"Central Illinois ' Only Professional Equity Music Theatre " Fifth Season A July 7th Through Aupust 27th. 1961 Air- Conditioned Grand Theatre * On the Square * Sullivan I 1 6uy S. Little, Jr. Presents I Dolores '~lilso-nin "The Merryu Widow'' August 8th through August 13th, 1961 -- . 4 Who's Who in the Cast . DOLORES WILSON (Sonia) has had JEFF WARREN (Danilo) directed all the many attributes accorded her by some of the product~ons at the Grand last summer and IS foremost critics of Italy. France, Spain, Portu- workin in the same capacity this season. gal and Germany--critics like Andrea della Mr. garren got his first theatre job as tenor Corte, G!useppe Pu !iese, Guido Pannain, Clave, soloist with the touring company of Kurt Weill's etc., saylng thmgs %ke "Sensational revelation" LADY IN THE DARK which starred Gertrude -"Stupendous"-"Complete virtuosity"-"Flair, Lawrence. A month afjer the opening of Kurt youth ele ance and beautyw-"Exceptional tech- Weill's next Broadway success, ONE TOUCH nique''-"610fious singingu-"One of the best OF VENUS he had the opportunity that all coloraturas In the world todayp'-"Unending understudies hream of-he went on during Kenny breath-control" - "Crystal-clear voice" - "Rich Bake-'s extended illness to play opposite Mary timbre, extrordinary agility, limpid high tones" Martin. The result of this was a new part in -"A true diva." In being thus acclaimed the Jackie Gleason show, FOLLOW THE Miss Wilson established a precedent, because GIRLS and a short excursion with HOLLY- she was considered a top coloratura in Europe WOOD PINAFORE which starred Shirley before ever singing in her native Arne-ica. It Booth Victor Moore and Annamary Dickey. was a foregone conclusion that a singer with The followine autumn, Mr. Warren appeared in such successee on foreign soil should be invited Lerner and oewe's first New York success to join the elite roster of the Metropoliia~i THE DAY BEFORE SPRING and a year late; Opera. When Dolores Wilson made her debut . in their second, BRIGADOON. It was while there in the Spring of 1954 in the title role of he was engaged with GENTLEMEN PREFER LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR, the success story BLONDES that Mr. Warren was offered the op- was repeated. The public responded with an portunity of appearing opposlte Ethel Merman ovation, especially after the notoriously diiiicult in CALL ME MADAM for three months while Mrd Scene, while the New York critics went all Russell Nype went to Hollywood. He was then out in their praise. "Dolores Wilson Scores As engaged to create the same role in the London Lucia" was the headline in the New York Times production of CALL ME MADAM and remained by Howard Taubman. And when she followed in England to play leading roles in WEDDING her Lucia with a Rosina in "THE BARBER OE' IN PARIS. While in England he also had the SEVILLE". a few days latbr, the New York honor of appearing in the first Royal Command Herald Tr~bune wrote: "Miss Wilson 1s a Performance for Queen Elizabeth 11, as Cell as coloratura with a nightingale's voice at the top on many television and radio programs, concerts of her range 2nd considerable suppleness through- and night clubs. This past wlnter Jeff was as- our its span . She is graced with the ability sociated with the Carol Channing ;evue, SHOW to skip about the tor, of the staff with M strain. GIRL. remarkable acccuraiy and a liberal supply of vivid colors . ." Following her much talked- JOANNE KOEHN (Natalie) decided at a about debut at the Met Miss Wilson was im- very early age that what she wanted to do most mediately in demand in bther parts of this hcmi- was sing for her supper. Her opportunity came sphere--concert and opera performances in Puerto as a result of her studies at the University of Rico, Cincinnati, New Orleans, Miami. Philadel- Texas where she majored in music and voice phia, (her home town, where she was honored and studied with Josephine Antoine of the with Dolores Wilson Day), and in many other Metropolitan Opera. After appearances with music centers. The most dramatic moment in.the the Opera Workshop, Miss Koehn moved to Mil- life of the youthful soprano came when she waukee where she played a variety of roles, in- assumed the role of Susanna in "THE MAR- cluding the title role in LAURA. Bianca in RIAGE OF FIGARO" at the Metropolitan on KISS ME, .KATE, Fiona in BRIGADOON st three hours notlce, w~thoutever having sung the the Fred M~llerTheatre for an extended enga e role on any sta e previously. Her performance ment and Laurey in the Playhouse Under 3%; was so amazingfy projected that the New York Stars production of OKLAHOMA] Raves frdm Times wrote: ''It requires nerve to undertake the critics urged Miss Koehn on to a---I; such a big and difficult role for the first time tense interest in the theatre and