Notably, Robert Goulet was a Resident Singer this year at the Music Circus five years before he first gained fame as Lancelot in the original Broadway musical, "Camelot.".
Each year, the Music Circus' Public Relations Office would produce a "Season Program" at the beginning of each season, listing the shows and other attractions being offered for the whole season.
"The Merry Widow"
June 4 thru June 12, 1955
Starring
Victoria Sherry (Vilia Barinkay)
Mitchell Gregg (Prince Danilo)
With
Stanley Carlson Baron Pilaf)
Fred Harper (Knitsch)
Joyce Barker (Frou-Frou)
Playbill for 1955 "The Merry Widow" Read a synopsis of "The Merry Widow"
"Wonderful Town"
June 14 thru June 26, 1955
Starring
Helena Bliss (Ruth)
Elise Rhodes (Eileen)
With
Robert Reim (Danny)
Joyce Barker (Violet)
Playbill for 1955 "Wonderful Town" Read a synopsis of "Wonderful Town"
"Me and Juliet"
June 28 thru July 3, 1955
Starring
Patricia Wilson (Jeanie)
Bob Dixon (Larry)
Anne Waugh (Betty)
With
David Aiken (Bob)
Doug Rogers (Charlie)
Choreographer: Kirsten Valbor
Playbill for 1955 "Me and Juliet" Read a synopsis of "Me and Juliet"
"Anything Goes" ("Tonight We Sing" was originally scheduled.)
July 5 thru July 10, 1955
"By the Beautiful Sea"
July 12 thru July 17, 1955
Starring
Nina Olivette (Lottie Gibson)
Craig Timerlake (Dennis Emery)
Joe E. Marks (Carl Gibson)
With
Joyce Barker (Cora Belmont)
Playbill for 1955 "By the Beautiful Sea" Read a synopsis of "By the Beautiful Sea"
"South Pacific" ("The Girl in Pink Tights" was originally scheduled.)
July 19 thru July 31, 1955
Starring
Jeanne Bal (Nellie Forbush)
James Norbert (Emile Le Beque)
With
Dorothy Franklin (Bloody Mary)
Frank Maxwell (Luther Billis)
Kevin Scott (Lt. Joseph Cable)
Cathryn Damon (Liat)
Peter Conlow (Stewpot)
Playbill for 1955 "South Pacific"
Read a synopsis of "South Pacific"
Rehearsal and promotion photos for the 1955 production of "South Pacific". If you can identify any of the unnamed people in these photos, please contact us with the correct information.
Photo Courtesy of: Mort Mather
Photo Courtesy of: Mort Mather
"After the Ball" (American Premiere)
August 2 thru August 7, 1955
Starring
Gloria Hamilton (Lady Windermere)
Dick Smart (Lord Windermere)
With
Eric Brotherson (Lord Darlington)
Doug Rogers (Mr. Hopper)
Fred Harper (Lord Augustus Lorton)
Cynthia Latham (Duchess of Berwick)
Kirsten Valbor (Lady Agatha Carlisle)
David Gard (Mr. Dumby)
Eleanor Lutton (Mrs. Erlynne)
Joe E. Marks (Carl Gibson)
Based on "Lady Windermere's Fan" By Oscar Wilde.
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Noel Coward.
Read some Facts and Trivial about this production.
Playbill for 1955 "After the Ball" Read a synopsis of "After the Ball"
NJ.com recounts the tragic flood of 1955
"Guys and Dolls" (The musical "Sweet Adeline" was originally scheduled.)
August 23 thru September 4, 1955
Starring
Mitchell Gregg (Sky Masterson)
Joan Mann (Miss Adelaide)
Paula Stewart (Sarah Brown)
Jack Goode (Nathan Detroit)
With
Oggie Small (Nicley-Nicely Johnson)
Morton L. Stevens (Arvide Abernathy)
Swen Swenson (Rusty Charlie)
Hal Warren (Joey Biltmore)
Playbill for 1955 "Guys and Dolls" Read a synopsis of "Guys and Dolls"
"Kismet" (This run of 4 weeks was very unusual.)
September 6 thru October 2, 1955
Starring
Ted Scott (Hajj)
Paula Stewart (Marsinah)
Mitchell Gregg (Caliph)
With
Eleanor Lutton (Lalume)
Stanley Carlson (Wazir)
Truman Gaige (Omar)
Joan Mann (Samaris of Bangalore)
Leroi Operti (Jawan)
Neilie Adams (First Princess of Ababu)
Ronnie Field (Street Dancer)
Hal Warren (Hassan-Ben)
Joyce Barker (Ayah To Zubbediya)
Choreographer: Joan Mann
1955 Resident Company - Production Staff
Director
Choreographer
Musical Director
Decoreographer
Assistant Conductor
Choral Director
Costumes
- General Manager, Arthur Gerold
- Asst. to the General Manager, James Alexander
- Press Representative, Max Eisen
- Stage Manager, St. John Terrell
- Production Stage Manager, Bruce Laffey
- Assistant Stage Manager, John Conboy
- Operational Director, Win Partello
- Production Assistants, Eileen Heubel, Richard Morton
- Properties, Robert Vogel, Judy Bass
- Assistants to Decoreographer, Eileen Heupel, Clifford Anderson
- Head Electrician, Ray Briton, John Cimbala
- Personal Manager of Orchestra, Percy Ryder
- Treasurer, Harry V. Mulhern
- Assistants to the Treasurer, Joan Wells, Larry Schuler, Elmer Smith
- Executive Secretary, Harriet Reading
- Theatre Party Representative, Betty Ray Borth
- Asst. Boss Canvas Man, John McLoughan
- Circus Decor, George Bernhardt
- House Manager, Jack W. Reahm
1955 Resident Company - Singers
A native New Yorker, Joyce overcame ealry childhood physical difficulties to become a talented performer. After her 1955 season at the Music Circus she went on to tour with "Damn Yankees," and "The Pajama Game." On TV she appeared on "The Secret Storm," "As The World Turns," "Somerset," "Love is a Many Splendored Thing," and "Search for Tomorrow." In 1958 she was seen in the RKO film "Girls on the Loose." She became an acting/camera coach and casting consultant. She died February 28, 1999 at age 64.
Marilyn Hodges, a Philadelphian, was a member of the permanent company at the Neptune Music Circus near Asbury Park in 1954. She has sung with the Little Opera Company of Delaware County and the Gilbert & Sullivan Players of Philadelphia.
Elaine Nochumson, a native of Trenton, maked her professional debut at the Music Circus in 1955. She was a junior at Douglass College where she majored in Dramatics and English.
Jerome Reed made his professional debut as a member of the Glee Club at the Radio City Music Hall in New York. He studied voice and dramatics at Syracuse University.
Robert Reim, a graduate of Philadelphia's Academy of Vocal Arts, made his debut at the Music Circus in 1954 in "Oklahoma!" In the 1955 season, he played Danny in "Wonderful Town." He has been a frequent guest soloist with Paul Whiteman on his TV and radio shows.
1955 Resident Company - Dancers
Len Barkley was a featured dancer with the Atlanta Civic Ballet Company and with the Atlanta Opera Company. He toured with the Boris Bekkie Ballet Group.
Dancer, Roberta Bektell, made her acting debut at the Music Circus in 1955 as Gussie in "Wish You Were Here." She attended the Julliard School of Music on scholarship and in 1954 appeared at the Cain Park Theatre in Cleveland, OH.
Please note that during the season, some Resident Company members may have left and new ones hired. Not all the members listed above were employed for the entire season.