Program for the 1949 Rockland Summer Plays production of The Glass Menagerie, produced for the benefit of The Rockland Foundation, a nonprofit organization.

This 1949 production starred Helen Hayes and Julie Harris, and was directed by Alan Anderson, son of playwright Maxell Anderson. The Chairman of the production was Mrs. Maxwell Anderson. One of the Production Assistants was Mrs. Kurt Weill (aka Lotte Lenya).

The Sponsors, listed on the back page, are a Who's Who of the theatrical world, including: Mr. Maxwell Anderson, Miss Katharine Cornell, Miss Paulette Goddard, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Hammerstein II, Mr. Rex Harrison, Miss Helen Hayes, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Hecht, Mr. Alan Jay Lerner, Miss Carson McCullers, Mr. Burgess Meredith, Miss Lilli Palmer, Mr. Elmer Rice, Mr. and Mrs. Kurt Weill, Mr. Tennessee Williams, and many others.

Eight page program (two folded sheets), side stapled, 6x9.25 inches.

SIGNED by MAXELL ANDERSON, KURT WEILL, RODDY MCDOWALL, HELEN HAYES, JULIE HARRIS, and two others, as follows;

On the front cover are the signatures of:

MAXWELL ANDERSON, the Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, in pencil at the top of the front page; "Max Anderson / thanks". His signature and thanks are dark and clear. Maxwell Anderson is the father of the play's director, Alan Anderson, and was one of the Sponsors of the Rockland Summer Plays (as listed on the back cover). His wife, Mrs. Maxwell Anderson, is listed in the program as Chairman of the Rockland Summer Plays productions.

RODDY MCDOWALL, the actor, boldly in blue ink. In 1949 McDowall was 20 years old and in New York to become a U.S. Citizen and to break into Broadway. Around the time of this performance of The Glass Menagerie he and Julie Harris met and became lifelong friends. During the 1950s they both lived in New York and worked on Broadway, Harris becoming a major star, and McDowall managing to "break the mold" in how he was judged as an actor. During this 1950s period they also dated a bit and were both close friends with Montgomery Clift.

KURT WEILL, the composer, in pencil on the front cover. His signature is faint but legible. Mr. Kurt Weill is listed as one of the Sponsors, and his wife (shown as Mrs. Kurt Weill) is listed as a Production Assistant.

On the cast page are the signatures of:

HELEN HAYES, the renowned actress. Signed boldly in blue ink. Helen Hayes played Amanda Wingfield (the mother).

JULIE HARRIS, who was 23 at the time, signed her name very lightly in pencil, so lightly that it is almost unnoticeable if you pull your head back a ways from the page, but legible if you get your eyes close. Julie Harris played "Laura, her daughter". It's nice to have her early signature in this 1949 production, as faint as it is.

WILL HARE, a stage and screen actor, signed in blue ink. Will Hare played "Tom, her son".

JOE SULLIVAN, a theatrical actor, signed in blue ink. Joe Sullivan played "The Gentleman Caller".

The program is in GOOD condition,with a horizontal center fold, some faint droplets to the rear cover, and light signs of handling and use. A nice copy of this rare, multi-signed program.

Laid-in is a single sheet listing the two remaining programs of the Rockland Summer Plays: "Joan of Lorraine", written by Maxwell Anderson and directed by Alan Anderson; and "Down in the Valley", with music by Kurt Weill. The sheet has creasing at the top edge, and a center fold.

All performances took place at the Nyack High School Auditorium. I wish I had been there.

About the 1949 ROCKLAND SUMMER PLAYS (from the Nyack News and Views website):

******The 1949 Rockland Summer Plays marked the inaugural season of the Rockland Foundation, launched by a landmark benefit performance of The Glass Menagerie starring Helen Hayes and a young Julie Harris at Nyack High School.

Tennessee Williams, drove from Manhattan to attend the performance. On his way, he picked up his friend, author Carson McCullers,******