ARENA PLAYERS
Arena Playhouse Downtown
406 Orchard Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201

Mailing Address:

P. O. Box 241
Baltimore, Maryland 21203

June 9, 1964

Dear Mr. Hughes,

I were at the Arena Playhouse last night and seen where you writ
to Mrs. Mary Carter Smith that you might come to Baltimore to see us
do your play "Simply Heavenly".

Joyce, Zarita, Miss Mamie, Melon, Miss Arcie, Bodiddily, Hopkins,
my good friend Boyd and all the guestests at the Playhouse is anxious
for your arrival.

It were in the near distant past that we opened the show --
namely on June 5, 6, 7 -- and it are in the near distant future that
we will repeat it --namely on June 12, 13, 14.

Please let us hear from you tonight as we has already passed the
point where we could wait.

Now sincerely yours and hoping to be more so,

I is,

P. S. If is is or it ain't well stated,
And it ain't or it aren't said right,
Our plea still must be rated,
A plea that don't fade overnight.

ARENA PLAYHOUSE DOWNTOWN
406 Orchard Street
Baltimore, Maryland - 21201

301-727-8953

301-727-8953

"Simply Heavenly" is "simply delightful" if we do say so ourselves. Langston Hughes' musical about Harlem opened with a swinging weekend at the Arena Playhouse Downtown. Tuneful and hilarious, the show will have an extended run at the Arena Players' Orchard Street Playhouse.

Performances will be resumed on Thursday, June 11th with Student Night. Friday's performance is a sold out house sponsored by St. James, while Saturday's performance is being sponsored by the Epicureans.

We are anticipating a sizeable crowd at the Sunday June 14th performance when the cast expects to have the pleasure of performing for Langston Hughes the author of Simple Stories and of the hit "Simply Heavenly."

We have it on good authority that the noted writer will visit our town and our theatre and we're thrilled.

JOIN US -------- REMEMBER --------

"SIMPLY HEAVENLY"

Thursday through Sunday

8:30 P.M.

April 23, 1966

Mrs. Camilla Sherrard
Chairman
The Arena Players, Inc.
(& Mrs. Ethel J. Day)
406 Orchard Street
Baltimore, Md. 21201

Dear Mrs. Sherrard:

It was indeed kind of you to invite Mr. Hughes to accept an award on May 29th from The Arena Players. Because he is in Africa and will not return until summer, he cannot be present. I know that he will be sorry when he learns of this upon his return. I know that he will wish to thank you personally, so I shall place your letter on his desk for attention then.

February 12th 1967

The Arena Players, Inc.
406 Orchard Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201

Dear Arena Players, Inc.:

I am most grateful to you for
honoring me with the lovely plaque and
I am sorry that I was out of the country
when it was presented officially. And,
I appreciate Mr. Samuel H. Wilson bringing
the plaque to me personally on his recent
trip to New York City.

Many thanks and all good wishes
to all of you.