Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-27
IN THE SPOTLIGHT

I City last Monday night, and it Is ex-
pected to reach Broadway shortly for
a run.
Eva Casanova, now playing in
'Lally," will have the leading femi-
nine role in Menace" opening in New
York next month. The piece is de-
scrfbed as "a Japanese mystery play"
/ When Jeanne Eagels shall have
| finally signed the contract for THE
Cardboard Lovers" 1t is rumored that
the Lyceum or the Empire Theater,
| New York. will house the production.
| Leslie Howard is to have his original
role, but it has not yet been decided
whether he is to be featured in the
part.
Margaret Kennedy. author of the
book The Constant Nymph." and CO.
author of the play, is to visit these
| shores. arriving in New York the lat
| ter part of March She is coming to
| this country for the purpose of lee
| turing rather than to become active
in theatrical affairs.
The musical comedy production a.
the Strand. under the direction of Leo
stevens, went along very smoothly
last week, the new chorus working
with splendid precision and pep"
Irving Hamp and Lew Lewis aided
materially TO the success through
broad comedy effects.
Martin Beck, it is announced. has
bought the rights to THE Snowman"
musical comedy by Dave Stamper,
Joe Laurie, jr., and Paul Gerard
Smith.
Gwen Lowry James Norval, Gene
We've Williams and Schuyler Smith
have been engaged for the cast of
Amt Love Grand" by Willis Max
we'll Goodhue.
The musical comedy which WILL
against all precedent. occupy the Be
lasco Theater. New York, late this
Spring, is Hit the Deck the Lew
FieldsVincent Youmans musical YER
sion of "Shore Leave" by Hubert Os-
borne, which David Belasco presented
several years ago. The occupation of
the Belasco. hitherto strictly confined
to dramatic productions, by a musical
comedy is an indication that David
Beiasco will not be engaged in active
production for some months to come
His injuries, suffered in an automo-
bile accident on New Year morning,
have led to his consent to a non
Belasco show coming for the first time
INTO his own luxurious theater.
The energetic Gustav Blum has
started rehearsals of his third produc-
ton this season, 1.-The Mystery Ship"
by E. NJ. Schoenberg and Milton Sill
yer, and described as a mystery play.
1t is scheduled to open in New York
March Ia without the usual out-of-
town tryout.
Spread Eagle a new play by
George Brooks and Walter Lister, two
newspaper men, is now in process of
casting in New York. 1t will be pre-
scented under the direction of Jed
Harris. The play goes into rehearsal
shortly and will probably open on
Broadway the first week in April.
Over in London 1t seems that Arch
Selwyn and Charles B. Cochran have
got toge, YER and are to be coproducers
Of a revuA which Is to have an inter
national favor, the cast being gar
nered from the four corners Of the
earth. This revue is to follow Flor
ence Mills and her "Blackbir<" when
that revue shall have finished it's long
run at the London Pavilion this Sum-
mer.
Elmer Rice, author of ''On Trial
and co-author with Dorothy Parker of
Close Harmony" has returped to
New York from Paris with a new
play, called Helen and John" con-
cerned with the difficulties of married
life
r, George Kelley left New York last
week for a months trip to the West
Indies. On his return he will begin
work on his next play, which will be
entitled It'll the Day of Her Death"