PLAYBILL VAULT'S Today in Theatre History: AUGUST 15

By Ernio Hernandez
and Robert Viagas
15 Aug 2012

1879 The legendary Barrymore theatre family gets one more to add to its roster today as Ethel Barrymore is born. Her father is actor Maurice Barrymore and her brothers are John and Lionel. Barrymore's triumphant career lasted almost five decades and included leading roles in such plays as Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet (as Ophelia), A Doll's House, and The Second Mrs. Tanqueray. Barrymore gave many of her best-received performances in later life, notably as Gran in 1938's Whiteoaks and as Miss Moffat in the 1940 Emlyn Williams play, The Corn Is Green. Ms. Barrymore died in 1959. A theatre named in her honor stands at 243 West 47th Street on Broadway.

1880 Jacob J. Shubert, one of the three Shubert producing brothers, is born today. Along with Sam and Lee, Shubert was responsible for some of the most popular Broadway entertainments, musical and non musical, during the first half of this century. While his brothers stressed the business end of the business, it was J.J., as Jacob was called, who oversaw most of the actual productions.

1887 Playwright and novelist Edna Ferber is born today in Michigan. With George S. Kaufman, Ferber collaborated on The Royal Family and Dinner at Eight. Ferber's novel, "Show Boat," would be the basis for the groundbreaking Oscar Hammerstein II-Jerome Kern musical of the same name.

1988 Nell Carter and Andre De Shields Ain't Misbehavin' in the revival of the musical revue of Fats Waller's music. Co-conceiver Richard Maltby, Jr. directs the production, which opens tonight on Broadway at the Ambassador Theatre. The show will last 176 performances.

1997 The Marx Brothers' "All Talking-Singing Musical Comedy Hit" The Cocoanuts is revived at Off-Broadway's American Place Theatre. The musical with book by George S. Kaufman and music/lyrics by Irving Berlin is adapted by Richard Sabellico for the American Jewish Theatre production.

2002 Hairspray a stage musical adaptation of John Waters' cult film, opens on Broadway to raves. It goes on to win the lion's share of the 2003 Tony Awards including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book, plus Best Leading Actor and Actress in a Musical for leads Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur.

More of Today's Birthdays: Wendy Hiller 1912. Ring Lardner, Jr. 1915. Huntz Hall 1919. Janice Rule 1931. Jim Dale 1935. Jill Haworth 1945. Zeljko Ivanek 1957. Ron Bohmer 1961. Michael Berresse 1964.