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titles     on off  images   on off  sort by   title date  results per page         10  25  50  75  100    Rosina Lhévinne and Van Cliburn date unknown Pianist Van Cliburn is shown rehearsing with his teacher Rosina Lhévinne. She became his instructor at The Juilliard School and propelled him to fame in 1958 with his win in the inaugural International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. The win caught the attention of the nation and he was given a ticker tape parade in New York and shared the top of the charts with the likes of the soundtrack to South Pacific and Johnny Mathis. 1 images » Sadie Thompson September 21, 1944 A musical version of W. Somerset Maugham's "Rain," in which the title character was originally offered to Ethel Merman, who turned it down, and was replaced by June Havoc. The production was directed by Rouben Mamoulian, whose previous Broadway show was Oklahoma!. images available upon request Sadie Thompson circa 1944 A musical version of W. Somerset Maugham's "Rain," in which the title character was originally offered to Ethel Merman, who turned it down, and was replaced by June Havoc. The production was directed by Rouben Mamoulian, whose previous Broadway show was Oklahoma!. images available upon request Senator John Kennedy March 6, 1957 5 images » Seven Lively Arts circa 1944 The rehearsal for the original Broadway show starring Bea Lillie, Bert Lahr, and Anton Dolen. Music and lyrics by Cole Porter, with performances by Benny Goodman. Salvador Dali created paintings for the show and Igor Stravinsky composed a ballet. The revue about young people coming to New York seeking the arts was considered a flop after 183 performances. To put on the show, Billy Rose spared no expense to restore the Ziegfeld from a second run movie house to a premiere theatre. 13 images » Show Boat circa 1946 32 images » Show Time September 17, 1942 A highly successful (342 performances) vaudeville show featuring George Jessel, Jack Haley, Ella Logan, and Lucille Norman. It was the longest running Broadway show up to that point. images available upon request Silvia Weld May 26, 1942 images available upon request Sing Out Sweet Land (part of series: American History In Song) November 1944 Walter Kerr's colorful salute to American folk and popular music, produced by the Theatre Guild and featuring Alfred Drake, fresh from Oklahoma!, Burl Ives, and Juanita Hall. images available upon request Something For The Boys December 17, 1942 A musical comedy starring Ethel Merman with Allen Jenkins and Paula Laurence. Produced by Mike Todd, written by Herbert Fields and Dorothy Fields, with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The show featured choreography by Jack Cole and was his first Broadway musical. Three distant cousins inherit a Texas mansion located near an Army base and become involved in military and romantic maneuvers. images available upon request Song of Norway April 28, 1945 A loving and quasi-fictional biography of revered Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg, cast as a romantic operetta by Robert Wright and George Forrest. The show enjoyed unheard-of success for an operetta in the 1940's, running for 860 performances during the same period on Broadway as Oklahoma!. Choreographed by a young George Balanchine and starring Irra Petina, Helena Bliss, Lawrence Brooks, and Robert Shafer. 7 images » Sons o' Fun May 1, 1943 Originally starring Olsen and Johnson (Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson), Carmen Miranda, and Ella Logan images available upon request Sophia Loren as a Fashion Model date unknown images available upon request South Pacific April 25, 1951 From the rehearsal of the Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II musical that premiered in 1949 and ran for 1,925 performances. This series of images shows the two working out songs at the piano in 1951. 5 images » Spring Again October 26, 1941 A successful comedy directed by Guthrie McClintic featuring Grace George and C. Aubrey Smith. The plot tells of a long suffering wife subjected to constant stories of her husband's Civil War hero father at Shiloh who decides to recount his families real true story as a dramatized radio serial. images available upon request Storm Operation November 24, 1943 A Maxwell Anderson play produced the The Playwrights' Company. Anderson spent significant time on the North African front with General Eisenhower researching for the work, which was ultimately panned by critics and ran only 23 performances. Oddly, the play was selected by the Burns Mantle annual as one of the season's 10 best plays. images available upon request Stovepipe Hat May 12, 1944 Out-of-town tryout of the Walter F. Hannan, Edward Heyman and Harold Spina musical flop at the Shubert Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts. The