1966
Winter Season - Phoenix Star Theatre
Bye, Bye , Birdie starring
Jan Murray
Quick story - show played for two
weeks so Dad had script rewritten with Conrad Birdie
having a back up band - Conrad and the Birdies - Band was a strong
local Phoenix band
know as the Spiders
- Lead singer was Alice Cooper
-
James Hammerstein, Director - Michael Bennett, Choregrapher
How To Succeed in
Business Without
Really Trying
starring
Rudy Vallee
Unsinkable Molly Brown starring Jane Powell
Pajama Game starring John Raitt
Music Man starring Norwood Smith & Eileen Christy
the King Family Story - March 21-27
----------------------------------------
Summer - Warwick Musical Theatre
-----------------------------------------------------------------
An
Evening
With Tony Bennett & Woody Herman
& his orchestra
June
27 - July 2
-------------------
A
Joyful Noise starring John Raitt
----------------------
An
Evening With Victor Borge
July
11 - 17
---------------------
Carousel starring Howard Keel
-----------------
Oliver starring John Austin - TV's
Adams Family -
July 25 - 30
---------------------
Pajama
Game starring Gene Barry TV's Bat Masterson -
August 1 - 6
-------------------------
How
To Succeed In Business Without Trying starring
Allan Jones - Darryl Hickman
-----------------------
-------------------------------
An
Evening With Jack Benny & Wayne Newton
He was from a
generation closer to my parent’s who remember growing up with Jack Benny
on the radio. But audiences of every age appreciated Jack’s style and
sense of humor. His comic timing was impeccable, even if he was a terrible
violinist. But, as we all knew, it was just part of the act that made Jack
famous worldwide. His appearances at the Warwick Musical Theatre were
very, very special. One time, when Jack was in town, the Bonoff Family
took him to dinner and, to my amazement, he picked up the check! “I
thought he was cheap?” I said to my parents, who laughed along with the
star at my gullibility. Jack’s old black-and-white TV programs still
make me laugh. Few may recall his first visit to the “tent”, Jack’s
opening act was then another rising star, Wayne Newton, a teenager at the
time.
below
are pictures of Jack on stage - they are from our Phoenix theatre in the
winter of 1967. Spend a week with Jack in August and 6 months latter spend
another week with him. Between dinner at the Great House and the good
times in the desert Dad and Mom became good friends with Jack - these
shots are cool - happy I found them!
typical pose!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think his support act in Phoenix was Bobby Darrin? see below 
-------------------------
An
Evening With Phyllis Diller
August
22 - 28
---------------------
This
Was Burlesque starring Ann Corio
August 29 - September 10
---------------------
this came from a former stage manager - But to tell the
truth, no matter what show I'm doing, no matter how big or how good,
nothing can replace the smell of the canvas, the billowing of the tent in
the 5:00 PM air,
and the excitement of getting a show up on a warm summer's evening.
