Summary Information
Michael Stewart Papers 1960-1969
U.S. Mss 197AN; Tape 1038A
4.4 c.f. (4 record center cartons and 1 archives box) and 18 tape recordings
Wisconsin Historical Society Archives / Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research Contact Information
Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)
Scripts and tape recordings of several popular Broadway stage plays, including Bye Bye Birdie, Carnival, George M!, and Hello, Dolly!, all of which were written by playwright Stewart. The papers include a few conductor's scores and lyrics, and some notes and miscellany, but the largest portion is composed of scripts in various drafts, most of which are annotated. Also present are taped performances of Hello, Dolly!, with Carol Channing (1964), Ginger Rogers (1965?), Martha Raye (1967, undated), and Pearl Bailey and Cab Calloway (1967), and a tape of George M! at the Fisher Theatre, 1968, with tapes of piano and vocal auditions, George M. Cohan songs, and sound effects and sound ballet.
There is a restriction on use of this material; see the Administrative/Restriction Information section of this finding aid below.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-us0197an ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
Michael Stewart (né Rubin) was born August 1, 1929 to William E. and Kate (Dunitz) Rubin. He was educated at the Yale University School of Drama, from which he received an MFA in 1953. Stewart began his writing career by creating sketches and lyrics for a summer resort, and in 1955 contributed material for the Shoestring Revue (New York, President Theatre, February 28, 1955). He also wrote for the sequel, Shoestring '57 (New York, Barbizon Plaza, November 5, 1956), and for The Littlest Revue (Phoenix, May 22, 1956). From 1955 to 1959 Stewart also wrote for the television series Caesar's Hour on NBC. Stewart's first Broadway play was Bye Bye Birdie, which opened April 14, 1960 at the Martin Beck Theatre, and was the first of several Stewart successes. Almost exactly one year later, Stewart's Carnival, produced by David Merrick, opened at the Imperial Theatre (April 13, 1961). Carnival won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award in 1961. Stewart continued his success in 1964 with Hello, Dolly!, which opened at the St. James Theatre on January 16. Hello, Dolly!, winner of the 1964 Drama Critics Award, was directed by Gower Champion and produced by David Merrick, and like Bye Bye Birdie it was later made into a motion picture. In 1966 Stewart wrote Those That Play the Clowns, followed by George M! (1968), and Mack and Mabel (1974). He has also written novel versions of Bye Bye Birdie, Carnival, and Hello, Dolly!.
Scope and Content Note
The collection consists almost entirely of scripts, drafts, and tape recordings of several of Stewart's most popular stage plays. There are also a few conductor's scores and lyrics, copies of Stewart's novel versions of the plays, and notes and miscellany. All scripts were authored by Stewart, unless otherwise noted. The plays represented in the collection are Bye Bye Birdie, Carnival, George M! , and Hello, Dolly! . Although many of the scripts are undated, the researcher can trace the development of the story through the many drafts of each script, most of which are annotated. There are also a few screenplays from film versions. The Tape Recordings include Broadway performances of Hello, Dolly! by Carol Channing (1964), by Ginger Rogers (national touring company, 1965), two performances by Martha Raye (1967, undated), and by Pearl Bailey and Cab Calloway (1967). From George M! there are four reels of a performance at the Fisher Theatre (1968), and tapes of piano and vocal auditions (June 1967 and undated), some by Peter Howard; of George M. Cohan songs; and of sound effects and sound ballet for the production.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Literary rights are retained by Michael Stewart.
Presented by Michael Stewart, New York, New York, 1969. Accession Number: MCHC69-122
Processed by Ann Bloczynski and Menzi Behrnd-Klodt, July 1983.
Contents List
U.S. Mss 197AN
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Series: Plays
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Bye Bye Birdie (New York: Martin Beck Theatre, 1960)
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Conductor's Score for First Performance at the Martin Beck Theatre, New York, April 14, 1960
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Lyrics, undated
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Box
1
Folder
3
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Novel, by Michael Stewart, Lee Adams, and Charles Strouse (New York: DBS Publications, 1968?)
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Scripts and Screenplays
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Box
1
Folder
4
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Script, 1960
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Box
1
Folder
5
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Script, Tams-Witmark Version, 1960
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Box
1
Folder
6
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Final Stage Version (Annotated), circa 1960
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Box
1
Folder
7
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Script, circa 1960, with Replacement Pages and Author's Note, April 1965
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Box
1
Folder
8
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First Draft, Act II (“Let's Go Steady”), No Author Listed, undated
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Box
1
Folder
9
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Second Draft (“Love and Kisses”), 1959?
