Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 3

By Robert Viagas
and Christopher Reichheld and Ann Bradley
February 3, 2012

1938 When a grandfather holds off Death (by chasing him up a tree) so he can be sure his grandson will be taken care of, he's working On Borrowed Time. This comedy was adapted by Paul Osborn from Lawrence Watkin's novel of the same title. Dudley Diggs stars as Gramps, Peter Holden is his grandson, and Frank Conroy is the Grim Reaper.

1951 Maureen Stapleton is a lonely widow pining for her dead husband in The Rose Tattoo. This Tennessee Williams work also stars Eli Wallach, Sal Mineo and Martin Balsam. It will run 38 weeks.

1956 Broadway musical comedy leading man Nathan Lane is born today in Jersey City, NJ. He will star in Broadway productions of The Producers, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Guys and Dolls, The Odd Couple, On Borrowed Time, Love! Valour! Compassion! and other shows. He will also collaborate with Stephen Sondheim on the musical The Frogs, a lend his voice to Timon the Meerkat in Disney's The Lion King.

1960 The Wrong Side of the Park might also be the wrong side of marriage in this John Mortimer drama. Staged by Peter Hall at London's Cambridge Theatre, Margaret Leighton stars as a neurotic wife tormenting her husband (Richard Johnson) with a fantasy of her deceased first spouse. It will run nearly 22 weeks.

1976 Opening night for A Matter of Gravity starring Katharine Helpburn and Christopher Reeve. Enid Bagnold's drama will run just 79 performances at the Broadhurst Theatre.

1976 Also today: actor Roger Livesey dies today. He appeared in the West End and on Broadway. In film, he was well known for his character, Colonel Blimp. He was 70 years old.

2005 Pulitzer-winner Donald Margulies opens his latest play, Brooklyn Boy, at Manhattan Theatre Club. Adam Arkin, Polly Draper and Ari Graynor are featured in the drama about a man who returns to his childhood neighborhood after becoming a famous novelist.

More of Today's Birthdays: Robert Earl Jones 1900. James A. Michener 1907. Bibi Osterwald 1920. Blythe Danner 1943. Linda Eder 1961. Ann Harada 1964.