Rehearsal (aka: Dance Rehearsal) by Don Freeman

Rehearsal (aka: Dance Rehearsal) by Don Freeman

Rehearsal (aka: Dance Rehearsal)

Don Freeman

Title

Rehearsal (aka: Dance Rehearsal)

 
Artist

Don Freeman

  1908 - 1978 (biography)
Year
1932  
Technique
lithograph 
Image Size
9 3/8 x 11"  
Signature
pencil, lower right 
Edition Size
35 or fewer 
Annotations
titled, ll 
Reference
McCulloch 56 
Paper
cream wove with France watermark 
State
published 
Publisher
artist 
Inventory ID
JIHE122 
Price
SOLD
Description

Backstage in New York's 44th Street Theater during rehearsal. The chorus rehearses for "Ballyhoo", a two act revue which opened in September 6 of 1932. The Ballyhoo of 1932 revue starred Willie and Eugene Howard and Bob Hope and ran for a period of 95 performances. The lithograph depicts the Albertina Rasch Dancers.

Similar to a vaudeville show, a revue usually consists of sketches, songs, and comedians, but has no overall plot. Unlike a vaudeville show, however, a revue runs for a significant period of time and may have a conceptual continuity to its acts. Hope was the master of ceremonies and a performer in Ballyhoo.

"Ballyhoo" was a series of risque sketches based on a popular periodical of the time of the same name that was seen as vulgar, but very entertaining. This was one of Hope's early jobs at age 29.