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Box
1
Folder
10
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Second Draft (“Love and Kisses”), undated
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Box
1
Folder
11
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Second Draft (Annotated), No Author Listed, undated
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Box
1
Folder
12
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Third Draft (“Love and Kisses”), undated
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Box
1
Folder
13
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Third Draft (“Love and Kisses,” Annotated), undated
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Box
1
Folder
14
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Fourth Draft, Act I (“The Day They Took Birdie
Away,” Annotated), undated
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Box
1
Folder
15
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Fourth Draft, Act II (Annotated), undated
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Box
1
Folder
16
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Fourth Draft (Annotated), by Stewart and Wezelle, undated
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Box
1
Folder
17
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Fifth Draft (Annotated), No Author Listed, undated
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Box
1
Folder
18
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Fifth Draft (Annotated), with fragment of Act II,
undated
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Box
1
Folder
19
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Rehearsal Version (Annotated), undated
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Box
1
Folder
20
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Acting Version, with Revisions, undated
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Box
1
Folder
21
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Script (“The Day They Took Birdie Away,” Annotated), undated
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Box
1
Folder
22
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Script (Annotated), undated
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Box
1
Folder
23-24
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Scripts (Annotated, Labeled “Las Vegas Version”), March 1962, undated
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Box
1
Folder
25
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Screenplay, by Stewart, with Extra Pages, Plot Outline, December 1961
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Box
2
Folder
1
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Scenes, Early Version, undated
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Box
2
Folder
2-3
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Script Fragments, Early Version, Acts I and II (Annotated), No Author Listed, undated
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Box
2
Folder
4-6
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Scenes, Act I
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Box
2
Folder
7-9
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Scenes, Act II
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Box
2
Folder
10
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Script Fragment, Act II, No Author Listed, undated
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Box
2
Folder
11
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Timetable, Work Schedule, Script Breakdown for London, undated
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Carnival (New York: Imperial, 1961)
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Box
2
Folder
12
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Brief for Plaintiffs-Respondents-Appellants in Carnival Company, et al. vs. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc., 1964
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Box
2
Folder
13
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Lyrics, undated
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Box
2
Folder
14
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Miscellaneous, 1963, 1966
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Box
5
Folder
4
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Musical Numbers, Piano Conductor's Score, from Premiere Performance, April 13, 1961
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Box
2
Folder
15
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Novel, by Michael Stewart and Bob Merrill (New York: DPS Publications, Inc., 1968)
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Scripts
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Box
5
Folder
16
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Original Version by Helen Deutsch (Annotated), typed September 15, 1960
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Box
5
Folder
17
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First Draft, book by Helen Deutsch and Michael (Annotated), undated
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Box
5
Folder
18
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First Draft (Annotated), undated
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Box
5
Folder
19
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Second Draft, No Author Listed, undated
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Box
5
Folder
20
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Second Draft (Annotated), by Stewart?, undated
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Box
5
Folder
21
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Second Draft, Act I (Annotated), No Author Listed, undated
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Box
5
Folder
22
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Third Draft (Complete, Annotated), undated
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Box
5
Folder
23
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Stage Manager's Final Operating Script (Annotated), undated
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Box
5
Folder
24
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Tams-Witmark Version (Annotated), Book by Michael Stewart, based on material by Helen Deutsch, undated
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Box
5
Folder
25
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Script (Annotated), undated
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Box
3
Folder
1
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Script (Annotated), undated
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Box
3
Folder
2
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Script, undated
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Box
3
Folder
3
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Scenes, Third Draft, undated
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Box
3
Folder
4-6
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Scenes, Act I (Annotated), undated
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Box
3
Folder
7-8
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Scenes, Act II (Annotated), undated
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George M! (New York, 1969)
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Box
3
Folder
9
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Auditions and Sound Ballet, November-December 1967
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Box
5
Folder
5-6
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Conductor's Score, Acts I and II, April 16, 1969
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Box
3
Folder
9A
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Extra Lyrics, undated
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Box
3
Folder
10
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Prompt Book (“Yankee Doodle Dandy”), Original Script Robert Buckner and Julius and Philip Epstein, undated
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Scripts
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Box
3
Folder
11
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First Draft (Annotated), by Michael Stewart and Fran and John Pascal, September 1967
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Box
3
Folder
12
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Draft #1, undated
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Box
3
Folder
13
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Second Draft (Annotated), undated
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Box
3
Folder
14
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Second Draft, undated
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Box
3
Folder
15
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Second Draft (Draft #1, Annotated), with Loose Pages, undated
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Box
3
Folder
16
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Inserts, Leading to Draft #2, Revised Version (Annotated), undated
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Box
3
Folder
17
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Pages removed from Draft #2, replaced in Draft #2, Revised Version, undated
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Box
3
Folder
18
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Third Draft (Annotated), April 2, 1967
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Box
3
Folder
19
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Third Draft (Annotated), April 2, 1967
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Box
3
Folder
20
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Outline for Third Draft (Annotated), undated
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Box
3
Folder
21
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Pre-Rehearsal Draft, November 24, 1967
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Box
3
Folder
22
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Pre-Rehearsal Draft, December 6, 1967
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Box
3
Folder
23
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Revised Pre-Rehearsal Draft, December 6, 1967
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Box
3
Folder
24
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Rehearsal Draft, December 26, 1967
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Box
3
Folder
25
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Script for New York Production (Annotated), Spring 1969
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Box
3
Folder
26
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Script (Annotated), undated
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Box
3
Folder
27
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Script and Notes, undated
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Box
3
Folder
28
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Script, undated
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Box
3
Folder
29
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Script, with replacement pages, undated
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Box
3
Folder
30
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Miscellaneous Drafts, 1966-1968
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Box
4
Folder
1
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Additional Pages from Out of Town Scripts, February-March 1968
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Box
5
Folder
7
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Sheet Music, Booklet, 1968
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Tape 1038A
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Tape Recordings
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No.