production opened May 16th, 1944 at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut and closed in Boston, canceling the scheduled Broadway opening. Featuring Morton Da Costa and Parker Fennelly, choreographed by Helen Tamiris, with sets and costumes designed by Lucinda Ballard. images available upon request Street Scene circa 1946 Images from the Philadelphia rehearsal for the operatic version of the play based on the Pulitzer Prize winning book by Elmer Rice. Music by Kurt Weill and lyrics by the well known Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes, with Weill winning the Tony Award for Best Original Score. Set design by Jo Mielziner. The story takes place on a New York sidewalk and street and follows several low to middle class characters through various urban struggles, resulting in epic tragedy. 18 images » Sue Fuller September 1969 images available upon request Summer And Smoke September 10, 1948 The Tennessee Williams' play at the Dipson's Erlanger Theatre in Buffalo, New York. Scenery and Lighting by Jo Mielziner and Directed by Margo Jones. 25 images » Summer Theatre 1946 circa 1946 Includes James Barrie's "Alice Sit By The Fire" starring Helen Hayes and her daughter Mary McArthur. Also includes "Springtime for Henry" starring Edward Everett Horton at the Ivoryton Playhouse, Connecticut. images available upon request Sundown Beach July 8, 1948 Rehearsal, staged by Elia Kazan. 2 images » Sweet Bird Of Youth January 20, 1959 The Tennessee Williams' play directed by Elia Kazan. Starring Paul Newman as Chance Wayne and Geraldine Page as Princess Kosmonopolis, for which she was nominated for a Tony Award in 1960. Set Design by Jo Mielziner. 10 images » Take Her, She's Mine September 29, 1961 The rehearsal for the Henry Ephron and Phoebe Ephron comedy. Directed by George Abbott, Produced by Hal Prince, and starring Art Carney, Phyllis Thaxter, and Elizabeth Ashley at the Shubert Theatre, New Haven, Connecticut. 21 images » Teahouse Of The August Moon April 18, 1955 images available upon request Tennessee Williams date unknown A candid session with Tennessee Williams in his hotel room looking over some of his notes. 5 images » That's The Ticket circa 1948 A collection of images from the rehearsal, showing Jerome Robbins and Paul Godkin at the Shubert Theatre, Philadelphia. 13 images » The Barretts of Wimpole Street date unknown starring Katharine Cornell. 2 images » The Beautiful People April 15, 1941 Images from the opening of the William Saroyan play at the Lyceum Theatre, 1941. 22 images » The Big Knife Rehearsal January 7, 1949 Joan McCracken, John Garfield, Nancy Kelly, Paul McGrath, Howard Bay, Dwight Deere Wiman. 2 images » The Boy Friend September 18, 1954 The play featuring Julie Andrews starring in her Broadway and American premiere at the Royale Theatre. The play is set in 1926 Nice, France. 38 images » The Browning Version September 26, 1949 starring Edna Best and Maurice Evans 11 images » The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial January 21, 1954 Henry Fonda and Lloyd Nolan star in the Herman Wouk adaptation of the novel "The Caine Mutiny". A young James Garner can be seen in some images. 3 images » The Cherry Orchard January 6, 1944 The last play by Russian playwright Anton Chekhov about an aristocratic family that loses their estate to a man coming up from a lower social class. The play ends with the axe chopping sounds of the estate's cherry orchard being cut down by the new owner. Directed by and starring Eva Le Gallienne at the National Theatre. 35 images » The Cocktail Party January 30, 1950 A comedy written by T.S. Eliot, starring Alec Guinness and Cathleen Nesbitt. The play revolves around the search for meaning and was a surprise hit on broadway when it opened. 26 images » The Father date unknown Grace Kelly, Raymond Massey, and Mady Christians star. images available upon request The Glass Menagerie date unknown The Tennessee Williams' play that established him as a major American Playwright. The success of The Glass Menagerie started a long series of hit Broadway plays for Williams. Starring Laurette Taylor, with Set Design by Jo Mielziner. The included sequence of Laurette Taylor on the phone selling magazine subscriptions is considered by many to be the finest performance on a Broadway stage. 13 images » The Great Big Doorstep October 27, 1942 Dorothy Gish and Louis Calhern head an impoverished Cajun family caught in a Louisiana flood, when the doorstep of a patrician mansion floats on to their property. The doorstep installed at the entrance to their shack fuels their desires for a grander life, in this comedy by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett. images available upon request The Great Big Doorstep November 11, 1942 Dorothy Gish and Louis Calhern head an impoverished Cajun family caught in a Louisiana flood, when the doorstep of a patrician mansion floats on to their property. The doorstep installed at the entrance to their shack fuels their desires for a grander life, in this comedy by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett. images available upon request The Importance of Being Earnest date unknown John Gielgud stars in the Oscar Wilde play The Importance of Being Earnest. 