Fantasticks Sullivan Street — J&S

THE FANTASTICKS

Original Off-Broadway Production
Sullivan Street Playhouse

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Original Sullivan Street program cast page072.jpg

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Al Hirschfeld Caricature

Front Row Left to Right:  Robert Tennenhouse (Bellomy); Lore Noto (Hucklebee); Phil Killian (Matt); Sharon Werner (Luisa); Hal Robinson (El Gallo)Back Row Left to Right: James Cook (Mortimer); Seamus O’Brien (Henry);Robert Brigham (Mute) — Front Row Left to Right: Robert Tennenhouse (Bellomy); Lore Noto (Hucklebee); Phil Killian (Matt); Sharon Werner (Luisa); Hal Robinson (El Gallo)
Back Row Left to Right: James Cook (Mortimer); Seamus O’Brien (Henry);Robert Brigham (Mute)

Photos

Fantasticks original cast photo by Friedman-Abeles — Fantasticks original cast photo by Friedman-Abeles

“Distinguished and delightful”

— Saturday Review

Jerry Orbach & Rita Gardner — Jerry Orbach & Rita Gardner

Author Tom Jones as the Old Actor in the 1960 original production — Author Tom Jones as the Old Actor in the 1960 original production

Alice Cannon, Ty McConnel (front) Charlie Blackburn, John High, James Cook, John Cunningham (back) 1963Photo by Sam Seigel — Alice Cannon, Ty McConnel (front) Charlie Blackburn, John High, James Cook, John Cunningham (back) 1963
Photo by Sam Seigel

LoreNoto as Hucklebee — LoreNoto as Hucklebee

“Captivating music...
Entrancing style...
Fresh and sweet in a civilized Way!”

— New York Times

Tom & Harvey with Anne Bancroft — Tom & Harvey with Anne Bancroft

Lore Noto, Tom & Harvey — Lore Noto, Tom & Harvey

“As delightful as ever!”

— Variety

Left to right - Paul Blankenship,Gene Jones, Bryan Hull, Richard Roland, Debbie Pavelka, Michael Nostrand, Bill Tost, Robert Vincent Smith (1974) — Left to right - Paul Blankenship,Gene Jones, Bryan Hull, Richard Roland, Debbie Pavelka, Michael Nostrand, Bill Tost, Robert Vincent Smith (1974)

Alice Cannon, Ty McConnell, Charlie Blackburn, John High, James Cook, John Cunningham in 1963 (Sam Siegel) — Alice Cannon, Ty McConnell, Charlie Blackburn, John High, James Cook, John Cunningham in 1963 (Sam Siegel)

Phil O'Brien as Hucklebee, Gardner McKay as El Gallo and Harry Lee Rodgers as Bellomy — Phil O'Brien as Hucklebee, Gardner McKay as El Gallo and Harry Lee Rodgers as Bellomy

Sal Provenza, Christopher Seppe, Judy Blazer photo by Lou Manna (1970's) — Sal Provenza, Christopher Seppe, Judy Blazer photo by Lou Manna (1970's)

“WINNER! 1992 Tony Award for Excellence in the Theatre”

Rita Gardner, Jerry Orbach - Original production — Rita Gardner, Jerry Orbach - Original production

Michael Tartel, Virginia Gregory and James Dodge — Michael Tartel, Virginia Gregory and James Dodge

Keith Charles as El Gallo and Fantasticks cast — Keith Charles as El Gallo and Fantasticks cast

Kristin Chenoweth and Richard Roland — Kristin Chenoweth and Richard Roland

“The show’s meaning is one that stays with you throughout your life.”

— Kristin Chenoweth

Sharon Werner and Phil Killian — Sharon Werner and Phil Killian

Leta Anderson — Leta Anderson

Kate Suber as Luisa and Matthew Eaton Bennett as Matt 1989 (Photo by Steve Young) — Kate Suber as Luisa and Matthew Eaton Bennett as Matt 1989 (Photo by Steve Young)

Mariel Hemingway as Luisa in The Fantasticks from the film 'America' shot during original run of the show at Sullivan Street Playhouse — Mariel Hemingway as Luisa in The Fantasticks from the film 'America' shot during original run of the show at Sullivan Street Playhouse

Original CastPhoto by Robert Benton 1960 — Original Cast
Photo by Robert Benton 1960

Rita Gardner sings Much More — Rita Gardner sings Much More

Curt Williams, Leta Anderson, Don Pomes 1967 — Curt Williams, Leta Anderson, Don Pomes 1967

BJ Ward and Jon Boni at 2000th performance — BJ Ward and Jon Boni at 2000th performance

“It tells the sweetest possible love story without insulting your intelligence!”

