Crime-related Playbills and Programs

Finding Aid

Prepared by Dyani Scheuerman, June 6, 2003; revised by Cara Gilgenbach, September 28, 2005; additions made by Edith Serkownek, February 15, 2009; Last Updated: June 2020

Origination: Borowitz, Albert, 1930-2023 , and Borowitz, Helen Osterman, 1929-2012
Inclusive Dates: 1875-2008
Extent: 2 cubic feet (2 record storage boxes)
Physical Location: 11th floor

Scope and Content: This collection consists of playbills from crime-related plays, musicals, operas, etc., fact-based or otherwise.

Arrangement: Material is arranged alphabetically by production title. Additional information is included in brackets.

Acquisition Information: The material was donated to Kent State University Libraries Special Collections and Archives by Albert and Helen Borowitz.

Processing Information: The inventory below is only a partial listing of the items in this collection. Additional materials will be added as they are processed. 

Box 1
Folder -- Contents

1. Adding Machine with original music by Joshua Schmidt and libretto by Jason Loewith and Joshua Schmidt; based on the play The Adding Machine by Elmer Rice. Playbill and advertisement for cast recording. Minetta Lane Theatre, New York, May 2008. [Worker murders his boss after being laid off.]
2. Alfred Hitchcock's The 39 Steps adapted by Patrick Barlow. Playbill. Cort Theatre, New York, May 2008.
3. Arsenic and Old Lace by Joseph Kesselring. Program. Great Lakes Theater Festival, Ohio Theatre, Cleveland, 2007.
4. Aspects of Love with lyrics by Don Black and Charles Hart and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Program and souvenir program. The Really Useful Theatre Company, Broadhurst Theatre, New York, 1990.
5. Assassins with book by John Weidman and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Playbill. Roundabout Theatre Company, Studio 54, New York. April 2004. [Musical based on presidential assassinations.]
6. August: Osage County by Tracy Letts. Playbill. Imperial Theatre, New York, January 2008. [Themes of drug abuse, alcoholism, sexual harassment, pedophilia, and incest.]
7. Beggar's Holiday in Musicals in Mufti with book by Dale Wasserman, music by Duke Ellington and lyrics by John Latouche and Dale Wasserman. Program, two performance CDs and correspondence of James Morgan (Director, The York Theatre Company) and Albert Borowitz. The York Theatre Company, The Theater at Saint Peter's, Citicorp Center, New York, Fall 1999.
8. Bernadette Peters with The Cleveland Pops Orchestra. Program. The Cleveland Pops Orchestra, Allen Theatre, March 28, 2008.
9. [Billy the Kid]. The Seasons. Program. Cleveland Orchestra with Barbara Bonney, Severence Hall, October 1998. [Bonney is a self-proclaimed relative of the Billy the Kid. See p. 43 for biographical note.]
10. [Bluebeard]. Bluebeard [Barbe-Bleue] with music by Jacques Offenbach. Festival program. The Ohio Light Opera, Wooster, 2007. [Based on Gilles de Rais, the French serial child killer and alchemist who came to be linked with the fairy tale of Bluebeard.]
11. [Bluebeard]. Duke Bluebeard's Castle by Bela Bartok and Bela Balazs. Program. The Cleveland Orchestra, Allen Theatre, Cleveland. April 8 and 10, 1999. [Based on Gilles de Rais, the French serial child killer and alchemist who came to be linked with the fairy tale of Bluebeard.]
12. Boeing-Boeing by Marc Camoletti, translated by Beverley cross and Francis Evans. Playbill. Longacre Theatre, New York, June 2008.
13. [Borden, Lizzie]. Blood Relations by Sharon Pollock. Shaw Festival, Ontario, Canada, 2003
14. [Borden, Lizzie]. Fall River Legend with music by Morton Gould and ballet by Agnes de Mille. American Ballet Theater, Metropolitan Opera House, New York, June 9, 1990.
15. [Borden, Lizzie]. Lizzie Borden, opera by Jack Beeson. Program. New York City Opera, New York, March 24, 1999.
16. [Boston Strangler]. No Way to Treat a Lady by Douglas J. Cohen, based on the novel, No Way to Treat a Lady by William Goldman. Playbill, flyer and newspaper clipping. New York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's Church, December 1996. [Playbill inscribed by the author to Albert Borowitz.]
