Menotti, Gian Carlo. (1911–2007)

"The Medium" and "The Telephone" - Signed Souvenir Program

Signed souvenir program for a double billed presentation of The Telephone and The Medium dated to 1947, signed by the composer and additionally signed and inscribed "To dear Paul" by Marie Powers, who played the titular medium.  16 pp., 9 x 11.75 inches (22.9 x 29.8 cm.), wear to cover and spine, surface creases and small edge tears throughout, else fine.
Originally written for the Ballet Society, the double bill of The Telephone and The Medium moved to Broadway, where it ran at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre from May 1 to November 1, 1947.  The Telephone, a twenty-minute long comedic "curtain raiser", tells the story of a man trying to propose to his girlfriend while she will not get off the phone. The Medium, an hour-long opera in two acts, is a dramatic piece about a con artist working as a spiritual medium and the two children in her care.

From the library of Paul McMahon, a critic, photographer and artist who worked for more than 13 years touring with Marlene Dietrich as the icon’s stage manager, announcer, dresser, secretary and escort, and later spent 25 years as an arts and entertainment reviewer and photographer with Gay Community News, Esplanade, Tommy’s Connection, The Mirror, Bay Windows and other publications.  (18457)


Signed Document/Item
Theater
Opera