1 images » The King And I February 1, 1951 The rehearsals for the Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II musical starring Gertrude Lawrence, with Yul Brynner, and choreography by Jerome Robbins. 17 images » The King And I March 12, 1951 Yul Brynner and Gertrude Lawrence star in the Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II musical that went on to 1,246 performances at the St. James Theatre. Directed by John Van Druten and Choreographed by Jerome Robbins, with set design by Jo Mielziner. It tells the story of teacher brought to Thailand to teach the son of the King of Siam. 24 images » The Late George Apley circa 1944 A George S. Kaufman comedy hit starring Leo G. Carroll as the title character, an ultra-conservative resisting change in 1912 getting by with his wit and a drink. Based on the Pulitzer Prize novel by John P. Marquand and produced by Max Gordon, the play was universally well received by the critics and playgoers. images available upon request The Late George Apley circa 1944 A George S. Kaufman comedy hit starring Leo G. Carroll as the title character, an ultra-conservative resisting change in 1912 getting by with his wit and a drink. Based on the Pulitzer Prize novel by John P. Marquand and produced by Max Gordon, the play was universally well received by the critics and playgoers. images available upon request The Littlest Revue May 17, 1956 A small but successful off-Broadway musical revue to close the 1956 season at the Pheonix Theatre. Lyrics and music mostly by Ogden Nash and Vernon Duke, with additional lyrics by several writers including Sheldon Harnick, John Latouche, and Eudora Welty. The cast comprised 8 actors including Charlotte Rae, Joel Grey, Larry Storch, and Tammy Grimes. images available upon request The Member Of The Wedding September 14, 1950 Based on the novel by Carson McCullers, starring Ethel Waters, Julie Harris and Brandon De Wilde, and directed by Harold Clurman. It tells the story of 12-year old tomboy Frankie Addams' struggle with jealousy as a result of her brother's upcoming marriage, and her relationship with their African-American maid that blooms from it. At the Empire Theatre. 8 images » The Merry Widow (Die Lustige Witwe) July 21, 1943 Rehearsals for the classic Austrian Franz Lehár 1905 operetta with choreography by George Balanchine and starring the celebrated singing couple Jan Kiepura and Marta Eggerth as Prince Danilo and the widow Sonia. Prince Danilo, a carousing rake of a chorus-girl chaser from the mythical land of Marsovia, sets his sights on wooing the richest widow Sonia with an aim to keep her riches within the kingdom of Marsovia. Conducted by the famous operetta composer Robert Stolz and directed by Felix Brentano. 7 images » The Merry Widow (Die Lustige Witwe) August 1, 1943 The classic Austrian Franz Lehár 1905 operetta with choreography by George Balanchine and starring the celebrated singing couple Jan Kiepura and Marta Eggerth as Prince Danilo and the widow Sonia. Prince Danilo, a carousing rake of a chorus-girl chaser from the mythical land of Marsovia, sets his sights on wooing the richest widow Sonia with an aim to keep her riches within the kingdom of Marsovia. Conducted by the famous operetta composer Robert Stolz and directed by Felix Brentano. 18 images » The Merry Widow (Die Lustige Witwe) October 3, 1943 First dress rehearsal images for the classic Austrian Franz Lehár 1905 operetta with choreography by George Balanchine and starring the celebrated singing couple Jan Kiepura and Marta Eggerth as Prince Danilo and the widow Sonia. Prince Danilo, a carousing rake of a chorus-girl chaser from the mythical land of Marsovia, sets his sights on wooing the richest widow Sonia with an aim to keep her riches within the kingdom of Marsovia. Conducted by the famous operetta composer Robert Stolz and directed by Felix Brentano. 5 images » The More the Merrier September 26, 1941 The comedy staged by Otto Preminger. It ran for 16 performances at the Cort Theatre and featured Keenan Wynn, Teddy Hart, J.C. Nugent, Frank Albertson, and Grace McDonald. images available upon request The Old Vic April 1946 In March of 1946 Eileen Darby embarked on a photo assignment to cover several productions taking place at the well known Shakespearean theatre The Old Vic in London. The images notably include Sir Laurence Olivier in Oedipus, as well as productions of Henry IV and The Critic. The images were combined into a photo story for LIFE magazine, including the cover page featuring Margaret Leighton, which was published May 6th, 1946. 