17. Boston Symphony Orchestra with Serge Koussevitzky, Music Director. Concert Season Bulletin. Boston, 1948-1949.
18. Broadway A Hundred Years Ago: A Musical Review by Robin Field. Programs for 1887, 1888, 1891, 1892 and 1893. New York, undated.
19. Brutal Imagination by Cornelius Eady and music by Diedre Murray. Program, promotional postcard, newspaper review and ticket stubs. Vineyard Theatre, New York, December 2001. [Susan Smith, murders her two children and blames the crime on a fictitious African-American.]
20. Buffalo Gal by A. R. Gurney. Playbill and newsletter. Primary Stages, New York, August 2008.
21. Caesar and Cleopatra by George Bernard Shaw. Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Ontario, Canada, 2008.
22. Caroline, or Change with books and lyrics by Tony Kushner and music by Jeanine Testori. Program. Dobama Theatre, Cleveland, September-October 2008
23. Celebrating Barbara Cook's 80th Birthday. Playbill, flyer and New York Times review. New York Philharmonic, Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center, New York, November 2007.
24. A Celebration of the Life of Peter Cotes. Program. Conway Hall, [London], March 22, 1999. [Cotes was an English director, producer, actor, and writer and his work included mysteries.]
25. Cendrillon with music by Jules Massenet and libretto by Henri Cain. Playbill. New York City Opera, New York, November 18, 2007 [Perrault's version of Cinderella.]
26. Chee-Chee with book by Herbert Fields, music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart. Program and postcard. Musicals Tonight, MainStage at the 14th Street Y, New York, undated.
27. Chevalière by David Trainer. Program. Cleveland Play House, Brooks Theater, December-January 1984. [Based on the Chevalier d'Éon who disguised himself as a woman at Court of St. Petersburg in order to gain access to state secrets.]
28. The Colleen Bawn by Dion Boucicault. Program and postcard. The Irish Repertory Theatre, New York, 2003. [Based on the novel The Collegians by Gerald Griffin, which was based on the murder of Ellen Scanlan (née Hanley) in 1819.]
29. The Constant Couple by George Farquhar. Program, Program Supplement and newspaper clipping. The Pearl Theatre Company, New York, November 2007 [Plot includes schemes and illegal activities.]
30. Corpse! by Gerald Moon. Program. The Apollo, London, July 1984.
31. Count Dracula by Ted Tiller, based on Bram Stoker's novel "Dracula". Program. The Cleveland Playhouse, 1974-1975.
32. Crime and Punishment: Stories of Cons and Consequences. Program. The Moth, New York, April 7, 2004 [Program autographed by Dominick Dunne.]
33. Curtains with book by Rupert Holmes, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb and others. Playbill. Al Hirshfeld Theatre, August 2007. [Crime musical.]
34. Dangerous Corner by J. B. Priestley. Program. Avon Theater, New York. 1932.
35. Dead Man Walking with music by Jake Heggie and libretto by Terrence McNally. Libretto. Bent Pen Music Inc, copyright 2001.
36. Dead Man Walking. with music by Jake Heggie and libretto by Terrence McNally. Playbill. New York City Opera, September 2002.
37. Desperate Hours by Joseph Hayes . Souvenir program. [Barrymore Theatre], 1955. [The play and novel by Joseph Hayes were based on news stories that had appeared throughout the country about people being held captive in their homes by criminals.]
38. Dimitri Shostavkovich, Symphony No. 11. ("The Year 1905"), Season program. The Cleveland Orchestra, Severence Hall, January 13 and 15, 2005. [Winter Palace Massacre, 1905, St. Petersburg, Russia.]
39. [Dreyfus Case]. The Dreyfus Affair with opera by George Whyte and music by Jost Meier. Program. New York City Opera, April 17, 1996.
40. [Dreyfus Case]. Dreyfus in Rehearsal by Jean-Claude Grumberg. Program. Shubert Theatre, New York, October 1974.
41. The Drowsy Chaperone with music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison and book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar. Program. Palace Theatre, Cleveland, October 2007. [Characters include gangsters.]
42. Edmond by David Mamet. Program. Atlantic Theater Company, New York, October, 1996 [Themes of racism, violence, murder and rape.]
43. Equus by Peter Shaffer. Program. National Theatre at the Old Vic, London. [1969?] [Based on a true story about George Edalji who was accused of having blinded his horse. His innocence was advocated by Arthur Conan Doyle.]
