Theatre and Performance Studies Commons^™

The Pajama Game, Otterbein University Theatre And Dance Department

1962-1963 Season

The Pajama Game is a musical based on the 1953 novel 7½ Cents by Richard Bissell. The book is by George Abbott and Richard Bissell; the music and lyrics are by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The story deals with labor troubles in a pajama factory, where workers' demands for a seven-and-a-half cent raise are going unheeded. In the midst of this ordeal, love blossoms between Babe, the grievance committee head, and Sid, the new factory superintendent.

Jean Giraudoux, Anachronizer Of Myth, Larry Allen Fletcher

Graduate Student Research Papers

This paper will attempt to show the anachronism of setting, theme, tradition, character delineation, and speech that Giraudoux deliberately puts into his dramatic world. Only two of his neo-Hellenic plays are studied in detail tor this paper, Amphytryon 38 and Tiger at the Gates (In France called La Guerre de Trois n’aura pas lieu--The Trojan War will not take place). His third neo-Hellenic play, Electra, will be commented upon briefly. The paper will also attempt to show how Giraudoux's anachronism is used as a device to give contemporary meaning to traditional myth. The plays are considered as dramatic literature, not …

Death Of A Salesman, Otterbein University Theatre And Dance Department

1961-1962 Season

Death of a Salesman is a 1949 play written by American playwright Arthur Miller. It was the recipient of the 1949 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Tony Award for Best Play. The play premiered on Broadway in February 1949, running for 742 performances, and has been revived on Broadway four times, winning three Tony Awards for Best Revival. It is widely considered to be one of the greatest plays of the 20th century.

John Brown's Body, Otterbein University Theatre And Dance Department

1961-1962 Season

Stephen Vincent Benet, one of America's outstanding poets of this century, was born in 1898 and died in 1943. A direct descendant of military men, Benet published his most important work, "John Brown's Body," in 1928. This long narrative poem captured the Pulitzer Prize and has sold over 600,000 copies.

In 1952 Charles Laughton conceived the idea of staging "John Brown's Body." In late 1952 and throughout 1953 the production was a smash hit on Broadway and on-tour across the country. The production starred Tyrone Power, Judith Anderson and Raymond Massey. Laughton cut the long poem from its original 334-page …

An Evaluation Of The Beginnings, Purposes, And Influence Of Drama In Ogden From 1840 To 1900, Harold R. Oaks

Theses and Dissertations

During the latter half of the nineteenth century Utah was undergoing physical and cultural colonization. Four months after the first Mormon pioneers arrived in the valley of the Great Salt Lake, the site of Ogden city had been purchased from Miles Goodyear. The city developed slowly during its first twenty years, but when the railroad joined at Promontory Point in 1869, Ogden became the junction of East and West. The city experienced a peculiar economic and cultural boom not known elsewhere in the Mountain West or along the railroad due to the predominately Mormon population which now was imposed upon …

The Hasty Heart

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University’s Fall 1961 performance of The Hasty Heart by John Patrick.

The Hasty Heart tells the story of a group of Allied soldiers in a temporary British hospital after World War II, and their efforts to befriend a rather distant soldier with a terminal illness.

The Boy Friend, Otterbein University Theatre And Dance Department

1961-1962 Season

Set against the backdrop of the French Riviera, this romantic spoof of 1920s musical comedies tells the story of English heiress, Polly, who is longing for only one thing: a boy friend. Polly's father, convinced that any boy who isn't wealthy will court Polly strictly for her financial situation, forbids her to engage any potential suitors. Honoring his wishes, Polly explains to Tony, the messenger boy with whom she's fallen in love, that she is no rich girl. This is just the tip of the mistaken identity iceberg, as love proceeds to find its way charmingly through nearly every member …

Inherit The Wind, Otterbein University Theatre And Dance Department

1960-1961 Season

Inherit the Wind is a fictionalized account of the 1925 Scopes "Monkey" Trial, which resulted in John T. Scopes' conviction for teaching Charles Darwin's theory of evolution to a high school science class, contrary to a Tennessee state law.

J.B.

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University’s Spring 1961 performance of J.B. by Archibald MacLeish.

J.B. is a retelling of the Biblical story of Job by two old circus performers by the name of Zuss and Nickles (Zeus and Satan), who make a wager and play out Job’s story in modern America where Job is a millionaire named J.B..

