A MUSICAL JUBILEE PLAY CAST - SHOW BILL SIGNED CO-SIGNED BY: LARRY KERT, TAMMY GRIMES, DICK "RICKY" SHAWN, PATRICE MUNSEL, CYRIL RITCHARD, LILLIAN GISH, JOHN RAITT - HFSID 301534

A MUSICAL JUBILEE PLAY CAST: LILLIAN GISH, JOHN RAITT, CYRIL RITCHARD, PATRICE MUNSEL, DICK SHAWN, TAMMY GRIMES and LARRY KERT
Seven members of this star-studded production sign the cast page of the Playbill
Show Bill signed: "Lillian Gish", "John Raitt", "Cyril Ritchard", "Patrice Munsel", "Tammy Grimes", "Dick Shawn", "Larry Kert", 60 pages, 5½x9. Playbill for a production of A Musical Jubilee at New York's St. James Theatre, opening November 13, 1975. Signed by all 7 on the cast page. LILLIAN GISH (1896-1993), born Lillian de Guiche, began her career as child actress "Baby Lillian" at the age of five. Lillian and her sister, Dorothy (1898-1968), who often toured with Lillian, made their film debuts (along with their mother, Mary Gish) in D.W. Griffith's film, An Unseen Enemy in 1912. Over the next several years, Lillian, who is credited as being the first true actress for recognizing the crucial differences between stage and film work and delivering carefully crafted performances, would make a number of films for Griffith, including The Birth of a Nation (1915), Intolerance (1916), Way Down East (1920) and Orphans of the Storm (1922). In 1923, she went to MGM, where she made La Boheme and The Scarlet Letter (both 1926). In 1930, Gish appeared in her first sound film, One Romantic Night (1930). Lillian, who was known as "The First Lady of the Silent Screen", was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for Duel in The Sun (1946) and received an honorary Oscar in 1970 for her contributions to film. Baritone singer JOHN RAITT (1917-2005) came to national attention when he took over the role of Curly in the national tour of Oklahoma (1944). The following year, he debuted on Broadway as the star of Carousel. He took his stage role in The Pajama Game (1954) to the screen (1957). He didn't much like film work, however, preferring to tour in stage performances. Raitt, closely identified with standards he had made famous such as "If I Loved You" and "Hey There". He had a one-man show in the 1980s. John Raitt is the father of popular singer Bonnie Raitt. The two appeared together, and sang at each other's weddings. British musical comedy star CYRIL RITCHARD (1898-1977) may be best remembered by American audiences for his portrayal of Captain Hook in the Broadway (1953) and TV versions of Peter Pan. His film appearances, though infrequent, spanned half a century, including a villainous role in an early Hitchcock film, Blackmail (1929). He met his future wife, Madge Elliott, when both were performing in London musicals in 1918. PATRICE MUNSEL (1925-2016) was an operatic soprano who, at age 18, was the youngest singer (and, by extension, the youngest soprano) accepted at the Metropolitan Opera of New York. By the age of 27, she had starred in more than 12 roles with the Metropolitan Opera. Affectionately known as "Princess Pat", she was admired for her many talents, which include singing, ballet, tap-dancing and even rhythmic whistling. She eventually married Robert Schuler and the couple had four children. The gifted singer also made a foray into acting: She appeared as Nellie Melba in 1953's film version of Melba and with Alfred Drake in Naughty Marietta (1955). She and her husband went on to write a book about their shared experiences: The Diva and I. DICK SHAWN (1923-1987) was a former nightclub comedian who debuted in 1956's The Opposite Sex. He appeared in a number of feature films, including The Wizard of Baghdad (1960), Wake Me When It's Over (1961), It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (1966) and The Producers (1967). Continuing to do stand-up while appearing in films, Shawn died of a heart attack while performing in San Diego. His live performances were so quirky and unpredictable that the crowd at first assumed that his collapse was part of his act. TAMMY GRIMES (1934-2016) studied drama at Stephens College in Missouri and New York's Neighborhood Playhouse before making her off-Broadway debut in The Littlest Revue (1959). Grimes developed a flamboyant, kooky on-stage persona with a resonant voice. She has a total of 12 Broadway appearances with two Tony Award-winning performances, as Molly Tobin in The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1960-1962, 532 performances) and as Amanda Prynne in Private Lives (1970). She also has over 50 movies and TV shows to her credit, including the sitcom The Tammy Grimes Show. LARRY KERT (1930-1991) was a singer, dancer and actor whose greatest successes came on Broadway stages. He was the original Tony in West Side Story (1957-1960), but was passed over the film role because he looked too old for the part. He starred in Cabaret (1969), and became the first cast replacement to be nominated for a Tony (as Best Actor in a Musical, 1970) when he replaced Dean Jones in Company soon after it opened. Kert had minor roles in several films (including New York, New York), and made guest TV appearances, including several on the Tonight Show. Fine condition.