SHIRLEY MacLAINE at the Palace Souvenir Program + Opening Night Playbill 1976

Description

The lot includes SHIRLEY MacLAINE at the Palace Souvenir Program + Opening Night Playbill 1976
Souvenir Program
20 pages 9” x 12”  Photo filled including biographical, star shots and show pictures.
Opening Night Playbill   26 pages
9” x
5 5/8”
"Seeing is believing and this lady captivated me. Every facet of her act was superb—singing, comedy, dancing and most of all warmth and complete mastery of her audience. The lady is quite simply a lesson in professionalism for any other performer" - Elton John - 1976
It had been some twenty years since Shirley MacLaine had been whisked off the musical comedy stages of Broadway to become a major film star.  In 1975 she commenced a summer theater tour of a new musical revue about... well about her.  It debuted in Virginia, the state her birth and childhood.  While it was Norfolk's Chrysler Hall and not her native Richmond, it was touted as a homecoming.  There was just one problem.  Chrysler Hall was well known for having the the worst acoustics of any Theatre on the touring circuit.  On her opening night, things went even more "south'" as the sound system went in and out.  Shirley begged the audience to come back tomorrow, but they did not want to budge.  So she soldiered on.  The next morning the Executive in Charge of the Venue came to her hotel with flowers and apologies.  But, Shirley was gone, skipping out on all of the week's remaining performances.  A few weeks later the promoter brought in Pearl Bailey, a another Virginia native, for an evening of song season subscriber make good.  On her opening night the local orchestra blew the tempo of the opening number.  Miss Bailey said, now children we are going to just start over.  I understand that the other girl had some troubles and ran out of town.  But, I checked the price of  groceries (the U.S. was in a recession) and we are just going to start over and work until we get it right.   Her persistence paid off as the promoter wold later produce her return to Broadway with a revival of Hello Dolly.
The
SHIRLEY MacLAINE show landed at The Palace in April 1976 for a two week run that sold out immediately.  Despite a pan from the now long forgotten New York Times critic, she was a huge hit.  Her opening night was star studded and included the likes of Jackie O.  The show was brought back during the summer to coincide with New York hosted democratic convention.  The engagement resulted in a hit album and spring-boarded the next phase of films kicking off with The Turning Point.
SHIRLEY MacLAINE AT THE PALACE
, written by Fred Ebb; additional material by Bob Wells; lighting by Richard Wielder; music composed and arranged by Cy Coleman; directed and staged by Tony Charmoli; musical director, Donn Trenner; special choreography by Alan Johnson; stage manager, Earl Hughes. Presented by H. M, T. Associates. At the Palace Theater, Broadway at 47th Street.
WITH: Candy Brown, Jo Ann Lehmann, Gary Flannery, Adam Grammis, Larry Vickersplause.