MARY (MRS. PAUL) CRABTREE - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 07/24/1980 - HFSID 318298

MARY CRABTREE
Over a year following actor/director Paul Crabtree's death, Mrs. Crabtree writes a letter to John Willis concerning her husband's appearance in Theatre World. Full obituary included.
Typed Letter signed: "Mary Crabtree (Mrs. Paul Crabtree)", 1 page, 8½x11. Crossville, Tennessee, July 24, 1980. To "Dear Mr. [John] Willis", in full: "Paul Crabtree's obituary was carried in the New York Times, Variety, etc. and numerous papers throughout the country. I am surprised that Equity does not have this information. I enclose a copy of the obituary for your use [item included]. Thank you for your concern and interest. Very Truly Yours,". Paul Crabtree's obituary (1 page, 8½x11) is included.Mary Crabtree (1921-2005) was a stage actress married to the famous Paul Crabtree-- theatre extraordinaire and founder of the Cumberland County Playhouse of Crossville, Tennessee. Mary Crabtree, who spent her youth in Pennsylvania and Crossiville before moving to New York City, met her husband in 1941 while touring with the National Company of George Abbott's Kiss & Tell. After years on the stage, the couple moved to the small town of Crossville where they established the Cumberland County Playhouse. Their first performance, The Perils of Pinocchio, featured 200 child actors and was such a success the entire county supported the Playhouse's funding efforts. Paul Crabtree was honored with the Spirit of Tennessee Award. Established in 1964, The Cumberland County Playhouse is now the only and largest nonprofit professional performing arts center in rural Tennessee. 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. Normal mailing folds. Creased and toned around edges. Otherwise, fine condition.