This is a rare single page advertising handbill (flyer) promoting the return of the FRANZ LEHAR, SIDNEY SHELDON and BEN ROBERTS Operetta "THE MERRY WIDOW" at the Coliseum Theatre in London beginning Tuesday, September 19th, 1944. (The West End revival opened March 4th, 1943 at His Majesty's Theatre in London and ran for 318 performances. The production then toured World War II Army installations beginning in October 1943 with stops in Egypt, Italy, France, the Netherlands and Belgium before returning to London, opening September 19th, 1944 at the Coliseum for the remainder of the year.) ..... The musical starred CYRIL RITCHARD as "Prince Danilo" and MADGE ELLIOTT as "Sonia" (the Merry Widow) and featured FRANK TICKLE, DON AVORY, GEORGINA, DOREEN DUKE, EDWARD BOLESLAWSKI, SIDNEY ARNOLD, WILLIAM MARSH, JOHN HUGO, NANCY MUNKS, BRUCE CARFAX, FRANK CARIELLO, SIDNEY ARNOLD, BETTY SAUNDERS, MAGGIE JARVIS, MARIANNE DEEMING, RAY CAREY, EDWINA MAY, WILLIAM MORGAN and the NORMAN BALLET ..... Historical Background: "THE MERRY WIDOW" ("Die Lustige Witwe") premiered on December 30th, 1905 at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna, Austria and was Lehar's first major success, becoming internationally the best-known operetta of its era. Lehar subsequently made changes for productions in London in 1907 (adding two new numbers), and Berlin in the 1920's, but the definitive version is basically that of the original production ..... CREDITS: Music by FRANZ LEHAR ("The Merry Widow", "Gypsy Love", "The Count of Luxembourg", "The Ziegfeld Follies of 1916", "Frederika"); Book by VICTOR LEON and LEO STEIN; Adapted by BASIL HOOD; Lyrics by ADRIAN ROSS; Sets designed by ERNEST STERN; Costumes designed by WILLIAM CHAPPELL; Orchestra conducted by REGINALD BURSTON; Choreographed by ROBERT HELPMANN and FREDDIE CARPENTER; Directed by WILLIAM MOLLISON; Produced by JACK HYLTON ..... DETAILS: Advertising handbills (heralds) were distributed or inserted into the playbills of other productions to help generate ticket sales for upcoming shows. This single page, two-sided handbill measures 4" X 6" inches and includes wonderful graphics, production credits, opening date, performance schedule and partial cast list on the front and ticket prices and booking information on the backside ..... CONDITION: With the exception of a fold across the middle, this rare handbill is in excellent condition and will make a wonderful addition to the collection of any musical theatre aficionado or historian. This item will be carefully packaged in a protective, carded sleeve and backed by stiff cardboard.