ROSEMARY HARRIS - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 10/24/1973 - HFSID 300643

ROSEMARY HARRIS
The actress pens a letter to John Willis, editor-in-chief of Theatre World, discussing her family
Autograph Letter Signed: "With Love/Rosemary" 2 pages, 5¾x8. Penland, North Carolina, 1973 October 24th. To "Dear John [Willis]", in full: "How simply lovely to get your birthday card! You are wonderful for remembering & very dear. I've just read in the N.Y. Sunday Times, we get it three days late up here in the mountains, that "Streetcar" closed on Sunday. I'm simply shattered. How could that happen. I understand the reviews were excellent- and for "the greatest play of the twentieth century" - Broadway must really be ailing muster it? I haven't been depressed before but this news I do find depressive. But meantime the autumn colors are ablaze up here & it's loud to stay depressed long. We're reveling in the Indian Summer in this "Season of mists & mellow fruit fullness". John is loud at work on a new book, Jennifer at a little Montessore school acquiring a little math. The knack of pulling ones toes away & I'm practicing house wifery and mustering the best way I know how. I do realize how fortunate I am. John, next time its Theatre World Awardtime, will you save me one of those lovely pieces of sculpture? The one Tom gave me was lost by U.P.S. when we left N.Y. The parcel broke open & things were scattered & not traceable. I was so upset. I'll be happy to pay for it as I know they can't be inexpensive. Ellis opens tomorrow night & I'm keeping all my fingers & toes crossed! It's not my favorite play but it is chilling! I know it'll be done superbly. Must close now & go to pick up Jennifer from school. Thank you so much again for my lovely birthday card." English actress Rosemary Harris (b. 1927) made her West End debut in The Seven Year Itch in 1952, her Broadway debut Troilus and Cressida (1956). In between she appeared in her first film, Beau Brummel (1954) Harris, who trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Old Vic, won a Tony as Eleanor in The Lion in Winter (1966) and no less than four Drama Desk Awards between 1972 and 1985. She won an Emmy for Notorious Woman on Masterpiece Theatre, and earned an Oscar nomination for Tom and Viv (1994). She has lived for 40 years in North Carolina with her husband, writer John Ehle. Their daughter is noted stage and screen actress Jennifer Ehle. 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. Lightly toned. Otherwise, fine condition.