The original production is not for the feint of heart. It vividly depicts racial segregation in the south from the 1800's and is a hard sell for today's audiences. "Showboat" is the classical American stageplay whether it's performed or not. Too bad we're not quite ready for it.
Miles Kreuger met with Showboat'sLibrettist/Lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II on 3rd August 1960 at his town House in New York when he gave Miles his original 1927 copy of his Libretto of Showboat. Oscar Hammerstein died 20 days later on August 23rd at his country home in Doylestown Pennsylvania, so Miles was the very last person to spend the day with him in New York. Such was his like and admiration of Hammerstein and his work.
@errolfan It's being performed at Chicago's Lyric opera right now. I saw the first performance of a new production. Not a wild fan, but it was well done and I understand how important this musical is for so many reasons.
@monitortop This footage was included in a special edition of the 1936 film version in which Mr. Kreuger provides extensive notes on the show's history. I highly recommend his 1977 in-depth book on the musical: "Showboat-The Story of a Classic American Musical." I especially love his assessment of the film versions. I only wish he'd update it to include notes on the 1994 Hal Prince revival. Regardless, it's one of the best, well written, and complete looks at the history of a musical out there.
The original production is not for the feint of heart. It vividly depicts racial segregation in the south from the 1800's and is a hard sell for today's audiences. "Showboat" is the classical American stageplay whether it's performed or not. Too bad we're not quite ready for it.
errolfan 1 week ago
Miles Kreuger met with Showboat'sLibrettist/Lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II on 3rd August 1960 at his town House in New York when he gave Miles his original 1927 copy of his Libretto of Showboat. Oscar Hammerstein died 20 days later on August 23rd at his country home in Doylestown Pennsylvania, so Miles was the very last person to spend the day with him in New York. Such was his like and admiration of Hammerstein and his work.
steph36uk 1 month ago
Amazing footage of an amazing, historic show.
3investigators 8 months ago
I never get tired of watchin git.
rafizztube 11 months ago
It's somewhat ironic that the best American musical cannot be performed today. Nice to see that someone recorded this for posterity.
errolfan 1 year ago
@errolfan It's being performed at Chicago's Lyric opera right now. I saw the first performance of a new production. Not a wild fan, but it was well done and I understand how important this musical is for so many reasons.
beejls 1 week ago
omg almost makes me cry!
moviegurl16 1 year ago
Perhaps it's the very first musical bootleg. LOL
rafizztube 1 year ago 2
@rafizztube Not that I agree with the idea, but, thankfully someone in THIS audience had a working movie camera.
errolfan 1 year ago
thats remarkable:) thanks soo much!
moviegurl16 1 year ago
This looks like the footage from Miles Kreuger that I once saw many years ago. Remarkable, and a delight to see it once more.
monitortop 1 year ago
@monitortop This footage was included in a special edition of the 1936 film version in which Mr. Kreuger provides extensive notes on the show's history. I highly recommend his 1977 in-depth book on the musical: "Showboat-The Story of a Classic American Musical." I especially love his assessment of the film versions. I only wish he'd update it to include notes on the 1994 Hal Prince revival. Regardless, it's one of the best, well written, and complete looks at the history of a musical out there.
LaMisereHQ 1 year ago
OMG! That's amazing!
rafizztube 2 years ago