44. Equus by Peter Shaffer. Program. Plymouth Theatre, New York, January 1975.
45. L'Etoile with music by Emmanuel Chabrier, libretto by Eugene Leterrier and Albert Vanloo and translation by Jeremy Sams. Playbill. New York City Opera, New York, October 22, 2002.
46. Euripides' Hecuba, a new version by Frank McGuinness. Program. Donmar Warehouse, London, 2004.
47. Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl. Playbill. Second Stage Theatre, New York, circa 2007.
48. The Farnsworth Invention by Aaron Sorkin. Playbill. The Music Box, New York, December 2007. [Based on the legal battle between television inventors Phil T. Farnsworth and Vladimir Zworykin.]
49. The Fifth Column by Ernest Hemingway. Program. The Mint Theater Company, New York, March 27, 2008. [Based on the events of the Spanish Civil War, 1937-1939.]
50. The Firebrand of Florence with book by Edwin Justus Mayer, music by Kurt Weill and lyrics by Ira Gerswin. Festival program and program insert. The Ohio Light Opera, Wooster, 1999. [The operetta and the stage work on which it is based draw on the life of Benvenuto Cellini, goldsmith, sculptor and murderer.]
51. [Frank, Leo]. Parade by Alfred Uhry, with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown. Program, Lincoln Center Theater Review magazine and a New York Times review. Lincoln Center Theater, New York. November 1998. [Musical about Leo Frank, lynching victim.]
52. Ghosts of Versailles by John Corigliano. Program/libretto. Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center, New York. January 1992. [Based on the "Diamond Necklace Affair." A key plot device concerns the affair of the diamond necklace of Marie Antoinette, and an attempt made in 1784 to falsely procure a lavishly expensive necklace.]
53. The Great Gatsby, an opera by John Harbison after the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. Playbill, libretto and periodical articles. December 1999 [Fitzgerald's Gatsby is supposed to have been based on real gangsters Arnold Rothstein and Max Gerlach.]
54. The Hired Man with book by Melvyn Bragg and music and lyrics by Howard Goodall. Program. New Perspective Theatre Company, New York, 2008.
55. [Holocaust and Switzerland]. Andorra by Max Frisch. Playbill and New York Times review. Lucille Lortell Theatre, New York, April 2002.
56. The Homecoming by Harold Pinter. Playbill and flyer. Cort Theatre, New York, December 2007. [Themes of prostitution.]
57. Is He Dead? by Mark Twain, adapted by David Ives. Playbill and flyer. Lyceum Theatre, New York, January 2008. [Fictional portrayal of artist Jean-Francois Millet's. In the play the artist fakes his death to sell his paintings.]
58. Jekyll & Hyde by Leslie Bricusse and Frank Wildhorn. Palace Theatre, Cleveland. March 12-17, 1996. [Drawn from the fact-based novella by Robert Louis Stevenson.]
59. Jerry's Girls with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. Playbill and New York Times review. St. James Theatre, New York, November 1985.
60. Journey's End by R. C. Sherriff. Program. Comedy Theatre, London, 2004.
61. Kind Lady by Edward Chodorov, adapted from a story by Hugh Walpole. Playbill. The Playhouse, New York, September 23, 1940 [Starring Grace George who created the role of Mary Merries in Kind Lady at the Booth Theatre in 1935.]
62. Ladies in Retirement by Edward Percy and Reginald Denham. Program. Shaw Festival, Ontario, Canada, 1995. [Based on the 1882 murder of Elodie Menetret by Euphrasie Mercier.]
63. The Last One at the Scaffold by William Bush. Playbill. The Metropolitan Opera, New York, December 16, 2002 [Carmelite nuns executed during the French Revolution. Playbill relates primarily to the evening's production of William Balcom's opera, A View from the Bridge, but it includes Bush's article explaining the literary and historical sources of Francis Poulen's Dialogues of the Carmelites.]
64. [Leopold and Loeb]. Rope by Patrick Hamilton. Playbill. The Zipper Theatre, New York, 2005.
65. [Leopold and Loeb]. Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story with book, music and lyrics by Stephen Dolginoff. Program, postcard and New York Times review. The York Theatre Company, New York, May 2005. [Program autographed by Stephen Dolginoff.]
66. [Lindbergh Kidnapping]. Hauptmann by John Logan. Playbill. Cherry Lane Theatre, New York, May 1992.
67. A Little Racketeer by Harry Clarke. Program. Forty-Fourth Street Theatre, New York, [1932?]
68. Love from a Stranger by Frank Vosper, based on a story by Agatha Christie. Preview Program. Shaw Festival, Ontario, Canada, 2001. [Author Frank Vosper died mysteriously in 1937.]
