All stories by David on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: MARCH 4 by David Gewirtzman and Anne Bradley, Ernio Hernandez and Robert Viagas

1922 Eugene O'Neill's drama The First Man describes the strange tale of a scientist who curses the unborn child in his wife's womb. The wife dies in childbirth and the child thr…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:33AM
Tuesday, March 3, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: MARCH 3 by David Gewirtzman and Anne Bradley, Ernio Hernandez and Robert Viagas

1930 Bert Lahr is a Flying High mechanic who breaks an aeronautical record because he doesn't know how to land the plane. The writing team of Buddy DeSylva, Lew Brown and Ray Henderson p…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, March 2, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: MARCH 2 by David Gewirtzman and Anne Bradley and Ernio Hernandez

1900 Composer Kurt Weill is born today in Dessau, Germany. He will compose the score for Bertolt Brecht's Threepenny Opera, and Mahagonny. Among his many works, Lady in the Dark will be …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:10AM
Sunday, March 1, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: MARCH 1 by David Gewirtzman and Anne Bradley and Ernio Hernandez

1922 Arthur Wing Pinero's The Enchanted Cottage constructs the story of a couple who find themselves transformed by their love for one another. Owen Nares and Laura Cowie are the lucky p…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Saturday, February 28, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 28 by David Gewirtzman and Anne Bradley, Ernio Hernandez and Robert Viagas

1894 Birthday of playwright Ben Hecht (1894-1964) , author or co-author of The Front Page, Twentieth Century, Jumbo, The Egoist and The Great Magoo.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, February 27, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 27 by David Gewirtzman and Anne Bradley, Ernio Hernandez

1848 English actress Ellen Terry is born today. She will make her American debut in 1883 with Henry Irving's company. She will go on to star in classic and contemporary works. The Terry …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, February 26, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 26 by David Gewirtzman and Robert Viagas, Ernio Hernandez and Anne Bradley

1911 Chicago's Columbia Theatre opens its doors today. Architect J.E.O. Pridmore designed this house which seats 1,550. In 1923 it will become the Adelphi. In 1974 its doors will close f…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:19AM
Tuesday, February 24, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 24 by David Gewirtzman and Robert Viagas, Ernio Hernandez and Anne Bradley

1876 Birthday of Broadway comedian Victor Moore (1876-1962), who starred or co-starred in the original casts of many musical comedies, notably Of Thee I Sing, Anything Goes, Louisian…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, February 23, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 23 by David Gewirtzman and Anne Bradley and Ernio Hernandez

1960 The Dublin Gate Theatre will hear Chimes at Midnight. Orson Welles directs his adaptation of Shakespeare and Holinshead.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Sunday, February 22, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 22 by David Gewirtzman and Robert Viagas, Ernio Hernandez and Anne Bradley

1930 Birthday of Marni Nixon, singer whose voice will be dubbed into the mouths of better-known performers, including Natalie Wood in the film of West Side Story. She will make her Broad…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Saturday, February 21, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 21 by David Gewirtzman and Robert Viagas, Ernio Hernandez and Anne Bradley

1879 John Wellington Wells deals his magic and spells for the first time on Broadway with the American premiere of W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan's The Sorcerer at the old Broadway Th…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, February 20, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 20 by David Gewirtzman and Robert Viagas, Ernio Hernandez and Anne Bradley

1893 Birthday of playwright and producer Russel Crouse (1893-1966), whose prodigious output of scripts, many in partnership with Howard Lindsay, includes State of the Union and The Great…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, February 19, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 19 by David Gewirtzman and Anne Bradley and Ernio Hernandez

1900 A week-long engagement at Dublin's Gaiety Theatre by the Irish Literary Theatre does not cause much of a stir. The company stages The Bending of the Bough by George Moore, Maeve…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, February 16, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 16 by David Gewirtzman and Robert Viagas, Ernio Hernandez and Anne Bradley

1898 Birthday of Broadway leading lady and producer Katharine Cornell (1898-1974), who starred in and/or produced A Bill of Divorcement, The Age of Innocence, The Barretts of Wimpole Str…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Saturday, February 14, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’ S Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 14 by David Gewirtzman and Robert Viagas, Ernio Hernandez and Anne Bradley

1882 Birthday of John Barrymore (1882-1942), actor in the grand style, and scion of the Barrymore acting clan. Though he began as a light comedian, he became identified with the classics…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:18AM
Friday, February 13, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 13 by David Gewirtzman and Robert Viagas, Anne Bradley

