COLUMBIA GUARANTEED HIGH FIDELITY present a New Musical MASTERWORKS A . f VB ) | | | Music by | : Lyrics by Book by Based on the novel by C. Y. Lee with Larry Blyden Juanita Hall ¢ Ed Kenney Keye Luke « Arabella Hong and Directed by Choreography by Carol Haney Scenery by Oliver Smith Costumes by lrene Sharaff Lighting by Peggy Clark Orchestrations by Robert Russell Bennett Musical Director Salvatore Dell'lsola Dance Arrangements by Luther Henderson, Jr. GIFT OF CROCKER LUTHER OL 5350 RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN in association with JOSEPH FIELDS present a New Musical 'COLUMBIA | FLOWER DRUM SONG | MASTERWORKS GUARANTEED HIGH-FIDELITY | Music by Lyrics by A Rodgers and Hammerstein Records, Inc. Production RICHARD RODGERS OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN 2nd American-born Pat Suzuki is one of the most ex- citing and promising young artists of recent years. Her recordings, and her appearances on television and in night clubs, have already won her wide Book by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN 2nd and JOSEPH FIELDS recognition, and she fulfills her promise with her engaging performance in Flower Drum Song. Her first appearances were as a soloist in the Methodist Church of her home town, Cressey, California, be- Based on the novel by C. Y. Lee fore she embarked on her blossoming career. She is sometimes called “Miss Pony Tail” because of her distinctive coiffure, and her real first name is Chiyoko. | : Directed Juanita Hall is perhaps best-known for her fine by GENE portrayal of Bloody Mary in South Pacific on both KELLY stage and screen. Her distinguished career began with Brilliantly sung and acted, excitingly danced, beau- can ways that resemble that American dish, Chop when she was fourteen, in the chorus of the original tifully set, Flower Drum Song is a_ lovely new Suey. production of Show Boat, and she was later seen Miyoshi Umeki musical in the great Rodgers and Hammerstein Linda appears at the party, and Wang Ta an- in The Green Pastures, The Pirate and House of (Courtesy of Mercury Records) tradition. With the collaboration of Joseph Fields in nounces their engagement, infuriating old Mr. Wang Flowers. She is also known for her solo tours and the adaptation of C. Y. Lee’s novel, and the direc- and deeply hurting Mei Li. When Sammy Fong her own choral group. Larry Blyden made his debut Larry Blyden tion by Gene Kelly, Richard Rodgers and Oscar shows up, it develops that Linda is the girl with in Mr. Roberts and has since been seen in Wish Juanita Hall e Ed Kenney Hammerstein II have created a glowing and color- whom he is in love, and he generously warns Mei You Were Here, Oh Men! Oh Women!, and most {ul portrait of life in San Francisco’s Chinatown Li about his own bad qualities (Don’t Marry Me). recently in Who Was That Lady I Saw You With? ee Luke « Arabella Hong today, and enriched the theatre with some of their He then invites the Wangs to The Celestial Bar, On the screen he has been seen in The Bachelor an most memorable songs. Moreover, they have brought where Linda is employed as a singer, knowing that Party and Kiss Them for Me, and appeared at the to the stage two splendid young stars, the bewitch- when they find this out, the marriage will be can- Brussels Exposition in The Time of Your Life. Pat Suzuki ing Miyoshi Umeki and the electric Pat Suzuki, to celled. Linda, unaware of Sammy’s plan, has a fine Ed Kenney scored his first success in his native (Courtesy of RCA Victor Records) brighten not only the new season but those to time at the party and sings the praises of life in Honolulu singing the leads in Oklahoma! and follow. San Francisco (Grant Avenue). Returning to the Carousel. This was followed by a bit part on Broad- Choreography by Carol Haney @ Scenery by Essentially a sunnily warm-hearted play, Flower bar, she tells Sammy and her seamstress Helen way and studies at the American Theatre Wing Pro- Oliver Smith @ Costumes by Irene Sharaff ® Drum Song nevertheless strikes deeply in its exam- Chao (Arabella Hong) that she is quitting to marry fessional Training Center on a Rodgers and Ham- Lighting by Peggy Clark e Orchestrations by ination of the hopeless love of Helen Chao and the Wang Ta. Helen, who has silently loved Wang Ta merstein scholarship, which led in turn to his as- Robert Russell Bennett ¢ Musical Director— perplexing differences existing among Chinese, for many years, is heart-broken (Love Look Away). signment as the hero of Flower Drum Song. Keye Salvatore Dell’Isola © Dance Arrangements Americans and Chinese-Americans. But when Miss When the Wang party arrives at the club a singer Luke is most familiar to audiences for his work by Luther