69. Machinal by Sophie Treadwell. Program. New York Shakespeare Festival Public Theater, Lu Esther Hall, New York, November 1990. [Based on the 1927 case in which Ruth Snyder of Long Island was convicted of conspiring with her lover, Judd Gray, in the murder of her husband.]
70. The Man Who Shot Lincoln by Luigi Creatore. Program. Astor Place Theater, New York, September 1989.
71. Mauritius by Theresa Rebeck. Playbill. Manhattan Theatre Club at the Biltmore Theatre, New York, October, 2007 [Plot involves a con around a valuable collection of stamps.]
72. [Mayerling Suicides]. Marinka by Emmerich Kalman. Program. Winter Garden performance, New York, September 16, 1945.
73. [Mayerling Suicides]. Marinka by Emmerich Kalman, with a new adaptation by Steven A. Daigle. Festival program. The Ohio Light Opera, Wooster, 2008.
74. McTeague by William Bolcom. Program/libretto. Lyric Opera of Chicago, 1992. [Lyric opera based on the murder of Sarah Collins, killed by her husband Pat in 1893.]
75. Le Merchand de Venise [The Merchant of Venice]. Program. Opera Manhattan, Saint Peter's Church, Citicorp Center, New York, December 1993.
76. Mindgame by Anthony Horowitz. Playbill. Soho Playhouse, New York, Opening night, November 9, 2008 [A pulp crime novelist goes to an insane asylum to interview a serial killer.]
77. The Miraculous Mandarin by Bela Bartok. Season program. The Cleveland Orchestra, Severance Hall, January 2004. [Murder ballet.]
78. [Motzart and Salieri]. Amadeus. Playbill. Broadhurst Theatre, New York, April 1982.
79. [Motzart and Salieri]. Motzart, Symphony No. 1 in E-Flat Major, K. 16; Salieri, Triple Concerto in D Major for Oboe, Violin and Cello. Program. The Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland, March 6, 7 and 8, 2003.
80. Mrs. Warren's Profession by Bernard Shaw. Program. Shaw Festival, Ontario, Canada, 2008. [Themes of prostitution.]
81. The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 by John Bishop. Program. Longacre Theatre, New York. May 1987.
82. Mutiny! by Richard Crane and David Essex. Piccadilly Theatre, London. Program. 1985. [Based on Mutiny on the Bounty.]
83. The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Rupert Holmes. Program and periodical clippings. Imperial Theatre, New York. Beginning December 2, 1985. [Based on the novel by Charles Dickens. Characters include crooks.]
84. [Ness, Eliot]. Eliot Ness . . . In Cleveland by Peter Ullian, Robert Lindsey Nassif, and Nick Corley. Program and ticket stubs. Denver Theatre Company, State Theatre, Denver. January-March 1998. [Based on Ness, Cleveland Safety Director and Ness's involvement in the Kingsbury Run murder investigation.]
85. [Ness, Eliot]. "Nightlife and Ness: A Glamorous Gala Evening...[with] Mr. Walter Winchell..." Oversized flyer. Cleveland Play House, October 14, 2000.
86. The New Yorkers by Herbert Fields and Cole Porter. Program. B. S. Moss' Broadway Theatre, New York, 1931. [Cast of characters includes criminals.]
87. Nick & Nora with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. Playbill. Marquis Theatre, New York, October 1991. [Musical based on the crime-solving couple created by Dashiell Hammett in his novel, The Thin Man.]
88. The No-Frills Revue by Michael Abbott et al. Playbill. Cherry Lane Theatre, New York, December 1987
89. The Old Ladies by Rodney Ackland, based on the novel by Hugh Walpole. Playbill. Shaw Festival, Ontario, Canada, 2002.
90. L'Oracolo by Camillo Zanoni, with music by Franco Leoni. Libretto. Metropolitan Opera House, Grand Opera, Chappell & Co., Ltd, New York, 1915. [Opera set in San Francisco's Chinatown. Based on C. B. Fernald's, The Cat and the Cherub, a tale of murder and revenge.]
91. The Persians by Aeschylus, in a new version by Ellen McLaughlin. Playbill with biographical pages and understudy notes added. The Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts at Pace University, New York, May 2003.
92. Piaf by Pam Gems. Playbill, Plymouth Theatre, New York, March 1981.
93. [Popish Plot]. Venice Preserv'd by Thomas Otway. Program, A Playgoer's Supplement and membership flyers.The Pearly Theatre Company, New York, 1997.