83 images » The Patriots January 21, 1943 The first play produced by The Playwrights' Company for a playwright who was not a founding member of the group. Written by Sidney S. Kingsley and starring his wife, Madge Evans. The play explores the philosophic differences between Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton on the future of the United States. images available upon request The Rugged Path circa 1945 Written by Robert E. Sherwood, directed by Garson Kanin, set design by Jo Mielziner, and starring Spencer Tracy. Tracy plays a newspaper man who overshoots his boundries as an editor, only to escape the fallout by joining the Navy and meeting his demise on an island at the hands of Japanese forces. images available upon request The Rugged Path date unknown The rehearsal for The Rugged Path shows Spencer Tracy in an office during a read-through. 7 images » The Russian People December 12, 1942 An adaptation by Cliford Odets of a Konstantin Simonov drama, produced by The Theatre Guild. Elisabeth Fraser and Leon Ames are lovers in this story of the heroic battle waged by humble Russian villagers against the well-armed invading Nazi army. images available upon request The Searching Wind March 29, 1944 A scathing indictment of appeasement and the public's indifference to it, The Searching Wind tells the story of a husband, wife, and his former flame set against the rise of Fascism in western Europe from 1922 until 1944. Written by Lillian Hellman, and featuring Dennis King, Cornelia Otis Skinner, Barbara O'Neil, and Montgomery Clift. images available upon request The Skin Of Our Teeth October 14, 1942 Written by Thornton Wilder, directed by Elia Kazan, and featuring Fredric March, Florence Eldridge, Tallulah Bankhead, Florence Reed, and Montgomery Clift. Considered one of the best American plays ever written, this magical fantasy depicts the entire history of humanity in the persons of Mr. and Mrs. George Antrobus, their family, and friends. 3 images » The Student Prince June 10, 1943 An operetta revival with music by Sigmund Romberg and directed by Jacob J. Shubert, featuring perennial Shubert favorite Everett Marshall as Dr. Engel, Frank Hornaday as Prince Karl Franz, and Barbara Scully as Kathie. The show was toured endlessly in revivals by the Shuberts, who considered it a guaranteed moneymaker. A young Prince falls in love with a barmaid whilst studying at Heidelberg with his tutor, Dr. Engel. images available upon request The Sun Field November 14, 1942 The short-lived baseball comedy by Milton Lazarus, based on the novel by Heywood Broun. The flop ran for 5 performances and was called by one critic, "A lengthy anecdote." images available upon request The Tempest January 12, 1945 Vera Zorina as Ariel, Arnold Moss as Prospero, and Canada Lee as the monster Caliban in the William Shakespeare classic, directed by Margaret Webster. Produced by Cheryl Crawford, based on an idea by Eva Le Gallienne. images available upon request The Tempest January 18, 1945 Vera Zorina as Ariel, Arnold Moss as Prospero, and Canada Lee as the monster Caliban in the William Shakespeare classic, directed by Margaret Webster. Produced by Cheryl Crawford, based on an idea by Eva Le Gallienne. images available upon request The Three Sisters November 26, 1942 Katharine Cornell, Judith Anderson, and Gertrude Musgrove star as the three sisters in this distinguished revival of the Anton Checkov play, staged by Guthrie McClintic. The show featured Edmund Gwenn, Dennis King, Alexander Knox, Ruth Gordon, and, in a bit part, a very young Kirk Douglas making his Broadway debut. images available upon request The Whole World Over March 14, 1947 Joseph Buloff and Uta Hagen star as father and daughter in this amiable boy-meets-girl comedy, all crammed into a Moscow apartment during the Russian housing shortage. Directed by Harold Clurman. The show also featured Sanford Meisner, who later went on to found the well-known Meisner Technique of acting. images available upon request The World's Full Of Girls November 1943 A flop of 9 performances over 6 days produced by Jed Harris, written by Nunnally Johnson and based on the novel "'Till I Come Back To You" by Thomas Bell. images available upon request Theatre November 15, 1941 Posed photographs images available upon request There Shall Be No Night March 27, 1940 Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne star in the Robert E. Sherwood 1941 Pulitzer Prize winning drama about the Russian takeover of Finland in 1938. The show featured Montgomery Clift, Phylis Thaxter, and Sydney Greenstreet. images available upon request This is the Army circa 1942 Irving Berlin's revue, written as a benefit for the U.S. Army Emergency Relief Fund. The play was turned into a film version in 1943, successfully raising $9.5 million, becoming the most profitable film