I'm currently listing a large number of playbills from out-of-town tryouts prior to the Broadway runs. Many are from early performances when revisions were common and include song titles that were cut before opening in New York ........ This is a rare program (playbill) from the Pre-Broadway engagement of the IRVING BERLIN, HERBERT FIELDS and DOROTHY FIELDS musical comedy "ANNIE GET YOUR GUN" at the Shubert Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (The production would open May 17th, 1946 at the Imperial Theatre in New York City and run for 1147 performances.) ..... The legendary ETHEL MERMAN created several of the most endearing characters in musical theatre history; "Reno Sweeney" in Cole Porter's "Anything Goes", "Mama Rose" in Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim's "Gypsy" and "Annie Oakley" in Irving Berlin's greatest success "ANNIE GET YOUR GUN" ..... In addition to ETHEL MERMAN, the musical featured RAY MIDDLETON, CLIFFORD SALES, MARY ELLEN GLASS, MARTY MAY, LEA PENMAN, DANIEL NAGRIN, WALTER JOHN, CLIFF DUNSTAN, ROB TAYLOR, BERNARD GRIFFIN, JACK PIERCE, MARY GREY, FRANCA BALDWIN, BEAU TILDEN, WILLIAM O'NEAL, LUBOV ROUDENKO, ART BARNETT, HARRY BELLAVER, DON LIBERTO, ROBERT DIXON, JOHN GARTH III, BETTY ANNE NYMAN and KENNY BOWERS ..... CREDITS: Music and Lyrics by IRVING BERLIN ("Music Box Revues", the Marx Brothers' "The Cocoanuts", "Louisiana Purchase", "This is the Army", "Miss Liberty", "Annie Get Your Gun", "Call Me Madam", "Mr. President"); Book by HERBERT and DOROTHY FIELDS; Sets designed by JO MIELZINER; Costumes designed by LUCINDA BALLARD; Choreographed by HELEN TAMIRIS; Directed by JOSHUA LOGAN; Produced by RICHARD RODGERS and OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II ..... DETAILS: The four page program (two pages are blank) measures 6" X 9" inches and includes full production credits, cast list, synopsis of scenes and list of musical numbers, but no cast photos or bios ..... CONDITION: With the exception of a corner crease to the first page and slight shredding at the base of the second page, this playbill is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.