Alan Jay Lerner (Debut) "SO PROUDLY WE HAIL!" Harvard Hasty Pudding 1938 Program

Description

This is a rare souvenir program from the Ninety-Second Annual production of Harvard's Hasty Pudding Club Theatrical, "SO PROUDLY WE HAIL". (The production played one performance on March 29th, 1938 at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts before moving to Boston's Copley Theatre for two additional performances. On April 8th, 1938, the troupe played its annual show at the Waldorf-Astoria's Grand Ballroom in New York before 1800 alumni and friends.) ..... Contributing four songs to the production (both music and lyrics) as well as a member of the cast was ALAN JAY LERNER (Harvard Class of '40), who would become one of Broadway's most successful authors and lyricists, collaborating with composer FREDERICK LOEWE on "My Fair Lady", "Brigadoon", "Paint Your Wagon" and "Camelot". "So Proudly We Hail" was the first of two Hasty Pudding productions that Lerner participated in, the other being "Fair Enough" in 1939 ..... "SO PROUDLY WE HAIL" was described in the "Harvard Crimson" as a "satire on Cafe Society with international implications involving Mussolini, Hitler, and Roosevelt and their respective countries. The all-male cast included STANLEY MILLER, BENJAMIN DILLINGHAM, FRANCIS LAWRANCE, VINTON FREEDLEY, Jr. (son of the famous Broadway producer), PETER NICHOLAS, MARVIN SCAIFE, HENLEY DILLINGHAM, DAVID LANNON, ROGER LAPHAM, AUGUSTUS SOULE, ALAN JAY LERNER, WILLIAM MYRICK, JOSEPH COOLIDGE, CROCKER WIGHT, DAVID RIVINUS, PETER PRATT, HENRY STONE and JOHN R. BROOKS ..... CREDITS: Book by NATHANIEL G. BENCHLEY, BENJAMIN WELLES and JOHN Mc.D GRAHAM; Music by BENJAMIN WELLES, STANLEY MILLER and ALAN JAY LERNER ("Brigadoon", "My Fair Lady", "Paint Your Wagon", "Camelot", "The Day Before Spring", "Love Life", "Coco", "1600 Pennsylvania Avenue", "Dance a Little Closer", "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever"); Lyrics by J. DAVID LANNON, STANLEY MILLER and ALAN J. LERNER; Sets designed by ALFONSO OSSORIO; Costumes designed by BETTIE KERN and VIRGINIA ARMSTRONG; Program Cover designed by NATHANIEL BENCHLEY; Musical Direction by AL ZIMMERMAN; Choreographed by WILLIAM R. HOLBROOK; Directed by EDWARD CLARK LILLEY ..... DETAILS: The over-sized 24 page program measures 9" X 11 3/8" inches and includes full production credits, cast list, synopsis of scenes, list of musical numbers, bios of each of the leading actors, promotional text, a photo of the "eight gorgeous girls" and several rehearsal photos ..... PLEASE NOTE: The scanned pages have been cropped due to the limitations of my scanner. The margins are slightly wider than shown ..... CONDITION: With the exception of two small tears in the top edge of the cover, slight discoloration along the inside seam and minor edge wear, this rare program 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 cardbo
ard.
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