NEAL WEAVER - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED - HFSID 318764

NEAL WEAVER
Theatre director and critic sends letter to John Willis, editor of Theatre World, about receiving his first ever edition of the book
Autograph letter signed: "Neal Weaver and The Meat + Potatoes Co." in black ink. 2 pages, 10x7 flat, 5x7 folded. In full: "Once again, Many thanks for the coverage you have given us in Theatre World - the first Theatre Worlds I owned were a sale package form a Marlboro Book Ad in the Sunday Times - I was a sophomore in high school in Paris, Tennessee. They came in the mail just as I was leaving for school - there were 4 of them, the first 4 volumes, and I believe the price was $4.66. All day long at school I snuck looks at them. And after school I couldn't wait to get home to pursue them. I sat down for 4 hours n the cold in some stranger's front yard and pored over them. And they still haven't lost their fascination. And I still know by heart the name of just about every actor who was in anything in 1945-46. Merry Christmas and Many thanks!". Neal Weaver is a theatre critic for LA Weekly, and he has been working in theatre for 65 years as an usher, puppeteer, movie projectionist, actor, playwright, publicist, editor and theatre director. His company, The Meat and Potatoes Co., was an Off-off Broadway producer of 92 productions in 12 years. 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. Corners rounded. Slightly toned. Slightly torn in bottom margin. Otherwise, fine condition.