extensive studies at so short notice, and allowances could have been made for that fact But no allowances needed to be made. Miss Wilson sang as if it were her hundred-and-first Susanna rather than her first. She played Susanna with the greatest assurance and her characterization was a con- vincing and appealing one. The part lies well for her voice and she sang it with great effect. Her performance as a whole had such ease and polish that it is probable few in last night's audience guessed the hectic circumstances of that performance." Miss Wilson has won ac- claim on THE VOICE OF FIRESTONE and THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW on TV and re- ceotly bas been appearing at a leading night club in Bermuda. (Please turn to page 10) I I Grow-Grow- -GROW with @bEviwon0.0 AYLCO CHEMICAL COMPANY PLANTS LOCATED AT SU LLIVAN-HARVEL-ROCHESTER-EL PASO, ILLINOIS GUY S. LITTLE, JR. Presents DOLORES WILSON "The Merry Widow" featuring JEFF WARREN with Joanne Koehn, Leroy Kalbas, Rusty Dote and Guy Litlle MUSIC by FRANZ LEHAR ENGLISH LYRICS by ADRIAN ROSS BOOK by VICTOR LEON and LEO STEIN DIRECTED by JEFF WARREN CHOREOGRAPHY by RHODA LEVINE MUSICAL DIRECTION by ELWOOD SMITH DESIGNED and LIGHTED by JACK W. KIRKBY COSTUMES by JESSIE and ROD FERNANDEZ ENTIRE PRODUCTION UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF MR. LITTLE CAST (In order of appearance) St. Brioche............................ BERTBYARS Natalie........................ A KOEHN Jolidon ....................... GUY LITTLE Cascada-----------------------WILLIAM HENKIN Olga Novakovich..................... JUDY ERICKSON Kadja----------------------------------------DAVlD KELSON Novakovich ..................................... JAMES PANOWSKI Mme. Kadja........................ - ---------CHARLOTTE SPERRY Popoff ----------------------------------------LEROY KALBAS Nish------------------------------------RUSTY DORE Sonia -----------------------------------DOLORES WILSON Danilo ........................................ JEFF WARREN Waiter ----------------------------------------SIDNEY SHAW DO-DO................................... GWEN ANDERSON LO-LO........................................ BETTY CHAMBERS Frou-Frou............................... CARROLL INGERSOLL JOU-JOLI..................................... CAROLEE GEARHART CIO-CIO----------------------------------------JANET SILVER Margot.................................. A SELTZER Marsovians and Parisians--------GWEN ANDERSON, LAWRENCE BEN- NETT, BETTY CHAMBERS, RICHARD DOLPH, JUDY ERICKSON, CAROLEE GEARHART, CARROLL INGERSOLL, DON RICHETTA, SHARON SELTZER, JANET SILVER, TERRY SOLDWEDEL, CHAR- LOTTE SPERRY and DICK STEPHENS. ORCHESTRA------Conductor-Elwood Smith; Pianist-Eddie McCarty; Percussion-Hal Fairweather; Clarinet-Jack Anderson; First Violin -Sl?areve Hood; Second Violin-Penny Mickle; Cello-Fran k Post. L. W. McMULLIN FUNERAL HOME DIAL 4100 SULLIVAN, ILLINOIS1 WADE'S COMMUNITY DRIVE-IN CLEANERS INDUSTRIES, LTD. Cold Storage Available WE ALSO CLEAN CARPETS - \ Russel! M. Harshman Co. HULBERT'S Sullivan, Ill. Phone 4235 READY MIX CEMENT PHARMACY CONTRACTORS SULLIVAN - BETHANY Basements, Walks, Drives, "Your Health Is Foundations and Patios, Floors, Porches and Steps Our Business" & Everything to Build Anything Gauger Lumber Co. INSURANCE CLAIMS -can be handled without red tape or delay when you insure with your local independent agent. WOOD INSURANCE AND REALTY CO. 7 West Harrison Street Sullivan, Illinois SYNOPSIS OF SCENES ACT ONE The Marsovian Embassy-Paris. ACT TWO The grounds of Sonia's house-near Paris. ACT THREE Maxim's-Paris. MUSICAL SYNOPSIS ACT ONE 1. Opening Chorus ...............................Natalie, St. Brioche and Chorus 2. "A Dutiful Wife". .........................................Natalie and Camille 3. "Marsovia" ...................................................Sonia and Men 4. "Maxim's" ...................................................... Danilo 5. Finale ..............................................................Company ACT TWO 1. 'Yilia" ............................................. Sonia and Chorus 2. "The Cavalier" ........................................Sonia and Danilo 3. "Women" Danilo, Popoff, St. Brioche, Cascada, Nisch, Kadja, Novakovich 4. "Love In Mv Heart". ......................................Natalie and Camflle 5. Finale ............................................................Company ACT THREE 1. Can-Can ...............................................Girls at Maxim's 2. "Butterflies" . ............................... .Lo-Lo, Nisch, and Girls 3. 'The Girls at Maxim's". ................................ Lo-Lo, Popoff, and Girls 4. "1 Love You So" ........................................... Sonia and Danilo 5. Finale ..............................................................Company REISACHER REXAll