— Time Out New York

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Mary Martin & Robert Preston, then appearing in I DO! I DO! on Broadway sent anniversary cake 1967 — Mary Martin & Robert Preston, then appearing in I DO! I DO! on Broadway sent anniversary cake 1967

Tom Jones, left, and Harvey Schmidt celebrated the 30th anniversary of The Fantasticks in 1994 (David Rentas via Getty Images) — Tom Jones, left, and Harvey Schmidt celebrated the 30th anniversary of The Fantasticks in 1994
(David Rentas via Getty Images)

Authors Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt on the stage of the Sullivan Street Playhouse — Authors Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt on the stage of the Sullivan Street Playhouse

Cast of the very first one-act version of THE FANTASTICKS presented at Mildred Dunnock's Barnard Summer Theatre, August 1959 — Cast of the very first one-act version of THE FANTASTICKS presented at Mildred Dunnock's Barnard Summer Theatre, August 1959

“Fantastic! Incredible! Staggering!”

— Town and Country

David Cryer, top, as El Gallo with Walter McGinn as Matt, on tour with THE FANTASTICKS 1960's — David Cryer, top, as El Gallo with Walter McGinn as Matt, on tour with THE FANTASTICKS 1960's

John J. Martin, Bob Spencer, BJ Ward and Donald Babcock — John J. Martin, Bob Spencer, BJ Ward and Donald Babcock

James Dodge, Virginia Gregory and Michael Tartel — James Dodge, Virginia Gregory and Michael Tartel

“A theatrical wonder”

— Life Magazine

Sharon Werner, Phil Killian and Lore Noto — Sharon Werner, Phil Killian and Lore Noto

Richard Barrie, BJ Ward and Bob Spencer — Richard Barrie, BJ Ward and Bob Spencer

James Cook and Seamus O'Brien — James Cook and Seamus O'Brien

Rita Gardner as Luisa — Rita Gardner as Luisa

The Fantasticks 1989 cast (back L to R) Steven Michael Daley, Robert Vincent Smith, (front L to R) Earl Aaron Levine, Bill Tost, Matthew Easton Bennett, Kate Suber, Ron Kidd, Byran Hull (Photo Steve Young)

“A legend in its own time!”

— Playbill

The Fantasticks with Eileen Fulton and Adlai Stevenson — The Fantasticks with Eileen Fulton and Adlai Stevenson

Original cast Photo by Robert Benton — Original cast
Photo by Robert Benton

Long before winning an Oscar for Best Actor in Amadeus, F. MURRAY ABRAHAM made his New York debut as Henry in THE FANTASTICKS. — Long before winning an Oscar for Best Actor in Amadeus, F. MURRAY ABRAHAM made his New York debut as Henry in THE FANTASTICKS.

“It’s a winner!”

— New York Daily News

BJ Ward as Luisa at 2000th performance — BJ Ward as Luisa at 2000th performance

Alice Cannon 1963 — Alice Cannon 1963

1963 Cast of Fantaticks with Jim as Mute — 1963 Cast of Fantaticks with Jim as Mute

Jerry Orbach and Rita Gardner on TV — Jerry Orbach and Rita Gardner on TV

“It is still magical”

— The Denver Post

Tom Jones and Jerry Orbach signed for 1966 anniversary — Tom Jones and Jerry Orbach signed for 1966 anniversary

Bob Crest (Mute), Jimmy Dodge (Matt), Bill McIntyre (Mortimer), Virginia Gregory (Luisa), Justin Gray (Henry) — Bob Crest (Mute), Jimmy Dodge (Matt), Bill McIntyre (Mortimer), Virginia Gregory (Luisa), Justin Gray (Henry)

Ann Bancroft, Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones at party for The Fantasticks 100th performance — Ann Bancroft, Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones at party for The Fantasticks 100th performance

Joe Bellomo as El Gallo, Sharon Werner as Luisa and Michael Glenn-Smith as Matt 1972 — Joe Bellomo as El Gallo, Sharon Werner as Luisa and Michael Glenn-Smith as Matt 1972

“A musical phenomenon”

— The Washington Post

Carole Demas as Luisa and Joe Bellomo as El Gallo — Carole Demas as Luisa and Joe Bellomo as El Gallo

Harvey Schmidt painting the Fantasticks drape — Harvey Schmidt painting the Fantasticks drape

Curt Williams, Leta Anderson, Don Pomes 1967 — Curt Williams, Leta Anderson, Don Pomes 1967

Debbie Pavelka and Richard Roland 1994

“Still the best... After all these years!”

