Trumpets, Whistles, Drum Boogies and Smallish Talks!

 Anyone Can Whistle

hit Broadway in 1964, and lasted for 9 performances

(which means it now enjoys cult status).

Pretty incredible that they made time for these photographs.

Words and music were by Stephen Sondheim,

who before this had written lyrics for West Side Story

and Gypsy,

and music and lyrics for Forum.

It starred Angela Lansbury (her Broadway musical theatre debut),

Harry Guardino and Lee Remick.

The part Lee played (Nurse Fay Apple) was first offered to

Barbra Streisand,

but she turned it down when Funny Girl called and sounded a bit Funnier.

 The reviews?

 Howard Taubman of the Times: 

"Arthur Laurents's book lacks the fantasy 

that would make the idea work, 

and his staging has not improved matters. 

Mr. Sondheim has written several pleasing songs

 but not enough of them to give the musical wings. 

The performers yell rather than talk and run rather than walk. 

The dancing is the cream."

That creamy dancing was by Herbert Ross,

who received a Tony nomination.

 "There Won't Be Trumpets"

was cut before those precious 9 performances,

but returned for the cast recording and has since enjoyed

a popular cabaret status. 

 Yowza! 

A great pic of Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck

in Ball Of Fire directed by Howard Hawks, 1941.

Barbara got to wear "the dress",

but was dubbed by Liltin' Martha Tilton, below.

We'll hear "Drum Boogie",

written and performed in the movie by

Gene Krupa (and his band).

Supporting cast:

Oscar Homolka, Henry Travers, Dana Andrews and Dan Duryea.

 Betty Buckley got to play Martha Jefferson in 

the original production of 1776,

and sang "He Plays The Violin".

Below with her spouse (in the show), Ron Howard,

and looking on...William Daniels and Howard Da Silva

as John Adams and Ben Franklin, respectively.

1776 won the Best Musical Tony
(and 4 other Tonys) back in 1969.

Clive Barnes called it "a most striking, most gripping musical. 

I recommend it without reservation. 

It makes even an Englishman's heart beat faster.." 

 And then a little "Small Talk" from

Adler & Ross's Pajama Game.

Above the original production starring Eddie Foy Jr., Carol Haney,

Janis Paige, and John Raitt,

in various forms of sleepware.

("Sleeptite!")

 And then the revival of 2006,

with Michael McKean, Megan Lawrence, Harry Connick Jr. and Kelli O'Hara.

We don't wanna talk "Small Talk" indeed!