This was part of the 1961 Fine Arts Festival and performed in Maytag Auditorium.

The Bald Soprano, Otterbein University Theatre And Dance Department

1960-1961 Season

The Smiths are a traditional couple from London who have invited another couple, the Martins, over for a visit. They are joined later by the Smiths' maid, Mary, and the local fire chief, who is also Mary's lover. The two families engage in meaningless banter, telling stories and relating nonsensical poems. At one point, Mrs. Martin converses with her husband as if he were a stranger she just met. As the fire chief turns to leave, he mentions "the bald soprano" in passing, which has a very unsettling effect on the others. Mrs. Smith replies that "she always styles her …

The Glass Menagerie

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University’s Spring 1961 performance of The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams.

The Glass Menagerie is a memory play narrated and led by a young man named Tom, who recounts life with his mother Amanda and sister Laura. The play has strong autobiographical elements of the playwright Tennessee and his experience growing up with his mother and sister.

The Gazebo, Otterbein University Theatre And Dance Department

1960-1961 Season

The Gazebo is an upbeat play by Alec Coppel. Elliott Nash, a television playwright is married to Nell, a successful Broadway thespian. Nell had an ignominious moment in her past when she posed for some photos best left in obscurity and now Elliott is being blackmailed by the owner of the photos. Elliot's solution is to carry out a carefully executed murder and then bury the body underneath a gazebo being constructed in the backyard. Although the dastardly deed goes off without a hitch, the body of the blackmailer turns up elsewhere, leaving Elliott to track down who it was …

Teahouse Of The August Moon, Otterbein University Theatre And Dance Department

1960-1961 Season

In the aftermath of World War II, the island of Okinawa was occupied by the American military. Captain Fisby, a young army officer, is transferred to a tiny Okinawa island town called Tobiki by his commanding officer, Colonel Purdy. Fisby is tasked with the job of implementing "Plan B". The plan calls for teaching the natives all things American and the first step for Capt. Fisby is to establish a democratically elected mayor, chief of agriculture, chief of police, and president of the Ladies League for Democratic Action. Plan "B" also calls for the building of a schoolhouse (Pentagon shaped), …

Ten Nights In A Barroom, Otterbein University Theatre And Dance Department

1959-1960 Season

In the course of which play such alternate scenes of joy and misery, hope and despair, will be portrayed as cannot fail to rivet the attention of the spectator and excite the warmest sympathies of the suffering so patiently endured. The author has put his inventions to rack and every power of his imagination to full flight to embody such characters never yet essayed in any drama.

The fine and appropriate sceneries of beautiful hues and rich tints in one general and grand effect and bringing into request the complete machineries of this elaborately constructed stage and executed by eminent …

King Of Hearts, Otterbein University Theatre And Dance Department

1959-1960 Season

The play was originally conceived by Eleanor Brooke and was written as an exercise in the drama course at Catholic University in which she was a pupil of Walter Kerr, drama critic of the New York Herald Tribune. Her teacher encouraged her to rewrite the play, which she did several times, and she finally asked a fellow drama student Jean Kerr, wife of Mr. Kerr, to collaborate with her in the final revision.

The play opened on April 1, 1954, with Cloris Leachman, Jackie Cooper, and Donald Cook in starring roles, and closed on November 27 of the same year. …

The Diary Of Anne Frank, Otterbein University Theatre And Dance Department

1959-1960 Season

The Diary of Anne Frank, found by Anne's father after the young girl's death, was translated into English and published in a two-part condensation in the magazine, Commentary, and then in book form · in 1952. Its simplicity and candor moved it immediately to the best seller list. Producer Cheryl Crawford obtained the state rights to the book not long after it was published, and Meyer Levin was assigned to its adaptation. But then, quietly, Miss Crawford allowed her option on the rights to drop. Kermit Bloomgarden, veteran producer, immediately picked up the stage rights and elected the husband …

Ah, Wilderness!, Otterbein University Theatre And Dance Department

1958-1959 Season

Ah, Wilderness! is a comedy by American playwright Eugene O'Neill that premiered on Broadway at the Guild Theater on October 2, 1933. It varies from a typical O'Neill play in its happy ending for the central character, and depiction of a happy family in turn of the century America. It is O'Neill's only well-known comedy. Ah, Wilderness!. (2017, April 30). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 14:10, May 23, 2017, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ah,_Wilderness!&oldid=777914403

