Pictures of Broadway Stars in Summer Stock

[broadwaydanwi]

Posted: 2/12/10 at 7:50pm

Hello from Milwaukee!

I just posted 82 new production photographs of Broadway stars performing at Melody Top Theatre in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Click on the link in this message, and you will see pictures of these stars:

Jo Anne Worley in HELLO, DOLLY! and ANYTHING GOES
Arte Johnson in FINIAN'S RAINBOW and A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM
Holland Taylor in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
Robert Mandan in CHICAGO
Anne Jeffreys in FOLLIES and HIGH BUTTON SHOES
Leonard Nimoy in THE KING & I and MY FAIR LADY
Van Johnson and Harvey Evans in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING
Nancy Dussault as PETER PAN
Irene Cara in THE WIZ
Rita Moreno and Tab Hunter in BELLS ARE RINGING

Plus plenty of other shows starring Nanette Fabray, Dorothy Collins, Karen Morrow, Gretchen Wyler, Ann Blyth, Jane Powell, Ed Ames, Giorgio Tozzi, Margaret Whiting, George Chakiris, Orson Bean, Johnny Desmond, Mimi Hines and Peter Palmer!

I also posted a wonderful story about an apprentice who helped Betty White with her pre-performance jitters during a run of SOUTH PACIFIC in 1965.

I hope all of you enjoy seeing these rare, historical images!

By the way, the color picture in this message is from ONCE UPON A MATTRESS in 1974.
Memories of Melody Top Production Pictures Page

[Demitri2]

Posted: 2/12/10 at 8:06pm

Thanks so much for your post. Summer stock casting has always fascinated me. Some of my favorite musical roles performed in stock have even surpassed their Broadway equivalents.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/12/10 at 8:11pm

This is actually really cool!

[alterego]

Posted: 2/12/10 at 8:44pm

Fabulous.
Updated On: 2/13/10 at 08:44 PM

[alterego]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 9:05am

Does Summer Stock still exist at all?

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 10:01am

Oh yes it does. A lot of my friends are going to the auditions right now.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 10:08am

These pictures are wonderful. Thanks for sharing them.

I was particularly happy to see David Holliday in a few of them. I did "South Pacific" with him, ages ago. A wonderful performer, and his Emile DeBecque was terrific. What a voice!

[Fanb]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 7:04pm

These are great. Is that a photo of Nanette Fabray?

[alterego]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 7:48pm

I'd be interested to know just what "stars" appear in Summer Stock these days. The whole concept fascinates me, and living on the other side of the Pacific where we've never had anything like this I love seeing/hearing about it.

[broadwaydanwi]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 8:14pm

Not too many "stars" tour in summer stock. Sometimes a performer with TV credits will do a production or two over the summer, but the "star" system is almost gone in stock theatres.

Peninsula Players, in Door County, Wisconsin, is going to celebrate its 75th anniversary this summer. It is one of the last remaining summer stock venues in the country. Please check out the website; I put a link in this message.
Peninsula Players

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 1:06am

Penninsula Players may be one of the few EQUITY summer stocks remaining in the country, but there are a gazillion non-Equity summer stocks out there. Just ask all the college kids and recent grads going to the MWTA's, UPTA's and Straw Hats this month!

[singtopher]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 1:21am

Muny, PCLO, and Sacramento always get big names (at least theatre names) to do shows for them every summer.

[alterego]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 7:09pm

Who are PCLO? I know of the other two. Looking through the "star" names listed for the Melody Top and Kenely Players I couldn't help but wonder just what stars would fill those shoes today. What older movie and television people could do that work if these venues were up and running today? Not many.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 7:41pm

Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera

[jewishboy]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 8:08pm

I love the pic of Rita Moreno in Bells Are Ringing, thanks so much.

[alterego]

Posted: 2/14/10 at 9:59pm

Thanks fashionguru_23.

[beaemma]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 7:37pm

Those Melody Top photos are great! Just when I think one is the best, I find another I like better. An excellent website that really conveys the importance and fun of summer stock! I only wish one of the photos had shown me in the audience in the background.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 7:57pm

The Barn Theatre in Augusta, Michigan, is the nation's oldest professional Equity summer stock theatre. They're still going strong!

I got my Equity Card there ... way back in 19#*&@(.

Others who got their start at the good ol' Barn:

Tom Wopat
Marin Mazzie
Jennifer Garner
Dana Delaney
Becky Ann Baker
Jonathan Larson
Lauren Graham
Stephen Lynch
James B. Sikking
Robert Newman
Kirker Butler (Family Guy)
Denis Jones
Patricia Wettig


While I was there, I had the pleasure of working with Marin Mazzie, Becky Ann Baker, Tom Wopat, David Holliday, Robert Newman, Barbara Marineau, and a whole slew of talented folks.

http://barntheatre.com/

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 8:03pm

Leonard Nimoy played Higgins?! How wonderful/awful. I would have stepped on a puppy to see that.

[beaemma]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 9:52pm

Nimoy as Higgins may sound strange, but I was there and swear that he was excellent. Take away the pointy ears and you've got a skilled and versitile actor. He was also excellent in THE KING AND I.

[doubleentendre]

Posted: 2/19/10 at 10:06pm

Music Theatre of Wichita usually brings in some decent names also, or at least they have in years past.

Montego Glover has done a couple of turns out there, Stephanie J Block was in their Funny Girl, and I'm sure there's more I just can't think of right now.

[Fanb]

Posted: 2/20/10 at 1:29pm

Maybe the biggest "stars" don't exactly do summer stock anymore, but it can still be a good place to see some old favorites or some current Broadway performers doing roles they might not get to play on Broadway

[broadwaydanwi]

Posted: 2/25/10 at 9:53am

Hey!

I just added some new items to my "Memories of Melody Top" website: a bunch of autographed programs and magazines (playbills). Click on the link in this message, and you will see the signatures of Martha Raye, Betty Hutton, Rita Moreno, James Darren, Orson Bean, Stubby Kaye, George Chakiris and Karen Morrow.

I want to thank everyone who visited my site since February 13. You have helped me generate a lot of interest in summer stock, its stars and its unique place in American culture and entertainment.
Memories of Melody Top (Autographed Items)

[twinbelters]

Posted: 2/25/10 at 7:15pm

Thanks for giving me a reason to procrastinate further! Cool stuff! Nice to see digital archives like this. I've been working on one myself for the college where I work and study.