Vaudeville
very specific order:
The first act was called the ʻdumb actʼ because it neither spoke nor sang. Often an
acrobatic or animal act, it was meant to gather and focus attention. Physical and fast
paced, it was fascinating eye-candy.
The second act was a ʻdoubleʼ. Two men, two women, a man and a woman, it was a
song and light dance act with patter. George Burns and Gracie Allen were a ʻdoubleʼ
before becoming headliners.
The third act was a ʻstage actʼ, a scene from a running Broadway play. Great actors of
the time, like Sarah Bernhardt and the Barrymores, worked vaudeville, rehearsing and
promoting their plays.
The fourth act was called the ʻwake up actʼ. A big musical performance to pick up the
pace and stimulate movement, Count Basie, Paul Whiteman Duke Ellington, Irving
Berlin, Cab Calloway and George Gershwin all played fourth on the bill.
The fifth act was comedy. Single, double, trio, slapstick to monologue, audiences
laughed at the commentary of Will Rogers, the exchange of Abbott and Costello and the
antics of the Three Stooges. Ethnic humor was a staple.
The sixth act was a ʻdance actʼ. Among the most famous were Adele and Fred Astaire
and the Nicholas Brothers. Choreography ranged from tap to jig, from ballet to the
Charleston. Foreign dances were considered exotic.
The seventh act was a ʻvariety actʼ, usually a magician like Houdini, a ventriloquist like
Edgar Bergen, a sports celebrity like Babe Ruth or a movie star like Rin Tin Tin. They
would engage and excite the audience.
The eighth act was a ʻsong actʼ, featuring a vocalist with big voice singing songs the
whole audience knew. Singers would treat listeners to old favorites, torch songs and
the newest tunes of the day.
For the most part, a vaudeville show did not have a host. Acts were brought on by a
ʻcard girlʼ whose walk across the stage would draw the audienceʼs attention to a title
card. She would introduce the next act. Many ʻcard girlsʼ were stars in the making.
Sit back and enjoy a remarkable lineup of entertainers who ʻfit the billʼ like they were
made to play vaudeville. This is going to be fun!
June 9th • 7:30pm
June 10th • 7:30pm
June 11th • 7:00pm & 9:30pm
June 12th • 2:00pm & 6:00pm
Ticket: $19.26
Order your tickets by phone at (856)384-8381, online at www.thebroadwaytheatre.org or at the Theatre box office.
The Broadway Theatre of Pitman
43 S Broadway
Pitman, NJ 08071
phone: 856-384-8381
email: boxoffice@broadwaytheatreofpitman.com
website: http://www.thebroadwaytheatre.org
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The Broadway Theatre of Pitman is dedicated to breathing life into exciting theater productions written for a diverse audience. Through various outreach and educational programs, The Broadway Theatre of Pitman will be a performing arts beacon in S Jersey.
Photo:
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