— New York Post

Leta Anderson and Keith Charles — Leta Anderson and Keith Charles

1963 Cast of The Fantasticks — 1963 Cast of The Fantasticks

“The world’s longest-running musical!”

— Guinness Book of Records

Robert Vincent Smith as El Gallo and Kate Suber as Luisa 1989 (Photo by Steve Young) — Robert Vincent Smith as El Gallo and Kate Suber as Luisa 1989 (Photo by Steve Young)

The Fantasticks with Eileen Fulton and visting guest Adlai Stevenson — The Fantasticks with Eileen Fulton and visting guest Adlai Stevenson

25th Anniversary (1985)

Fantasticks 25th Anniversary — 1985 (Photo by Martha Swope) — Tom Jones & Harvey Schmidt (Photo by Martha Swope)

Fantasticks 25th Anniversary — 1985 (Photo by Martha Swope) — Front row - Tom Jones, Harvey Schmidt; Middle – Bryan Hull, Lore Noto, Virginia Gregory, Howard Lawrence, Willian Tost, Robert Oliver; Top – Sal Provenza, Jim Charles (Photo by Martha Swope)

Fantasticks 25th Anniversary — 1985 (Photo by Martha Swope) — Front (left to right) – Robert Oliver, Virginia Gregory, Howard Lawrence, Byran Hall; Middle - William Tost, Sal Provenza, Jim Charles, Lore Noto; Top – Harvey Schmidt, Tom Jones (Photo by Martha Swope)

Fantasticks 25th Anniversary — 1985 (Photo by Martha Swope) — Virginia Gregory as The Girl, Howard Lawrence as The Boy and Jim Charles as The Mute. (Photo by Martha Swope)

Fantasticks 25th Anniversary — 1985 (Photo by Martha Swope) — From left to right – Lore Noto (Hucklebee); Virginia Gregory (Luisa); Howard Lawrence (Matt); William Tost (Bellomy) (Photo by Martha Swope)

Final Performance Playbill

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The Fantasticks Sullivan Street Playhouse Final Performance.jpg

The Fantasticks Sullivan Street Playhouse Playbill title page - Final Performance.jpg

The Fantasticks Sullivan Street Playhouse Playbill cast page - Final Performance.jpg

Ann Bancroft

Anne Bancroft at Fantasticks description from Harvey — Anne Bancroft at Fantasticks description from Harvey

Anne Bancroft singing with Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt at piano (Photo by Freidman-Abels) — Anne Bancroft singing with Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt at piano (Photo by Freidman-Abels)

Anne Bancroft with Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt (Photo by Freidman-Abels) — Anne Bancroft with Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt (Photo by Freidman-Abels)

Caricatures

Sam Norkin caricature (1974) — Sam Norkin caricature (1974)

Al Hirschfeld caricature — Al Hirschfeld caricature

Ronald Searle caricature — Ronald Searle caricature

New Yorker Cartoon — New Yorker Cartoon

Kroll caricature (Fantasticks with Carole Demas) — Kroll caricature (Fantasticks with Carole Demas)

Posters

Designs by Harvey Schmidt

Poster Design by composer Harvey Schmidt for the 25th Anniversary of THE FANTASTICKS.jpg

Harvey Schmidt poster 30th year.jpg

40th year poster.jpg

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A selection of possible logos for the show submitted by Harvey Schmidt to producer Lore Noto in 1960. The bottom one, in Schmidt’s handwriting, was the one chosen. — A selection of possible logos for the show submitted by Harvey Schmidt to producer Lore Noto in 1960. The bottom one, in Schmidt’s handwriting, was the one chosen.

Press

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Show Music cover — Show Music cover

Full page announcement in the NYTimes — 10th anniversary — Full page announcement in the NYTimes — 10th anniversary

Cover of THE THEATRE magazine July 1961 — Cover of THE THEATRE magazine July 1961

NY Times ad for opening of Fantasticks 1960 — NY Times ad for opening of Fantasticks 1960

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Documentary

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More Information

Sullivan Street Playhouse

Sullivan Street exterior — Sullivan Street exterior

Sullivan Street PlayhousePhoto by Sara Krulwich - NY Times — Sullivan Street Playhouse
Photo by Sara Krulwich - NY Times

Sullivan Street box office — Sullivan Street box office

181 Sullivan Street — 181 Sullivan Street

Sullivan Street Theatre exterior in winter — Sullivan Street Theatre exterior in winter

Seating Chart — Seating Chart

Sullivan Street gallery — Sullivan Street gallery

Sullivan Street interior — Sullivan Street interior