94. The President by Ferenc Molnar, adapted by Morwyn Brebner. Program. The Shaw Festival, Ontario, Canada, 2008.
95. Primrose with book by George Grossmith and Guy Bolton, music by George Gershwin and lyrics by Desmond Carter and Ira Gershwin. Program. Musicals Tonight, MainStage at the 14th Street Y, New York, undated.
96. Prisoner of the Crown by Richard F. Stockton. Program and postcard. The Irish Repertory Theatre, New York, May [2008]. [Based on Sir Roger Casement's trial and execution for his involvement in Ireland's 1916 Easter Uprising, as well as the "Black Diaries" that claimed to expose his homosexuality.]
97. Racine, Britannicus. Program. Paris, 1999. [Nero as murderer.]
98. [Rattenbury-Stoner murder case]. Cause Célèbre by Terence Rattigan. Program. Her Majesty’s Theater, September 1977.
99. [Rattenbury-Stoner murder case]. Alma and Mrs. Woolf by Anne Legault. Program and advertising cards. Blue Heron Theater, New York, March 2003.
100. The Right Honourable Gentleman by M. Bradley-Dyne. Program, Her Majesty's Theatre, London. 1964. [Based on a sex scandal involving Sir Charles Dilke, who had an affair with his maid and a colleague's wife in 1885.]
101. Road Show with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by John Weidman. Playbill with two fake $100 bills inserted. The Public Theater, Cleveland, circa 2005. [Based on the lives of con men Addison and Wilson Mizner.]
102. Robin Hood by Reginald De Koven. Festival playbill and newspaper review. The Ohio Light Opera, Wooster, 2004.
103. Rock 'n' Roll by Tom Stoppard. Playbill and insert, Czechoslovakia in the Wings. Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, New York, December 2007 [Based on the band the Plastic People and their resistance of the Communist regime in Czechoslovakia.]
104. Ruddigore Or, The Witch's Curse by Gilbert and Sullivan. Program/Libretto. D'Oyly Carte Opera Company American Tour, New York, circa 1967.
105. The Runner Stumbles by Milan Stitt. Playbill. Beckett Theatre, New York, 2007. [Based on the murder of Sister Mary Janina trial, Michigan, 1919.]
106. [Sherlock Holmes]. The Crucifer of Blood by Paul Giovanni. Program. Theatre Royal Haymarket, London, March 21, 1979 [First performance. Adapted from Arthur Conan Doyle's story, The Sign of Four.]
107. [Sherlock Holmes]. Sherlock Holmes and the Curse of the Sign of Four by Dennis Rosa. The Cleveland Play House, Cleveland. December 1982.
108. [Sherlock Holmes]. Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure by Steven Dietz, based on the play by William Gillette and Arthur Conan Doyle. Program. The Cleveland Play House, Cleveland, October-November 2007.
109. [Sherlock Holmes]. Ticket of Leaveman. "Programme, Wednesday Evening, Aug. 4," [1875]. [This play includes an appearance of the character of Hawkshaw the detective, a precursor to Sherlock Holmes.] [Also included on the program are Hidden Hand or, the Mysteries of the Lone House, August 5, and "Sheridan & Mack in their new act..."]
110. Six Degrees of Separation by John Guare. Program. Lincoln Center Theater at the Vivian Beaumont, New York, November 1990. [Based on David Hampton's imposture as son of Sidney Poitier.]
111. South Pacific with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan. Playbill and Lincoln Center Theater Review magazine. Lincoln Center Theater at the Vivian Beaumont, New York, August 2008.
112. [Spanish Inquisition]. Man of La Mancha by Dale Wasserman, music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion. Program. The Cleveland Playhouse, 2007.
113. Spring Awakening with books and lyrics by Steven Sater and music by Duncan Sheik. Eugene O'Neill Theatre, New York, December 10, 2006.][Opening night program. Based on the play by Frank Wedekind. The original play was banned in Germany due to its portrayal of masturbation, rape, abortion and suicide.]
114. Sunday in the Park with George with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine. Playbill and New York Times review. May 1984.
115. Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street: A Musical Thriller with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. Promotional booklet for the Broadway production featuring Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou. New York, [1979?]
116. Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street: A Musical Thriller Prorgram with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. Playbill. Uris Theater, New York, June 1980.
117. Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street: A Musical Thriller with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. Playbill. The New York City Opera, March 2004.
