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Diamond
Studs:
The Life of Jesse James
opened at the Ranch House, Chapel Hill, September, 1974. Our Ramblers
collaborated with a country/folk group, the Southern States Fidelity Choir
(Jim Wann, Bland Simpson, John Foley, Mike Sheehan, and Jan Davidson),
who shared the Cat's Cradle venue with the Red Clay Ramblers. The play,
written by Wann, Simpson, and John Haber, the director, was so well
received that it attracted the attention of off-Broadway New York backers.
In December the whole show moved to New York!
Studs rehearsed for
the month of December, shooting for a New Year's Eve opening. The
show tightened over the grumbles of the cast about lines and scenes biting
the dust at the hands of these cruel New York professionals. Pat
Birch, who choreographed Grease, blocked out the show. The result
on New Year’s Eve: "Yes, yes, a thousand times yes," wrote Clive
Barnes, New York Times, "…the real, the authentic America."
Studs ran to sold
out houses, 8 shows a week. The show opened on January 14, 1975,
and closed on August 3, 1975, after 232 performances. The fifth Blur
was found in the cast when Jack Herrick took over a role in the show. |
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DIAMOND
STUDS SOUVENIRS
REVIEWS
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The
full text of the Clive Barnes/New York Times Review with clipping |
Newsweek review by Jack Kroll |
The
Saturday Review |
RECORDINGS
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Diamond
Studs recordings from the original cast and also Bland Simpson, Jim
Wann, and friends |
ARTICLES
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At
the beginning of the run, cast members speculate on their futures to Betty
Hodges, Herald |
Tommy and Bill interviewed at the end of Diamond Studs' NY
run by Mary Burch, The Raleigh Times |
"Will
Success Spoil Homefolks?" by Robert Donnan, Chapel Hill News |
New
York Magazine clipping with picture |
Miami
Herald article by Nancy Beth Jackson preceding Studs' run at
the Coconut Grove Theater--lots of background on developing the show |
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PICTURES
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Color
photos of the cast of Diamond Studs |
More stills involving Red Clay Ramblers |
Even more stills involving the Red Clay Ramblers and found online in 2013 |
PLAYBILLS & FLYERS
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Whole
page of Diamond Studs posters and other souvenirs |
Playbill from the original Ranch House production |
Playbill from the New York show and Studs cash |
Playbill for the triumphant return to the Ranch House in NC |
New York concert ads from NY Times and Village Voice |
Flyer for the Ford's Theater run in Washington, DC |
Flyer for concerts in New York at the Westside Theater |
LINKS
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Jim
Wann's homepage |
Red Clay Ramblers and Theater |
SCRIPT & OTHER STAGINGS
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Order
your own Diamond Studs script (includes all the lyrics and dialog)
from Samuel French |
Mojo
Productions staging of Diamond Studs 2003 (Charlotte NC) and 2006
(Chapel Hill NC) - many articles, previews, reviews and how to buy the
first-ever cast recording of the Studs songs (cast of the 2006 show)
send a $15 check to
Franklin Golden
820 Sedgefield Street
Durham, NC 27705
or contact franklingolden@yahoo.com
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