stephen Spettigue intends to
woo her too. The real Donna appears and the mad romp continues until all ends
well as Charley's masquerade is revealed, Amy and Kitty are free to marry
Charley and Jack and Donna Lucia and Sir Francis join, to leave Stephen
Spettigue "odd man out".
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Cast
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Charley's
Friends |
Musical
Synopsis |
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Brassett-Harvey
Harding
Jack Chesney-Marek Norman
Charley Wykeham-Dean Regan
Kitty Verdun-Janie Woods
Amy Spettigue-Joanne Williams
Wilkinson-James Martin
Sir Francis Chesney-Edward Greenhalgh
Mr. Spettigue-Cliff Gardner
Donna Lucia D'Alvadorez-Marylyn Boyle
Reggie-Jeffrey Skinner
Administration
Jack Shapira-Gen.
Manager
Machelle Shapira-Admin Director
Zeta McManus-Secretary
Chris Ladd-Public Rel.
Bill Jewell-House Mgr.
Beulah Brick-Adv Rep.
Ruth Morris-Adv Rep.
ATO-Box Office Rep.
Scenic Artist
Louis Bako-Head Scenic Artist
Grace Cooper-Asst. Scenic Artist
Artistic/Production
Ted Stebbing-Technical Dir.
Eleanor Lawson-Reh. Pianist
Hair
The Wig Shoppe
Make-Up
Nadine Kelly-Design
Stage Management
Tibor Feheregyhazi-Stage Mgr.
Ken Smith-Asst. Stage Mgr.
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Anne Louise Barager
Susan Bennet
Lynn Brennan
Martha Brooks
Howard Carson
Michael Crossman
Cathy Dueck
Mary Anne Dunroe
James Franklin
Jamie Gairdner
Adele Hall
Irene Harrison
David Herriott
Belle Jarniewski
Ray Kenny
Billie Marhenke
Betsy Margolick
Debbie Mathison
Vivian McGuire
Jean McMullen
Bob McPhee
Richard Mikucki
Michael O'Gorman
David Peregrine
Brian Pruden
Fred Simpson
Jeffrey Skinner
Diana Turner
Harry Williams
Anne Wooten
Wardrobe
Richard Morris-Wardrobe Co-ord.
Donna Norris-Wardrobe Asst.
Carpentry
Thomas Legg-Master
Carp
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Act I
Prologue-Students
& Guests
The Years Before Us-Male Chorus
Reprise-Male Chorus
Better Get Out Of Here
Amy, Kitty, Charley & Jack
The New Ashmolean Marching Society
and Students' Conservatory Band
Jack, Kitty, Amy & Chorus
My Darling, My Darling-Jack & Kitty
Make a Miracle-Amy & Charley
Serenade with Asides-Spettigue
Lovlier than Ever
Sir Francis, Donna Lucia & Chorus
The Woman in His Room-Amy
Pernambuco-Charley, Chorus & Dancers Act
II
Where's Charley-Jack
& Chorus
Once in Love with Amy-Charley
The Gossips-The Girls
The Years Before Us-The Boys
At the Red Rose Cotillion
Jack, Kitty & Chorus
Finale: My Darling, My Darling
Entire Company
Audio Consultant
Century 21
Sound
Jim Rogers-Sound
Tech.
Properties
Jack Simon-Prop
Master
Dennis Fontaine-Prop Asst
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Rainbow Stage
adheres to and abides by the rules and operates under
the jurisdiction
of the Canadian Actor's Equity Association.
All musicians employed
by Rainbow Stage are members in good standing
of
the Winnipeg Musician's Association, Local 190 A. F. of M.
All stagehands and scenery
carpenters employed by Rainbow Stage
are members in good
standing of the International Alliance or Theatrical Stage Employees,
I.A.T.S.E. Local 63.
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