118. Take Me Along with music and lyrics by Bob Merrill and book by Joseph Stein and Robert Russell, based on the play Ah, Wilderness! by Eugene O'Neill. Program. The Irish Repertory Theatre, New York, [2007-2008].
119. Talk Radio by Eric Bogosian, created for the stage by Eric Bogosian and Tad Savinar. Playbill. Longacre Theatre, New York, April 2007. [Themes of violence, sex and drug use.]
120. [Thaw, Evelyn Nesbit]. Hammerstein's Victoria Theatre of Varieties. Hammerstein's Roof Garden, La Jardin des Fleurs, New York. 1910. [Variety show which includes Evelyn Nesbit Thaw's first post-trial appearance on a New York City stage. Her act was a performance of "original dances" with Mr. Jack Clifford. See page 29 of program.]
121. [Thaw, Harry Kendall and Evelyn Nesbit Thaw]. My Sweetheart's the Man in the Moon by Don Nigro. Program. The Hypothetical Theatre Company, New York, [200?].
122. [Thaw, Harry Kendall and Evelyn Nesbit Thaw]. Ragtime: A Musical with book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. Program and souvenir program. Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Chicago 1998.
123. Three Sisters by Anton Chekhov. Program. Shaw Festival, Ontario, Canada, 2003.
124. Tosca with m usic by Giacomo Puccini and libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica. Program and Opera Cleveland periodical. Opera Cleveland, Playhouse Square, 2007.
125. The Trojan Women by Euripides with a new translation by Nicholas Rudall. Program. Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Ontario, Canada: 2008 [Trojan women become spoils of war.]
126. The Truth About Blayds and Mr. Pim Passes By by A. A. Milne. Program. New York, Mint Theater, undated.
127. The Turn of the Screw with music by Benjamin Britten and libretto by Myranwy Piper. Program. Opera Cleveland, The Cleveland Play House, July 2007. [Ghost story involving governess and her mysterious charges.]
128. Two Shakespearean Actors by Richard Nelson. Playbill. Cort Theatre, New York, January 1992. [Based on the Astor Place Riots.]
129. Vanessa with music by Samuel Barber and libretto by Gian Carlo Menotti. Playbill. New York City Opera, November 2007. [Includes themes of seduction and suicide.]
130. La Valse des Toreadors (The Waltz of the Toreadors) by Jean Anouilh. Playbill, Loterie Nationale ticket and Spectacles de Paris program. Comdedie des Champs-Elysee, Paris, September 1952.
131. Vanessa with music by Samuel Barber and libretto by Gian Carlo Menotti. Playbill. New York City Opera, New York, November 17, 2007. [Inspired by Isak Dinesen's Seven Gothic Tales.]
132. [Watergate]. Frost/Nixon by Peter Morgan. Playbill. Bernard b. Jacobs Theatre, New York, August 2007
133. Waterloo by Arthur Conan Doyle. Program including a playbill Passion, Poison and Petrifaction or, The Fatal Gazogene by George Bernard Shaw. Shaw Festival, Lunchtime Theatre, Ontario, Canada, 1998.
134. Waves by Katie Mitchell and the Company from the text of Virginia Woolf's novel The Waves. Playbill. Lincoln Center, The Duke on 42nd Street, New York, November 2008. [U.S. premier. Woolf committed suicide by drowning and the last words of The Waves were inscribed on her epitaph.]
135. Wonderful Town with book by Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodorov, music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Program. Shaw Festival, Ontario, Canada, 2008. [Based on the short stories of Ruth McKenney, which became the play and movie, My Sister Eileen.]
136. Wozzeck by Alban Berg. Playbill. Metropolitan Opera, New York, February 2, 1985. [Inspired by three murder cases in which the defendant's sanity was questioned, including the early 19th century case of Johann Christian Woyzeck, a barber and former soldier, who stabbed his mistress.]
137. Wozzeck by Alban Berg. Playbill and opera libretto with synopsis and complete text with translation. The Cleveland Orchestra, Severence Hall, January 19 and 22, 1995. [Inspired by three murder cases in which the defendant's sanity was questioned, including the early 19th century case of Johann Christian Woyzeck, a barber and former soldier, who stabbed his mistress.]
138. The Yeomen of the Guard or The Merryman and His Maid with book by William S. Gilbert and music by Arthur S. Sullivan. Festival program. The Ohio Light Opera, Wooster, 2008. [A comedy of mistaken identity involving a prisoner in the Tower of London.]