This is a rare February 14th, 1944 program (playbill) from the one-week, Post-Broadway engagement of the KATHERINE DUNHAM Dance Revue "TROPICAL REVUE" at the Nixon Theatre in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (The production opened September 19th, 1943 at the Martin Beck Theatre in New York City and ran for two months before commencing on a National Tour. The show would return December 26th, 1944 to New York's New Century Theatre for an additional 24 performances.) ..... Described as a "Musical Heatwave", the revue starred KATHERINE DUNHAM and the Dunham Dancers, Singers and Musicians including BOBBY CAPO, HELEN DOWDY, J. DeWITT SPENCER, ROSALIE KING, LUCILLE ELLIS, TOMMY GOMEZ, ROGER OHARDIENO, LAVERNE FRENCH, CLAUDE MARCHANT, LENWOOD MORRIS, GLORIA MITCHELL, VANOYE AIKENS, ANDRE DREW, SYVILLA FORT, LAVINIA WILLIAMS, LAWAUNE INGRAM, RAMONA ERWIN, WESLEEN FOSTER, ORA LEE, RICHARDENA JACKSON and DOLORES HARPER ..... Biographical note: KATHERINE DUNHAM (1909 – 2006) has been called the "Matriarch of Black Dance." Her unprecedented blend of cultural anthropology with the artistic genre of dance in the early 1930's, produced groundbreaking forms of movement, and in the United States, established black dance as an art form in its own right. Her professional troupe, formed in the early 1940's, was a first for African Americans, and led the way for future notables of dance the likes of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and Arthur Mitchell's Dance Theatre of Harlem. (Wikipedia) ..... CREDITS: Choreographed and Staged by KATHERINE DUNHAM; Sets and Costumes designed by JOHN PRATT; Orchestra conducted by MARTIN GABOWITZ; Directed by DALE WASSERMAN; Produced by S. HUROK DETAILS ..... DETAILS: The six panel, bi-fold playbill measures 5 1/4" X 8 3/8" inches and includes full production credits, cast list, scenes, musical numbers, program notes and wonderful vintage advertising but with the exception of the front cover, no cast photos or bios ..... CONDITION: With the exception of minor edge wear, this rare playbill is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre or dance aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.