I agree with Mr. Morgan about the theatre’s construction. I believe the Playhouse was built in the mid to late-40s.
However, so far as I know, Gertrude Lawrence did not appear at the Somerset Playhouse. I was a member of the cast when Paula Lawrence did a musical there in the summer of 1951 “A Connecticut Yankee."
Another interesting musical presented that summer that could be added to Mr. DeLuca’s list had a young Bob Fosse as the lead in "Pal Joey” opposite veteran movie actress Carol Bruce. This and other musicals (“Brigadoon,” etc.) were packaged for the summer circuit by Gus Schirmer, Jr.
Nothing left now except the echoes of distant memories.
I agree with Mr. Morgan about the theatre’s construction. I believe the Playhouse was built in the mid to late-40s.
However, so far as I know, Gertrude Lawrence did not appear at the Somerset Playhouse. I was a member of the cast when Paula Lawrence did a musical there in the summer of 1951 “A Connecticut Yankee."
Another interesting musical presented that summer that could be added to Mr. DeLuca’s list had a young Bob Fosse as the lead in "Pal Joey” opposite veteran movie actress Carol Bruce. This and other musicals (“Brigadoon,” etc.) were packaged for the summer circuit by Gus Schirmer, Jr.
I’ve tried to e-mail the Somerset Playhouse site but can’t seem to get through.
I was a staff member of the theatre during the summer of 1951 and can provide information on that season if anyone’s interested.
Mr. DeLuca’s notes on the theatre are quite accurate.
I can be reached at
Alan Campbell