Description :

Playbill Collection – Icons of Dance & Opera (1990s Curran Theatre Series)

This remarkable and rare set of original Playbills and promotional artifacts, hailing from the Curran Theatre’s mid-1990s productions, showcases the artistry of world-class opera and dance performers in their prime. The first Playbill documents a singular solo dance performance by the acclaimed Peter Lentz—renowned for his powerful interpretations with the American Ballet Theatre—including standout roles in Swan Lake, Undertow, and Serious Pleasures. This historic evening featured celebrated guest artists such as Cynthia Gregory, Valentina Koslova, and Robert LaFosse, all icons of American dance, with special ensemble collaboration from the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, under the direction of Lar Lubovitch himself.

The second Playbill centers on La Traviata, highlighting the transcendent soprano Diane Alexander in the role of Violetta. Alexander’s stellar résumé includes performances with the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, and European houses, in roles such as Fiordiligi (Cosi fan tutte), Esmeralda, and Anne Trulove (The Rake’s Progress). Her portrayal of Violetta was deeply supported by a cast of esteemed colleagues from regional opera companies, each contributing to a performance of emotional depth and musical mastery.

The third Playbill offers a dazzling glimpse into the original San Francisco staging of The Phantom of the Opera, jointly produced by Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Theatre Company Inc. Directed by the legendary Harold Prince, this production was brought to life by an extraordinary team: Maria Bjornson as production designer, Andrew Bridge as lighting designer, and musical supervision by David Caddick. The featured cast includes Lisa Vroman as Christine Daaé, Alyousis Gigl, Joseph Bellger, and Diane Alexander in dual appearances. Their performances upheld the haunting beauty and grandeur of Gaston Leroux’s original tale, adapted by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Charles Hart, with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe and musical direction by Timothy D. Sexton.

Completing this archival set is the July 1995 cover issue of Performing Arts magazine, distributed at the Curran Theatre and adorned with the emblematic white mask—symbolic of The Phantom of the Opera. This issue served as a visual and thematic companion to the ongoing run, offering playgoers a tangible memento of a cultural landmark.

Individually issued and professionally bound, these Playbills are not reprints or replicas, but authentic materials distributed during actual performances. With impeccable cast documentation, original design attribution, and production team credits, this set is a theatrical treasure. Ideal for collectors of dance and opera ephemera, and historians dedicated to capturing the evocative spirit of 1990s stage artistry.

Measurements:

Peter Lentz:

Length: 5 1/2 Inches;

Width: 4 Inches;

Diane Alexander:

Length: 5 1/2 Inches;

Width: 8 1/2 Inches;

The Phantom of the Opera Playbill Program:

Length: 11 Inches;

Width: 8 1/2 Inches;

The Phantom of the Opera Playbill Magazine:

Length: 11 Inches;

Width: 8 Inches;

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