A History of the American Film
ANTA Playhouse
Previews Began: March 14, 1978
Opening Night: March 30, 1978
Closing Night: April 16, 1978
Music: Mel Marvin
Lyrics: Christopher Durang
Book: Christopher Durang
An evening of musical vignettes parodying films and film stars from the silent era to the present.
Musical Numbers
ACT ONE
The Silent Years……………………………………..Orchestra
Minstrel Song………………………….Contract Player #10
Shanty Town Romance……………………..Jimmy, Loretta
They Can’t Prohibit Love………………………………..Bette
We’re in a Salad…………………………..Hank, Salad Girls,
Contract Player #10,
Contract Player #9,
Contract Player #1
Euphemism…………………………………………………Loretta
Ostende Nobis Tosca…………………………..Bette, Hank,
Contract Player #10,
Contract Player #9
The Red, the White and the Blue……….Eve, Company
ACT TWO
Pretty Pin-Up…………………………..Eve, Loretta, Bette,
Contract Player #2
Apple Blossom Victory……………………………Bette, Eve,
Contract Player #6
Isn’t It Fun to Be in the
Movies…….Contract Player #10, Contract Player #9
Search for Wisdom…………..Loretta, Jimmy, Company
CAST
OPENING NIGHT
Maureen Anderman Contract Player #8
Gary Bayer Jimmy
Walter Bobbie Contract Player #1
Jeff Brooks Contract Player #5
Bryan E. Clark Contract Player #7
David Cromwell Contract Player #4
David Garrison Contract Player #10
Ben Halley, Jr. Contract Player #3
Swoosie Kurtz Bette
Kate McGregor-Stewart Contract Player #6
Joan Pape Eve
April Shawhan Loretta
Brent Spiner Hank
Eric Weitz Contract Player #9
Mary Catherine Wright Contract Player #2
Understudies: Stephen James (Hank, Contract Player #1), Carolyn Mignini (Loretta, Contract Player #2, Contract Player #8), Robert Polenz (Contract Player #5, Contract Player #9, Contract Player #10)