Hildegarde Neff "SILK STOCKINGS" Don Ameche / Cole Porter 1955 Press Photo

Description

This is a rare glossy press photograph of
HILDEGARDE NEFF and DON AMECHE
in a scene from the
Original Broadway production of the COLE PORTER, GEORGE S. KAUFMAN, LEUEEN MacGRATH and ABE BURROWS musical comedy "SILK STOCKINGS" which played the Imperial Theatre in New York City. (The production opened February 24th, 1955 and ran for 478 performances.) ..... The musical starred HILDEGARDE NEFF and DON AMECHE and featured GRETCHEN WYLER*, GEORGE TOBIAS, LEON BELASCO, HENRY LASCOE, DAVID OPATOSHU, PHILIP STERLING and JULIE NEWMAR (in her Broadway debut) ..... *Side Note: The role of "Janice Dayton", originally offered to ELAINE STRITCH became a revolving door with five different actresses playing the part during the long rehearsal and tryout period. These included YVONNE ADAIR, SHERRY O'NEIL, MARILYN ROSS and finally GRETCHEN WYLER who would open on Broadway in the role. Miss Wyler recounted in Rick McKay's 2004 award-winning feature documentary, "Broadway: The Golden Age" trying on the star's (Yvonne Adair) outfits when she was merely second understudy during the out-of-town tryouts. When Miss Adair collapsed in the middle of a performance one night, and the first understudy (Sherry O'Neil) had surreptitiously gone to New York to audition for another play, Wyler was asked to step in. Cole Porter was so impressed by her performance that she was offered the role shortly before the show arrived in New York ..... CREDITS: Book by GEORGE S. KAUFMAN, LEUEEN MacGRATH and ABE BURROWS suggested by "Ninotchka" by MELCHIOR LENGYEL; Music and Lyrics by COLE PORTER ("Anything Goes", "Red, Hot and Blue", "Leave It To Me!", "Du Barry Was a Lady", "Panama Hattie", "Something For the Boys", "Mexican Hayride", "Can-Can", "Kiss Me Kate", "Out Of This World", "Silk Stockings"); Sets designed by JO MIELZINER; Costumes designed by LUCINDA BALLARD; Choreographed by EUGENE LORING; Directed by CY FEUER; Produced by FEUER and MARTIN
..... DETAILS: This rare press photo measures 9" X 7 1/4" inches and includes a portion of a clipped article from the "Miami Herald" (stamped Jul. 31, 1955) on the backside ..... CONDITION: With the exception of a small tear in the top left margin and minor edge wear, this rare photo 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 sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.