Story By Frank Morriss
Pictures
By Jack Ablett
Saturday, June 23, 1956 - Winnipeg Free Press
(Article below picture)
Midsummer Forecast: Stars On The Rainbow Stage
If you see people gazing skyward these summer evenings they’re most likely connected in some way or another with The Rainbow Stage, which nestles in leafy Kildonan Park.
If the nights are balmy and rainless, it might well mean that Winnipeg has taken the first big step to rival Vancouver’s famed Theatre Under the Stars.
After a fitful and fateful beginning, during which an outdoor theatre was erected at the prodding of the Civic Music League, the Rainbow Stage is going into business with three elaborate musical comedies, each with a budget of $15,000 for a week’s showing, plus a play, concerts and dances. Local singers, dancers and actors who have been waiting for a chance to show their stuff have been mustered into the production mill.
The Rainbow Stage officially opens June 27 with a concert, but the big, most-hoped for premiere is Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun, in which Ethel Merman successfully strutted her stuff on Broadway for several seasons. It opens July 2. Interspersed with the concerts and dance events will be The Wizard of Oz and Kiss Me Kate, both big-time musicals, and Thornton Wilder’s Our Town.
It’s a varied menu, and the Summer Theatre association, operating with the blessings of the city and under the general chairmanship of Prof. J.A. Russell, hopes that it will intrigue Winnipeggers enough to keep the 3,000 seat theatre full enough to pay the bills and put away a tidy sum for bigger and even better plans in years to come.
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The summer theatre is operating in the best-posible way by getting the best possible people. James C. Duncan is acting as production co-ordinator and director. Musical directors are Eric Wild and Filmer Hubble, choreographers are Arnold Spohr and Nenad Lhotka, dramatic directors are Mrs. Peggy Green, Sid Perimutter and John Hirsch. Set designers are Jack McCullagh, John Graham and Ted Korol.
The Theatre is operating under the old theory that the play (or musical comedy) is the thing and instead of importing expensive stars, the leads are going to local people who have had experience on TV, radio, the Little Theatre, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet is supplying Paddy McIntyre and other dancers.
There will be, however, the return of a local girl who has made good in other spheres. Evelyne Anderson, who has been with the Bristol Old Vic school and played the lead in the Bristol production of Oklahoma is coming here to play the Ethel Merman role in Annie Get You Gun and will also be in other productions.
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Trying to gauge public taste these days is a job that nobody can solve… least of all Hollywood, TV or the concert impresarios. However, the summer theatre people have dug into their hats and pulled out the best that is procurable on the current entertainment market.
And, in the more flamboyant attractions of the musical comedies, don’t overlook Our Town. For this writer’s money, the Thornton Wilder work is the loveliest and best of the modern plays.
Good luck, and good weather, for the Rainbow Stage.
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A: Paddy McIntyre rehearses a wild Indian dance for Annie
Get Your Gun.
B: James Duncan, Peggy Green and Des McCalmont keep an
interested eye on a rehearsal of Annie Get Your Gun.
C: Pat Armstrong, Vinie Lifchus and Jack Weremy are Annie’s
brother and sisters in this rehearsal shot.
D: An arresting moment in Annie Get Your Gun.
E: Evelyne Anderson, who plays the title role, is obviously
infatuated with Gordon Parker.
F: Joan Karasevich and Bob Jeffreys are giving out with one
of the Irving Berlin hit numbers… this one being Who Do You Love, I Hope?
G: Arnold Spohr, Choreographer, puts the chorus through its
paces.
H: Sid Perimutter is directing Ken Winters (Buffalo Bill),
George Werier (hotel owner) and Murray Sennens (Chief Sitting Bull) in a comedy
scene for Annie Get Your Gun.
|
If you see people gazing skyward these summer evenings they’re most likely connected in some way or another with The Rainbow Stage, which nestles in leafy Kildonan Park.
If the nights are balmy and rainless, it might well mean that Winnipeg has taken the first big step to rival Vancouver’s famed Theatre Under the Stars.
After a fitful and fateful beginning, during which an outdoor theatre was erected at the prodding of the Civic Music League, the Rainbow Stage is going into business with three elaborate musical comedies, each with a budget of $15,000 for a week’s showing, plus a play, concerts and dances. Local singers, dancers and actors who have been waiting for a chance to show their stuff have been mustered into the production mill.
The Rainbow Stage officially opens June 27 with a concert, but the big, most-hoped for premiere is Irving Berlin’s Annie Get Your Gun, in which Ethel Merman successfully strutted her stuff on Broadway for several seasons. It opens July 2. Interspersed with the concerts and dance events will be The Wizard of Oz and Kiss Me Kate, both big-time musicals, and Thornton Wilder’s Our Town.
It’s a varied menu, and the Summer Theatre association, operating with the blessings of the city and under the general chairmanship of Prof. J.A. Russell, hopes that it will intrigue Winnipeggers enough to keep the 3,000 seat theatre full enough to pay the bills and put away a tidy sum for bigger and even better plans in years to come.
--------------------
The summer theatre is operating in the best-posible way by getting the best possible people. James C. Duncan is acting as production co-ordinator and director. Musical directors are Eric Wild and Filmer Hubble, choreographers are Arnold Spohr and Nenad Lhotka, dramatic directors are Mrs. Peggy Green, Sid Perimutter and John Hirsch. Set designers are Jack McCullagh, John Graham and Ted Korol.
The Theatre is operating under the old theory that the play (or musical comedy) is the thing and instead of importing expensive stars, the leads are going to local people who have had experience on TV, radio, the Little Theatre, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet is supplying Paddy McIntyre and other dancers.
There will be, however, the return of a local girl who has made good in other spheres. Evelyne Anderson, who has been with the Bristol Old Vic school and played the lead in the Bristol production of Oklahoma is coming here to play the Ethel Merman role in Annie Get You Gun and will also be in other productions.
--------------------
Trying to gauge public taste these days is a job that nobody can solve… least of all Hollywood, TV or the concert impresarios. However, the summer theatre people have dug into their hats and pulled out the best that is procurable on the current entertainment market.
And, in the more flamboyant attractions of the musical comedies, don’t overlook Our Town. For this writer’s money, the Thornton Wilder work is the loveliest and best of the modern plays.
Good luck, and good weather, for the Rainbow Stage.
