A book on the career of actress Ann Blyth. Available in paperback, eBook, or audiobook.
Get your eBook for half price this month at Amazon for $3.99.
The print book is available at Amazon for $21.99 (also here at my Etsy shop).
Ann Blyth performs in Noel Coward's operetta, Bitter Sweet at the Melody Top Theater in Milwaukee, 1975. You can just about see in the background members of the audience sitting close to the stage in that wonderful intimacy of theatre-in-the-round.
My sincere thanks for use of this photo to Dan Pagel, who maintains the website Memories of Melody Top, and does so much to preserve the history of this wonderful summer theater. I believe the photo is by Richard Borgeson.
From my book on Ann's career -- Ann Blyth: Actress, Singer, Star.:
One audience member saw Ann the next day at the local mall, as recounted in this Memories of Melody Top website posted comment:
Bitter
Sweet, an operetta by Noel Coward, was charming, as was Ann Blyth when I
encountered her over a table of sale items in Marshall Field’s at Mayfair Mall
the day after I saw her performance…I couldn’t resist telling her I didn’t want
to bother her when she was shopping, but I had to say how much I enjoyed her
performance the previous evening. I
immediately took off, only to hear her yelling after me, “That’s no bother!”
Photo property of Dan Pagel, used by permission.
Here Ann Blyth washes that man right out of her hair on the stage of the Melody Top Theatre. My sincere thanks for use of this photo to Dan Pagel, who maintains the website Memories of Melody Top, and does so much to preserve the history of this wonderful summer theater, which unfortunately is no longer operating. Ann was a particular favorite there in many shows. In this number she stars as Nellie Forbush in South Pacific, the year is 1973.
From my book on Ann's career -- Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star.:
"She returned to Milwaukee’s Melody Top Theatre, one of her most popular venues, for South Pacific in 1973 and was presented with their Showstopper Award for helping the show to earn more money than any in this tent theater’s history. James Padovano was a technical apprentice on that show. He shared his memories for this book of working with Ann Blyth at the Melody Top:
I
helped paint scenery during the day in the scene shop and was on the stage crew
during the performances at night. I
remember mostly the rehearsal process with Ms. Blyth. She was the
consummate professional, knew all her lines and blocking, hit all her
marks, knew the songs and the entire show inside out. She put everyone at ease with her knowledge
of the show and her professionalism. She was down to earth and
approachable by anyone. I saw her talking with one of the young
apprentices one day; she spent about thirty minutes talking with the youngster
about how to get into the business, how to get an agent and get training, voice
lessons etc. It meant the world to that kid."
