Jun 5, 2025 11:00 EST
Stage & Screen
568
An excellent 1960 letter from Arthur Laurents about Ethel Merman's performance in Gypsy
GYPSY
ARTHUR LAURENTS. Letter complaining about the condition of his musical, Gypsy. [New York:] 15 January 1960. One page typed letter on one sheet of Arthur Laurents personal stationery signed in blue ink "Arthur," the letter addressed to David [Merrick] and Leland [Hayward]. 10 1/2 x 7 inches. Usual folds, fine.
This remarkable letter from Arthur Laurents, collaborator with Stephen Sondheim on the original script of Gypsy, regards issues with star Ethel Merman's performances in the show's opening months. Laurents informs his producers, David Merrick and Leland Hayward, that he is adding his letter to the growing collection of "performance problems" with Gypsy. Ethel Merman, according to Laurents, "walks through most of the first act. She is inaudible (strange as it seems, and if you don't believe me, check for yourself) at times complaints aber her performance keep coming in...Jack Klugman is quite bad. He has become 'musical comedy' in the old-fashioned sense of the term... The lowering of keys for Ethel has diminished the excitement of her performance to a large degree. If they must stay lowered the performance itself needs to be charged. It is not charged now; Klugman is not good; the result is a mild, disappointing performance of what was an exciting show."
Disappointed in the progress of the musical that had opened in May 1959 at The Broadway Theater, Laurents notes that one bit of good news is that they may be moving to the Imperial Theatre, which did occur. Gypsy closed in March 1961 after over 700 performances. An important letter from the opening months of one of Broadway's best-loved Sondheim musicals.
Sold for $3,520
Estimated at $500 - $800
Includes Buyer's Premium
GYPSY
ARTHUR LAURENTS. Letter complaining about the condition of his musical, Gypsy. [New York:] 15 January 1960. One page typed letter on one sheet of Arthur Laurents personal stationery signed in blue ink "Arthur," the letter addressed to David [Merrick] and Leland [Hayward]. 10 1/2 x 7 inches. Usual folds, fine.
This remarkable letter from Arthur Laurents, collaborator with Stephen Sondheim on the original script of Gypsy, regards issues with star Ethel Merman's performances in the show's opening months. Laurents informs his producers, David Merrick and Leland Hayward, that he is adding his letter to the growing collection of "performance problems" with Gypsy. Ethel Merman, according to Laurents, "walks through most of the first act. She is inaudible (strange as it seems, and if you don't believe me, check for yourself) at times complaints aber her performance keep coming in...Jack Klugman is quite bad. He has become 'musical comedy' in the old-fashioned sense of the term... The lowering of keys for Ethel has diminished the excitement of her performance to a large degree. If they must stay lowered the performance itself needs to be charged. It is not charged now; Klugman is not good; the result is a mild, disappointing performance of what was an exciting show."
Disappointed in the progress of the musical that had opened in May 1959 at The Broadway Theater, Laurents notes that one bit of good news is that they may be moving to the Imperial Theatre, which did occur. Gypsy closed in March 1961 after over 700 performances. An important letter from the opening months of one of Broadway's best-loved Sondheim musicals.
Auction: Stage & Screen, Jun 5, 2025
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Popular Stage & Screen Auction on Thursday, June 5, 2025 at 11am
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Memorabilia, Autographs, Artwork & Photographs of the Theater, Hollywood, Music and Dance
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Hosted in Collaboration with the Entertainment Community Fund (Formerly the Actors Fund)
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Consignments Are Currently Being Accepted for Future Auctions
NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle hosted the popular Stage & Screen auction on June 5, 2025. Fans and collectors around the world vied for exciting offerings celebrating the performing arts of Theater, Hollywood, Music and Dance.
The Glass Menagerie
Highlighting the sale was an extraordinary script of The Glass Menagerie, inscribed by Tennessee Williams to Jo Mielziner, the celebrated set and lighting designer. Mielziner’s annotated carbon copy, it sold for $11,520, many times its $1,500-2,500 estimate. His notes reveal early design ideas, including “wonderful!” beside Williams’ lighting suggestions. This script predates rewrites and was issued before rehearsals began in late November 1944. Their first collaboration, Menagerie became a theatrical milestone, with Mielziner’s visionary designs playing a crucial role in its success and in later Williams-Meilziner productions, A Streetcar Named Desire and Summer and Smoke.
The Entertainment Community Fund
Recognizing the importance of the performing arts to the fabric of New York, Doyle is proud to collaborate on this auction with the Entertainment Community Fund (formerly The Actors Fund), a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Lots 501 through 519 were auctioned to directly benefit the Fund, and Doyle will donate 100% of our Buyer's Premium on these lots. Featured are stylish costumes from The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. For further information on the Entertainment Community Fund, visit EntertainmentCommunity.org
Property of Technical Production Manager Jake Bell
Jake Bell has had a legendary career in the theater as Technical Production Manager for Sir Cameron Mackintosh's iconic musicals. Bell managed some of the most dazzling and technologically advanced stage elements in theater history: the famous falling chandelier in The Phantom of the Opera, the flying helicopter in Miss Saigon, the barricade of Les Misérables and so much more. Among the collection's highlights are annotated production books, scripts, props and memorabilia from Cats, Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, A Chorus Line and Phantom of the Opera, including a stage-worn Phantom mask presented to Bell at the April 2023 closing performance. View Lots
The Estate of Tony Roberts
New York native Tony Roberts (1939–2025) was a prolific stage and screen actor with a career spanning over six decades. A two-time Tony award nominee, he appeared in 23 Broadway productions, among them David Merrick’s Barefoot in the Park, Arsenic and Old Lace, and Promises, Promises, for which he won the London Critics Poll Award for the West End production. Among his numerous screen credits are six Woody Allen films, including Annie Hall, Play It Again, Sam and Star-Spangled Girl. He performed in New York City Opera's Brigadoon and South Pacific, and played Scrooge in A Christmas Carol at Madison Square Garden. Collection highlights feature original illustrations by Al Hirschfeld depicting Roberts in Arsenic and Old Lace and Doubles, his script from Star Spangled Girl, and a large group of awards and memorabilia. View Lots
“Costume Bibles” of Barbara Matera
Barbara Matera (1929-2001) was one of the foremost costume designers and creators of costumes on Broadway, working on more than 100 shows between the 1970s to the early 2000s. It was her invariable practice to create a costume bible for every show, with copies of the original designs, specimens of the fabrics used, and notes on the sources of those fabrics. This enabled repairs and new copies of costumes to be consistently assembled over the course of a show. Featured in the sale are costume bibles for Angels in America, Evita, La Cage aux Folles, Phantom of the Opera, RENT and even the Rolling Stones 1994 Voodoo Lounge Tour. View Lots
