Abstract
The goal is to complete a restored libretto of the Rodgers, Hart, Hecht and Mac Arthur musical comedy, Jumbo, so that it can be produced again. In 1935 when Jumbo was running, Broadway producers were not in the habbit[sic] of saving the written materials of a musical for future revivals. Therefore, numerous musicals from the period remain unproduceable and unavailable for todays[sic] producers and general public.
Jumbo's script and score materials are located in several archival sources. There is the Stage Manager's script located at the Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization as well as the existing parts of the orchestration, some of which are also located in the Paul Whiteman Collection at the Williams College Sawyer Library. Other materials, including many letters, contracts, costume designs, programs, photos, and music, are located in the Billy Rose Theater Collection at Lincoln Center in New York City. Other details about the original production exist in various articles and reviews from periodicals of the day. In addition, the valuable resource of an original cast recording was discovered around the same time that this thesis project began.
The result of the research regarding Jumbo is that it was produced in the Playwright's Theatre of CSUS for eight performances in October of 1997 with great success. More interesting even than the restored libretto contained within these pages, is the unusual history of how one of the biggest shows in Broadway history was created. In the search to restore one drama, another drama was discovered- that of Billy Rose's dream to create a spectacular show which would give him the honor of going down in history as one of the greatest producers of entertainment in this century.