Guide to the Programs and ephemra relating to J.C. Williamson's Annie Get Your Gun Australasian seasons, 1947-1963

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Summary

Collection number:

Annie

Extent:

15 items

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Acknowledgement of use this material should refer to the Ephemera PROMPT collection.

Citation of items from this collection should include references to author's/organisation's name, date, item title, Publisher and place of publication.

Example: J.C. Williamson (Firm). Theatre Royal (Adelaide, S.A.). 1950, Gilbert Sullivan opera season [theatre program] : The gondoliers J. C. Williamson Ltd [Adelaide]

Availability:

Available

Background

Content Summary:

The National Library acquired a major collection of programs, manuscripts and music from the J.C.Williamson organisation in the 1970s. The documentation of J.C.Williamson is of prime importance in Australia's theatre history. 'The Firm', as it was known, dominated Australian theatre going habits and tastes of the public for nearly 100 years. A comprehensive program collection is a major component of that historical record. For example, it enables the unravelling of the complexity of a long running touring show such as Annie Get Your Gun. Additions are constantly being made to the collection of J.C.Williamson programs to ensure that the Library has a comprehensive record of all attractions and tours produced by The Firm in all Australian cities. There are still gaps remaining to be filled in the collection as evidenced by the list which follows.

Printed materials in the PROMPT collection include programs and printed ephemera such as brochures, leaflets, tickets, etc. Theatre programs are taken as the prime documentary evidence of a performance.

Biographical / Historical:

Annie get your gunMusic and Lyrics by Irving BerlinBook by Herbert and Dorothy Field

The J.C.Williamson production of Annie Get Your Gun heralded the arrival of the new post-World War 2 Broadway musical on to the Australian theatre scene. The show had opened on Broadway in May 1946 and was an instant hit starring Ethel Merman. Just over twelve months later the Australian production opened in Melbourne, the traditional location for J.C.Williamson to premiere their latest musical offering.

As was common practice for J.C.Williamson they had endeavoured to find a leading lady overseas to play the role of Annie Oakley. Instead they found the right person in Australia, local vaudeville personality Evie Hayes. Born in America, Evie Hayes had been in Australia since 1938 with her husband Will Mahoney performing in vaudeville on the Tivoli Circuit. Together they had established the Cremorne Theatre in Brisbane as a famous variety venue. Her success in Annie Get Your Gun was instant and she went on to play the role for 6 years and over 3500 performances, a world record for an actress in a lead role in a musical.

Other leading roles in Annie Get Your Gun were cast with imported actors most of whom returned home to America. One major exception was Hayes Gordon who was imported for the 1952-3 tour of Annie Get Your Gun in the role of Frank Butler. Hayes Gordon remained in Australia and founded an influential school of acting and the Ensemble Theatre in Sydney, which is still a major player on the theatre scene.

With Annie Get Your Gun a success, J.C.Williamson soon ensured that more Broadway musicals were produced for eager Australian audiences. Oklahoma, Brigadoon, South Pacific, Kiss me, Kate, and Call me Madam followed in quick succession over the next six years. Towards the end of the 1953 tour of Annie get your Gun, the Firm staged Kiss me, Kate starring Evie Hayes which meant she was playing the two musicals almost in repertory. When both Kate and Annie finished, Evie Hayes took on the lead role in Call me Madam, again to great popular acclaim.

Arrangement:

Programs in the National Library' PROMPT collection are arranged chronologically: 1947-1950 Tour; 1952-1953 Tour and 1963 Season.

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