1904 Future set and costume designer Oliver Messel is born today in London.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, February 12, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 12 by David Gewirtzman and Anne Bradley

1903 Birthday of Broadway leading man Todd Duncan (1903-1998), who will create the role of Porgy in Porgy and Bess, and star in the original productions of Lost in the Stars and Cabin in…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Wednesday, February 11, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 11 by David Gewirtzman and Robert Viagas, Ernio Hernandez and Anne Bradley

1901 A man marries his fiancee On the Quiet because his parents want him to finish Yale. Playwright Augustus Thomas based this comedy on a real incident. It unfolds at the Madison Square The…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, February 9, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 9 by David Gewirtzman and Robert Viagas and Anne Bradley

1865 Birthday of actress Beatrice Stella Tanner, better known by her stage name, Mrs. Patrick Campbell (1865-1940). She had a long correspondence with playwright George Bernard Shaw, and…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Sunday, February 8, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 8 by David Gewirtzman and Robert Viagas, Anne Bradley

1907 Ray Middleton is born in Chicago, Illinois today. In 1946 he will star opposite Ethel Merman in Annie Get Your Gun, and in 1965 be featured in Man of La Mancha.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Saturday, February 7, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 7 by David Gewirtzman and Anne Bradley and Robert Viagas

1812 Birthday of author Charles Dickens (1812-1870), whose "A Christmas Carol" has been adapted to the stage dozens of times and provides a durable annuity for theatre troupes …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, February 6, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 6 by David Gewirtzman and Robert Viagas and Anne Bradley

1946 Mary Martin and Yul Brynner play a Chinese couple who separate when the husband goes off on a quest in Lute Song. Raymond Scott composed the score, and Sidney Howard and Will Irwin wrot…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:14AM
Wednesday, February 4, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 5 by David Gewirtzman and Robert Viagas and Anne Bradley

1900 The scandalous Sapho [sic] is staged at Wallack's Theatre in New York. Based on Alphonse Daudet's novel, it stars Olga Nethersole as an evil woman who seduces a pure young man t…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:59PM

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 4 by David Gewirtzman and Robert Viagas and Anne Bradley

1938 Thornton Wilder turns the spotlight on the simple trials and tribulations of Our Town. Martha Scott and Frank Craven are among the cast at the Henry Miller Theatre. The production will …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Tuesday, February 3, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 3 by David Gewirtzman and Robert Viagas, Christopher Reichheld and Ann Bradley

1938 When a grandfather holds off Death (by chasing him up a tree) so he can be sure his grandson will be taken care of, he's working On Borrowed Time. This comedy was adapted by Paul Os…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, February 2, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 2 by David Gewirtzman and Anne Bradley and Robert Viagas

1912 Birthday of composer Burton Lane (1912-1997), who will go on to write On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, Hold on to Your Hats, Laffing Room Only and his great hit, Finian's Ra…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:28AM
Saturday, January 31, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: JANUARY 31 by David Gewirtzman and Anne Bradley, Christopher Reichheld

1903 Future actress Tallulah Bankhead, who can count two U.S. Senators and a Congressman in her family, is born today.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, January 29, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: JANUARY 30 by David Gewirtzman and Robert Viagas, Christopher Reichheld and Anne Bradley

1911 Hugh Herbert Hipple is born today in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After dropping two H's, he will become suave actor Hugh Marlowe. In 1940 he will appear in Elmer Rice's Flight T…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:59PM
Wednesday, January 28, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: JANUARY 28 by David Gewirtzman and Anne Bradley and Christopher Reichheld

1908 J. Lucifer Mephisto tempts a sculptor to be unfaithful in The Soul Kiss. Produced by Florenz Ziegfeld, this musical comedy stars Ralph Herz, Adeline Genee, and Cecil Lean. Harry B. Smit…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, January 26, 2015

Pauline Yates by Simon Tait and David Nobbs

Stage and screen actor who played Reggie Perrin’s long-suffering wife in the television comedy Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:26AM
Sunday, January 25, 2015

PLAYBILL VAULT’S Today In Theatre History: JANUARY 25 by David Gewirtzman and Robert Viagas, Christopher Reichheld and Anne Bradley

1915 It'll be 90 in the Shade for only 40 performances. The unpaid actors will refuse to go on in this musical with a Jerome Kern score and book by Guy Bolton. Richard Carle and Marie Ca…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Nov 17, 2024: Elf - Marquis Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre