Mar 18, 2026 10:00 EST
Stage & Screen Featuring The Estate of Charles Strouse & Barbara Siman
258
The director's annotated script from the premiere of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Collection of American Theater Director Alan Schneider (1917-1984)
EDWARD ALBEE
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? a play in three scenes. 1961-1962. Original script heavily annoated by director Alan Schneider and signed on the title leaf by plauwright Edward Albee. Carbon typescript in a black faux-leather springback binder, 11 1/4 x 8 7/8 inches (28.5 x 22.5 cm). 271 leaves, with loose sheets of notes and an original Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? playbill laid in. Binder slightly worn. Thumbsoiled and crinkled throughout as expected in a working theatrical script.
Alan Schneider's working script from the original run of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? This remarkable script is densely annotated by the director of Virginia Woolf's original theatrical run. Here, Schneider wrestles with Albee's complex material during the sometimes difficult rehearsal process before the play's wildly successful first run. While many of Schneider's annotations deal with matters of blocking, action, and lighting, he never loses sight of the thematic implications of his decisions as a director. Of special interest are the brief, scattered notes throughout the first several leaves in which Schneider tries to give voice to the overall theme of the play: "portrait of people drowning and grasping for air," "A way of getting through life," "misplaced values."
Sold for $21,760
Estimated at $10,000 - $15,000
Includes Buyer's Premium
Collection of American Theater Director Alan Schneider (1917-1984)
EDWARD ALBEE
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? a play in three scenes. 1961-1962. Original script heavily annoated by director Alan Schneider and signed on the title leaf by plauwright Edward Albee. Carbon typescript in a black faux-leather springback binder, 11 1/4 x 8 7/8 inches (28.5 x 22.5 cm). 271 leaves, with loose sheets of notes and an original Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? playbill laid in. Binder slightly worn. Thumbsoiled and crinkled throughout as expected in a working theatrical script.
Alan Schneider's working script from the original run of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? This remarkable script is densely annotated by the director of Virginia Woolf's original theatrical run. Here, Schneider wrestles with Albee's complex material during the sometimes difficult rehearsal process before the play's wildly successful first run. While many of Schneider's annotations deal with matters of blocking, action, and lighting, he never loses sight of the thematic implications of his decisions as a director. Of special interest are the brief, scattered notes throughout the first several leaves in which Schneider tries to give voice to the overall theme of the play: "portrait of people drowning and grasping for air," "A way of getting through life," "misplaced values."
Stage & Screen
Auction: Stage & Screen Featuring The Estate of Charles Strouse & Barbara Siman, Mar 18, 2026
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Auction of the Estate of Composer Charles Strouse & Choreographer Barbara Siman on March 18, 2026
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Memorabilia, Artwork, Furniture, Decorations, Books and More from Their Manhattan Apartment
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Featured Section of the March 18 Stage & Screen Auction
NEW YORK, NY -- Fans and collectors from across the nation and beyond gathered in Doyle's saleroom and online for the auction the Estate of the legendary Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award-winning composer Charles Strouse and his wife choreographer Barbara Siman. Showcased were memorabilia, artwork, furniture, decorations, books and more from the couple's Manhattan apartment. The landmark sale was a featured section of the Stage & Screen auction on March 18, 2026.
Over his 50-year career Charles Strouse wrote the music for such iconic musical theater hits as Bye Bye Birdie, Applause and Annie, as well as the theme song for the classic sitcom All in the Family ("Those Were the Days"). Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin's partnership on Annie produced one of Broadway's most successful scores ever. "Tomorrow" and other songs from the production have since become enduring American musical standards admired by generations. Read More
Highlighting the sale was Charles Strouse's antique Steinway Model A Grand Piano that achieved $11,520, surpassing its $7,000-10,000 estimate. Manufactured in 1897, the piano was acquired by Strouse in the late 1960s and used throughout the composition Applause (1970), Annie (1977), and other celebrated works.
Among the memorabilia offerings that realized strong results were signed sheet music for the iconic song “Tomorrow” from Annie that sold for $1,280, many times its $300-400 estimate, and signed sheet music for “Those Were the Days,” the opening theme from the television series All in the Family, estimated at $300-500, which achieved $1,216. Also drawing interest at the sale was Charles Strouse’s director’s chair, printed on the front with “Charles Strouse” and on the back with “Annie,” which more than doubled its $300-500 estimate, selling for $1,152.
Stage & Screen
Property from the Estate of Charles Stouse & Barbara Siman was offered as a featured section of the Stage & Screen auction celebrating Theater, Hollywood, Music and Dance. Read More
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