1-4
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Performance at Fisher Theatre, March 9, 1968
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No.
5
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Auditions, June 1967
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No.
6
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Auditions - Accompaniment (Peter Howard), and Singing, undated
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No.
7
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Cohan Songs, July 8, 1966(?)
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No.
8
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Sound Effects and Sound Ballet, undated
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U.S. Mss 197AN
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Hello, Dolly! (New York: St. James Theatre, 1964)
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Box
4
Folder
2
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Conductor's Score, circa 1963
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Box
4
Folder
3
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Lyrics, undated
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Box
4
Folder
4
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Miscellaneous, 1964-1966, 1969
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Box
4
Folder
5
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Out of Town Notes and Corrections, undated
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Box
4
Folder
6
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Story, by Michael Stewart, Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman, based on The Matchmaker, by Thornton Wilder (New York: Signet Books, 1968; originally copyrighted 1964)
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Scripts
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Box
4
Folder
7
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From First Performance at the St. James Theatre,
New York, January 16, 1964
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Box
4
Folder
8
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Revised Script, September 1, 1965
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Box
4
Folder
9
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Condensed Version of Script, September 1965
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Box
4
Folder
10
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Las Vegas (Condensed) Version (Annotated), September 1965
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Box
4
Folder
11
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Script (Annotated), August 1966
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Box
4
Folder
12
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General Version, August 1966
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Box
4
Folder
13
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First Draft Script, based on The Matchmaker, by Stewart, undated
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Box
4
Folder
14
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Rehearsal Version, Act I (Annotated), No Author Listed, undated
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Box
4
Folder
15
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Final Stage Version, undated
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Box
4
Folder
16
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Version 1 (“Dolly”), with Lyrics, Lists of Songs, Revised and Annotated, undated
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Box
4
Folder
17
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Script (“Dolly, a Damned Exasperating Woman”), undated
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Box
4
Folder
18
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Script (“Dolly, a Damned Exasperating Woman,” Annotated), undated
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Box
4
Folder
19
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Script (Annotated), undated
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Box
4
Folder
20
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Script (Annotated), undated
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Box
4
Folder
21
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Script (Annotated), undated
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Box
4
Folder
22
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Script, undated
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Box
4
Folder
13
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Opening Scenes, Early Drafts (“Dolly, a Damned Exasperating Woman,” Annotated), undated
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Box
4
Folder
24
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Opening Scenes, Pre-Second Mimeo (“Dolly, a Damned Exasperating Woman”), undated
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Box
4
Folder
25-26
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Opening Scenes (Annotated), undated
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Box
4
Folder
27-29
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Scenes, Act I, undated
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Box
5
Folder
1-3
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Scenes, Act II (Annotated), undated
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Tape 1038A
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Tape Recordings
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No.
9-10
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Performance by Carol Manning, New York, St. James Theatre, July 31, 1964
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No.
11-12
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Performance by Ginger Rogers, with national touring company, which opened in Tivoli Theatre, Chattanooga, Tennessee, November 3, 1965
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No.
13-14
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Performance by Martha Raye, St. James Theatre, May 13, 1967
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No.
15-16
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Performance by Martha Raye, undated
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No.
17-18
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Performance by Pearl Bailey and Cab Calloway, November 18, 1967
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