Henderson, Jr. ® Produced for Umeki smiles that winning smile, or Miss Suzuki (Anita Ellis) is singing a rowdy song (Fan Tan m auvuon piccures—he was Charlie Chan’s Number records by Goddard Lieberson cuts loose with a lively song, there is an irresistible Fannie), and the master of ceremonies (Jack Soo) One Son for more than twenty years. He is also a enchantment that warms the theatre. And there are presents an even rowdier selection (Gliding Through distinguished artist who has exhibited widely. Ara- My Memoree) in which Linda turns up, doing a bella Hong is a graduate of the Juilliard School of Musical Numbers also the songs, with Mr. Rodgers writing with the erace and vigor of his finest work, and Mr. Ham- strip-tease. The Wangs leave in horrified astonish- Music, and makes her Broadway debut in Flower Overture..5 655 0 ot ee Se we os Orchestra merstein providing lyrics of uncommon pertinence ment and Sammy is happy that his plan has suc- Drum Song. She has won several major awards You Are Beautiful. .Ed Kenney, Juanita Hall and lilt. As this recording by the original Broad- ceeded. for her performances. in concert and opera. the celebrated The confused Wang Ta cannot make up his mind A simple listing of the works of Richard Rodgers A Hundred Million Miracles. .Miyoshi Umeki, way cast-so. delightfully demonstrates, authors are at the peak of their form. whether he prefers Mei Li or Linda Low, and turns and Oscar Hammerstein II is sufficient to establish Conrad Yama, Keye Luke, The opening of Flower Drum Song finds the house- briefly to Helen Chao for comfort. Old Mr. Wang their pre-eminence in the American musical theatre: Juanita Hall, Rose Quong hold of Wang Chi Yang (Keye Luke) faced with and Madam Liang, dismayed by the turn of events, Oklahoma!, Carousel, the motion picture State Fair, express their exasperation at The Other Generation, Allegro, South Pacific, Me and Juliet, The King I Enjoy Being a Girl. ........... Pat Suzuki problems of adjustment. Mr. Wang himself is a Chinese gentleman of the old school, his son Wang and Dr. Li and Mei Li leave the house, determining and I, Pipe Dream, the television production Cin- I Am Going to Like It Here. .Miyoshi Umeki Ta (Ed Kenney) is caught between Chinese tra- to hold Sammy Fong to his marriage contract. By derella. These alone would make their stature like a God... ..-..55 032 «=e. :.; Ed Kenney dition and American ways, his second son Wang this time, however, Sammy has proposed to Linda secure. But in addition, Mr. Rodgers has written and been accepted, and they are happily looking with the late Lorenz Hart such shows as Pal Joey, Chop Suey... .. Juanita Hall, Pat Adiarte, San (Pat Adiarte) is entirely Americanized, and his sister-in-law, Madam Liang (Juanita Hall), is forward to their lives together (Sunday). When Dr. The Boys from Syracuse, On Your Toes, Babes in Ensemble an enthusiastic candidate for citizenship. Madam Li presents his case against Sammy to The Three Arms and many others, while Mr. Hammerstein, Hon't Marry Me... 23....23. Larry Blyden, Liang and Wang Ta discuss the methods of choos- Family Association, it is decided that Sammy must with various other distinguished composers, has - Miyoshi Umeki ing a wife, and Wang Ta tells her he has made his honor the contract, and the Lis take up residence written Show Boat, Carmen Jones, Music in the own choice, and how he will propose to her (You in his apartment as preparations for the wedding Air, New Moon, The Desert Song, and Rose Marie, Grant Avenue........ Pat Suzuki, Ensemble Are Beautiful). Sammy Fong (Larry Blyden), begin. Wang Ta belatedly discovers that it is Mei to mention only a few. In Flower Drum Song, Mr. Love Look Away............ Arabella Hong owner of The Celestial Bar, arrives and announces Li he loves, and they rack their brains for a way Rodgers and Mr. Hammerstein are joined for the that his mail-order bride has arrived from China. out of the dilemma. Young Wang San and his first time by another eminent man of the theatre. Fan Tan Fannie...... Anita Ellis, Ensemble However, he is in love with someone else, and suc- friends are amazed at the difficulties their elders Joseph Fields, who is co-producer and co-author vi Gliding Through My Memoree..... Jack Soo ceeds in selling the contract to old Mr. Wang. He get into (The Other Generation—Reprise) but even the book. Mr. Fields is the author of The Dough- The Other Generation......... Juanita Hall, then introduces the bride, Mei Li (Miyoshi Umek:i) they cannot find a way out. As the wedding pro- girls, and, with Jerome Chodorov, of such hits as cession winds its way to the rooms of The Three Wonderful Town, Junior Miss, Anniversary Waltz Keye Luke and her father, Dr.