One Acts, Otterbein University Theatre And Dance Department

1958-1959 Season

"The purpose of the Annual Freshman One-Acts is fourfold: first, these plays offer advanced members of Cap and Dagger an opportunity to gain valuable directing experience; secondly, the plays offer valuable acting experience and training to those Freshmen who are interested in dramatics; thirdly tonight's plays are the Cap and Dagger Dramatic Club annual Christmas gift to the students and faculty of Otterbein College, and the the village of Westerville; and lastly, to provide a greater variety of dramatic entertainment for our audience".

Anastasia

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University’s Fall 1958 performance of Anastasia by Marcelle Maurette.

Anastasia is based on the legend of the sole-surviving daughter of Russia’s last Czar. In 1926 Berlin, young Anya, suicidal and suffering amnesia, is chosen to impersonate Anastasia in a scam to collect ten million pounds promised to the missing heiress.

The Late Christopher Bean

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University’s Spring 1958 performance of The Late Christopher Bean by Sidney Howard.

The Late Christopher Bean is the story of a not well-off family who discovered they have inherited the paintings from an artists whose work has become very valuable, and how their greed impacts their home.

The Robe

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University’s Fall 1957 performance of The Robe adapted by John McGreevey from Lloyd C. Douglas’s work of the same name.

The Robe tells the story of Marcellus, a young Roman officer who wins the robe of Jesus when he is crucified, and how Marcellus’s life is changed after that encounter.

The History Of The Drama In Corinne And Brigham City, Utah, 1855-1905, Rue Corbett Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

It is hoped that through the inclusion of the history of the drama in Corinne, Utah, some interesting contrasts can be shown. Such contrasts are heightened when it Is realized that geographically the two towns are very close and that unlike Brigham City, and other Utah towns, Corinne was non-Mormon. During its zenith it undoubtedly reflected the typical frontier town characteristics more than did the Mormon town nearby. This fact provides opportunity for comparison of two societies as reflected in their dramatic activities. This comparison should assist in evaluating the history and contributions of Mormon dramatic activity by helping to …

History Of Drama In Provo, 1853-1897, Burnett B. Ferguson

Theses and Dissertations

This study will present as complete and accurate a history of the drama of Provo, from the earliest recorded activity (1853) to the decline of community theatre (1897), as available data provide.

An Analysis Of The Humanism Of Euripides As Expressed In His Plays And Reflected In Selected Plays Of Modern Drama, Robert Henry English

University of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

Because of the great importance of the human element in the drama of today we shall attempt to trace it from its first great exponent down to our times. Therefore, within the following pages we shall conduct an analysis of the humanism of Euripides as expressed in his plays and reflected in selected plays of modern drama. Our analysis, by necessity, shall have a six-fold purpose; (1) to analyze briefly the characteristics of the Attic theatre for which Euripides wrote; (2) to study the life and philosophy of Euripides in order to determine the presence of humanism; (3) to conduct …

The Merchant Of Venice

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University’s Spring 1940 performance of The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare.

The Merchant of Venice is a story of a Venice merchant named Antonio who must pay off a loan to a Jewish moneylender, Shylock.

"Rosemary--For Remembrance"

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University’s Spring 1940 performance of “Rosemary—For Rememberance.” A Romantic Drama in Three Acts by Priscilla Wayne and Wayne Sprague.

Forever True

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University’s Spring 1939 performance of Forever True by Priscilla Wayne Sprague.

The Lone Eagle

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University’s Spring 1937 performance of The Lone Eagle by Charles E. Roach.

Presented by the Play-Production Class.

Smilin' Through

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University’s Fall 1935 performance of Smilin’ Through by Jane Cowl and Jane Murfin (under the pseudonym, Allan Langdon Martin).

Smilin’ Through tells the story of a young Irish woman, Kathleen Dungannon and her romantic relationship with Kenneth Wayne, which is opposed by her adopted father, still bitter about a failed relationship with Kathleen’s aunt years before.

Seventeenth Century Golden Era Of French Drama, Vera P. Duplessis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Drama is a word belonging to the Greek language which means actions. It is applied to that form of literature which has action in it and is suited for performance.