of that year. All of the cast and production team of the Broadway show were former or current members of the armed forces. images available upon request Three To Make Ready date unknown Ray Bolger 18 images » Three's A Family April 22, 1943 Written by the husband and wife team of Phoebe Ephron and Henry Ephron, the parents of Nora Ephron. A three act farce about an extended family crammed into a small Manhattan Upper West Side apartment. The play ran for 497 performances, well into the next season. images available upon request Tin Top Valley March 3, 1947 Produced by the American Negro Theatre, written by Walter Carroll, and staged by Abram Hill. The show opened at the A.N.T Playhouse in Harlem, February 27, 1947. The 3 act drama featured Charles Nolte, who later appeared in Billy Budd, and Frederick O'Neal, who became the first president of Actor's Equity. images available upon request Tomorrow the World/Elissa Landi August 30, 1943 A major hit drama about a well-meaning typical American family that adopts a Nazi youth who attempts to indoctrinate them toward his warped values. The play made stars of Skippy Homeier as the 12 year old Nazi youth and Joyce Van Patten as young American daughter Patricia Frame. Written by James Gow and Arnaud D'Usseau. images available upon request Two On An Island January 13, 1940 The Elmer Rice comedy about a boy from Ohio who meets a girl from New Hampshire while trying to find success on the island of Manhatten. The show featured a very large cast of over 90 performers including Betty Field and John Craven as the young lovers. Set design by Jo Mielziner. The show ran for 96 performances. images available upon request Two's Company October 29, 1952 Written by Horton Foote and starring Bette Davis. Choreographed by Jerome Robbins. 2 images » Watch On The Rhine date unknown Opened May 12th, 1941 at the Martin Beek Theatre in New York City. images available upon request West Side Story February 12, 1958 The classic Romeo and Juliet retold in modern times. Conceived, directed, and choreographed by Jerome Robbins, with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Produced by Hal Prince. 34 images » Where's Charley? September 1948 Starring Ray Bolger, lyrics by Frank Loesser, adapted from "Charley's Aunt". 1 images » While The Sun Shines September 8, 1944 The George S. Kaufman-staged English comedy import, whose laughs revolve around the wooing of a bride-to-be (Anne Burr) by a French airman (Alexander Ivo) and an American lieutenant (Lewis Howard), and the outlandish silliness of her father (Melville Cooper). images available upon request Wilkens' Fashion circa 1945 A photographic essay on the popular work of award-winning 1940's children's fashion designer Emily Wilkens. Several of the images in this collection were published in Life Magazine on April 9, 1945. 10 images » Wine Women And Song September 26, 1942 A revue-vaudeville-burlesque show that ran for 150 performances and featured Margie Hart, Jimmy Savo, Pinkie Lee, and Herbie Faye. images available upon request Winged Victory October 8, 1943 A poignant play by Moss Hart with an enormous cast of armed forces men, and uniquely, women. The show was written by order of General Arnold of the U.S. Army, with all proceeds benefiting the Army Relief Fund of 1943. It told the story of the growth of the Air Force, following six soldiers from civilian life to battlefield flight. Hart traveled 28,000 miles with Air Force men to research the project. It later became a 20th Century Fox film, retaining most of the original cast members. images available upon request Witness For The Prosecution date unknown 30 images » Yankee Point November 7, 1942 A comedy in three acts directed by and starring John Cromwell and Edna Best, featuring John Forsythe. Produced by Edward Choate, the show ran for only 24 performances. images available upon request You Touched Me September 25, 1945 The rehearsal of Tennessee Williams' play immediately following his success with The Glass Menagerie. He co-wrote the play with Donald Windham, based on the original story by D.H. Lawrence. The play stars Montgomery Clift and Edmund Gwenn at the Booth Theatre, New York. Produced by Guthrie McClintic. These images were taken opening day. 12 images » Ziegfeld Follies circa 1943 Upon the death of Florenz Ziegfeld in 1931, his widow Billy Burke sold the rights to the valuable phrase "Ziegfeld Follies" to her husband's long time rivals, the Shuberts, who staged editions of the follies in 1934, 1936, 1943, and 1957. This edition of the elaborate musical revue starred Milton Berle, Ilona Massey, and Arthur Treacher. images available upon request « no results match your search » Only 284 of the 1835 shows Eileen Darby photographed have made it to our website so far contact us and we may be able to find what you are looking for.

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