Wednesday, June 8, 2011

June 8th in Theater history















From Paybill

1925
Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart make their lyric and songwriting debut in The Garrick Gaieties at Broadway's Garrick Theatre. In the cast are Sterling Holloway, Sanford Meisner, Philip Loeb and Romney Brent.

1934 Gordon Daviot's historical play Queen of Scots plays at London's New Theatre. Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies is Mary and Laurence Olivier is Lord Bothwell. It earns 106 performances.

1980 Chinese traditions vs. Americanization is the focus of FOB which opens at the Public Theatre today. David Henry Hwang's drama, set in a small restaurant in California will, win OBIEs for Best Play and for star John Lone.

1997 Michael Mayer directs a production of Peter Hedges' Baby Anger which opens at Playwrights Horizons tonight. The play stars Kristen Johnston and John Pankow as the stressed parents of a boy who gets cast in an award-winning commercial as a girl.

Today's Birthdays: Robert Preston 1918. Alexis Smith 1921. Jerry Stiller 1929. Joan Rivers 1933. Julianna Margulies 1966.