| The Vamp | |
| Music: | James Mundy |
| Lyrics: | John La Touche |
The Vamp is a stage musical with a book by Sam Locke and John La Touche with lyrics by La Touche and music by James Mundy.[1]
The show is set in the 1920s and tells the story of Flora Weems, a farm girl turned actress and the behind the scenes drama of making a silent film version of Samson and Delilah.[2]
The show had its out-of-town tryout at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut, running from October 11–15, 1955. The show at the time was called Delilah and later renamed to The Vamp.[3] The show next opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre on November 10, 1955 and closed on December 31, 1955 running for a total of 60 performances.[4] The show was directed by David Alexander and choreographed by Robert Alton. Costumes and set design were by Raoul Pène Du Bois and musical direction was by Milton Rosenstock. The show was nominated for three Tony Awards including Best Lead Actress in a Musical for Carol Channing, Best Choreography and Best Conductor and Musical Director for Rosenstock.[5]
| Character | Broadway (1955) | |
|---|---|---|
| Flora Weems / Delilah | Carol Channing | |
| Oliver Oxheart | David Atkinson | |
| Bessie Bisco | Bibi Osterwald | |
| Dick Hicks / Stanley Hubermyer | Robert Rippy | |
| Elsie Chelsea | Patricia Hammerlee | |
| Charlie | Matt Mattox | |
| Myron Hubbard | Jack Waldron | |
| Barney Ostertag | Paul Lipson | |
| Stark Clayton | Malcolm Lee Beggs | |
| Uncle Garvey | Will Geer | |
| Samson / Muscle Man | Steve Reeves | |
| Aunt Hester | Sandyl Cordell | |
| Whip Man | David Kashner | |
| Bluestone | Jack Harrold | |
| Ensemble | Cathryn Damon |