Evening star., 1925-02-25
GEST SEEKS HOUSE
FOR MIRACLE HERE
Outlines Conditions for Pre-
Senting Massive Production
j. in Washington.

"The Miracle" famous production
OF Morris Gest and +. Ray Comstock,
will be brought to Washington if a
theatcr can be found to accommodate
the production and d guarantee OF
$l50.000 for two weeks ais assured.
Mr.. Gest outlined these conditions
yesterday when he came here from
New York to look over thcater ac-
Commodations.
He spent yesterday afternoon eX-
amining Polfs Theater and today
he will be taken through the Wash
iugton Auditorium. Because of the
large capacity of the latter house it
is believed he will decide it is the
better place to stage THE Miracle"
If theater lovers of Washington de-
eide they want it brought here.
Asks Guarantee.
Before Mr.. Gest would consider
bringing "The Miracle" here, Wash
ington would have to guarantee him
$150,000. This sum scarcely would
clear the expense of transporting the
spectacle to the National Capital, the
producer asserted. and is considerably
less than the fund that was demande d
of Cleveland, the last place to have
the play.
To properly produce the show, Mr..
GeSt said it would be necessary to
completely change the appearance of
the interior of the theater to reSem-
ble medieval cathedral. When the
show was first produced in America
Mr. Gest spent nearly $1,00o,0O0
IS transforming the Century Theater in
New York, and in Cleveland he eX-
acted IL guarantee fund of $250,000.
Sees Profit on Showing.
Mr. Gest made it plain that he
could not be concerned over the finan-
cial end of the transaction. That
would have to be guaranteed by
prominent Washingtonians. His
hands, he said, would be more than
full planning the show, which is pro-
dueed under his personal supervision,
but he expressed a belief that two
week run here would net a profit.
When the idea of taking THE Mir
acle" to Cleveland was first advanced
one man guaranteed the entire fund,
Mr.. GeSt said. Then he interested
others in backing him. When the
three week run there was ended the
promoters had cleared $1,000, which
was donated to the encouragement of
musical interests in the city. There
is no reason, Mr.. Gest said, why the
same success could not be attained
I'm Washington.
Would Attract other Cities.
Not only would the show have the
entire public of Washington to draw
up6n, but il would also attract thou
sands from nearby cities, such as
Baltimore, Richmond and possibly
Norfolk. Mr.. Gest felt certain that
enough money could be realized here
to repay the guaJantors and still
leaye a large sum which might be
used for philanthropic purposes.
"The Miracle" was first produced
at the Olympia, in London, back in
1911. 1t is said that 10000 persons
attended its performances each day.
Soon afterwards Max Reinhardt
started the show on its meteoric
career through Europe. In Vienna
Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig, Elberfeld,
Breslau, Cologne, Prague, Hamburg,
Stockholm, Helsingburg and Buchar
est. it was hailed as the wonder play
of the time.
'sThe Miracle" is based on an early
Christian legend. Its dramatic pres
entation requires the performing of
Roman Catholic, rites and ceremonies.
In Protestant London and Roman
Catholic Vienna alike it swept the
public off its feet.