Bob Merrill was one of the most successful songwriters during the 1950s, with a string of novelty hits such as "How Much Is That Doggie in the Window?", “(If I Knew You Were Comin’ Id‘ve) Baked a Cake”, “Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania”, “Mambo Italiano”, “Honeycomb” and “Make Yourself Comfortable”. Longing to write more profound songs, Bob turned his efforts toward the musical theatre. By the late fifties, he had written music and lyrics for Broadway’s “New Girl In Town”, followed by “Take Me Along”, “Carnival”, “Henry, Sweet Henry” and eventually “Funny Girl” featuring the hit songs “People” and “Don’t Rain On My ... read more
Eugene O'Neill was an American playwright who is widely considered to be one of the greatest dramatists in American history. Born in 1888 in New York City, O'Neill grew up in a family of actors and spent much of his childhood on the road with his father's theater company. Despite this early exposure to the world of theater, O'Neill initially pursued a career as a sailor and spent several years at sea before returning to the stage.
O'Neill's early plays were heavily influenced by the naturalistic style of European playwrights such as Henrik Ibsen and August Strindberg. His first major success ... read more
Philip J. Lang was a musician, composer and music educator who taught at the graduate schools of music at the University of Michigan and the University of Colorado and was the orchestrator of more than 50 Broadway musicals including My Fair Lady and Camelot (with Robert Russell Bennett); Annie Get Your Gun; Applause; Hello, Dolly!; Carnival; and 42nd Street. Mr. Lang was an orchestrator for the Metropolitan Opera and a frequent musical arranger for television including Hallmark Productions, David Susskind, Radio City Music Hall and "The Tonight Show." ... read more
The Shubert Organization is America's oldest professional theatre company and the largest theatre owner on the Broadway. Since the dawn of the 20th Century, Shubert has operated hundreds of theatres and produced hundreds of plays and musicals both in New York City and throughout the United States. Shubert currently owns and operates seventeen Broadway theatres and six off-Broadway venues. ... read more
Roth is a Carnegie Mellon graduate who began her career as a scenery painter for the Pittsburgh Opera. She intended to remain in the field of production design until she met Irene Sharaff at the Bucks County Playhouse. Sharaff invited her to California to assist her with costumes on the film Brigadoon and suggested Roth apprentice with her for five films and five Broadway productions before setting out on her own.
Roth's first Hollywood film was 1964's The World of Henry Orient, where her designs included "monogrammed handmade yellow silk pajamas" for glamorous womanizer Peter Sellers.
Roth next designed costumes for ... read more
Oliver Smith was a Tony Award-winning scenic designer who left an indelible mark on Broadway. Born in Waupun, Wisconsin in 1918, Smith attended the University of Wisconsin before moving to New York City in the early 1940s. He began his career as a dancer and actor, performing in several Broadway shows before transitioning to set design.
Smith's first Broadway credit as a scenic designer was for the 1948 production of "High Button Shoes." He quickly became known for his innovative and visually stunning designs, collaborating with some of the biggest names in the theater world. He worked on over 50 Broadway ... read more