IRENE WORTH - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 07/13/1982 - HFSID 300542

IRENE WORTH
Handwritten letter to John Willis, chief editor of Theatre World, wishing him a happy summer. She's off to London and Scotland.
Autograph Letter signed: "Irene W", 1 page, 6x4¼. New York, N.Y., 1982 July 13. On illustrated note card to John Willis in New York City. In full: "Thank you for your sweet birthday card - happy summer to you. I'm off to London and Scotland." IRENE WORTH (1916-2002, born Harriet Abrams in Fairbury, Nebraska) was an American actress. Most of her performances were in London's West End, frequently playing Shakespearean roles at the Old Vic theatre. But she got her start in American stage and won three Tony Awards in the original Broadway production of Edward Albee's Tiny Alice (1961), in Sweet Bird of Youth (1965) and in Neil Simon's Lost in Yonkers (1991). She also appeared in 30 movies and TV shows between 1948 and 1999 received a British Film Academy Award for Best British Actress in the 1958 movie Orders to Kill. Theatre World, founded in 1945 by Daniel Blum, is America's oldest annual record of Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional theatre, referenced by industry professionals, historians, students and theatre fans worldwide. Until 1998, when a separate nonprofit corporation was established, Theatre World's editorial staff bestowed the prestigious Theatre World Awards for outstanding Broadway and Off-Broadway debuts. Screen World (from 1950) and Dance World (from 1966), administered from the same office, furnished comprehensive information on those entertainment genres. John A. Willis (1916-2010), active in Theatre World from the beginning, became its chief editor in 1965, holding that position until 2008. Willis is regarded as one of the foremost theatre and film historians of the 20th century. While producing (and presenting) the annual Theatre World Awards, Willis also served on the nominating committee for the Tony Awards. Theatre World, which received its own Tony for Excellence in Theatre in 2001, continues under chief editor Ben Hodges. Fine condition.