TheaterMania is proud to present a sample of the New York Public Library's new exhibit, "The Line King's Library," featuring the work of late legendary Broadway caricaturist Al Hirschfeld. David Leopold, archivist for the Al Hirschfeld Foundation, is offering a first look at samples from the extensive display in three installments, each featuring a different collection of the sketch artist's work, curated by Leopold himself. Take a look at this compilation of Hirschfeld's, which flashes back to original incarnations of the work of the current New York docket's most popular artists and productions.
And stay tuned for additional segments featuring previews of the the New York Public Library's "Line King's Library" exhibit.
Open Gallery (10 Images) This production of ''Romeo and Juliet'' was designed and directed by Franco Zeffirelli, who was among the first to cast actual teenagers in the roles. Hirschfeld drew his first Romeo in 1930 and his first Juliet in 1940. courtesy of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation What a field day Hirschfeld could have with Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen performing ''No Man’s Land'' and ''Waiting for Godot'' in repertory! He drew both play’s Broadway debuts in 1976 (seen here) and 1956 respectively. He drew both performers a total of nine times from 1967 to 2001.> What a field day Hirschfeld could have with Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen performing ''No Man’s Land'' and ''Waiting for Godot'' in repertory! He drew both play’s Broadway debuts in 1976 (seen here) and 1956 respectively. He drew both performers a total of nine times from 1967 to 2001. courtesy of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation Hirschfeld drew the “Scottish Play” eleven times. His first was Orson Welles’ ''Voodoo Macbeth'' in 1936 and over the next few decades he drew Charlton Heston, Michael Redgrave (seen here), and Chris Plummer in the title role. His final Scottish king was Alec Baldwin, with Angela Basset as his lady, in 1998.> Hirschfeld drew the “Scottish Play” eleven times. His first was Orson Welles’ ''Voodoo Macbeth'' in 1936 and over the next few decades he drew Charlton Heston, Michael Redgrave (seen here), and Chris Plummer in the title role. His final Scottish king was Alec Baldwin, with Angela Basset as his lady, in 1998. courtesy of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation ''Little Miss Sunshine'' is William Finn’s latest project, this time off-Broadway, but Hirschfeld was drawing cast members of Finn musicals since 1981. Here he captured the 1992 Broadway premiere of ''Falsettos'', a pairing of two off-Broadway musicals by Finn.> ''Little Miss Sunshine'' is William Finn’s latest project, this time off-Broadway, but Hirschfeld was drawing cast members of Finn musicals since 1981. Here he captured the 1992 Broadway premiere of ''Falsettos'', a pairing of two off-Broadway musicals by Finn. courtesy of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation Harold Pinter plays showed up on Hirschfeld’s board nearly as many times as his plays appeared on boards of Broadway. Here is the original 1979 New York production of Pinter’s seething drama ''Betrayal'' (now at the Ethel Barrymore).> Harold Pinter plays showed up on Hirschfeld’s board nearly as many times as his plays appeared on boards of Broadway. Here is the original 1979 New York production of Pinter’s seething drama ''Betrayal'' (now at the Ethel Barrymore). courtesy of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation Hirschfeld drew the premiere of ''Cabaret'' on Broadway in 1966. He drew the film in 1972. He drew the 1987 revival, and his final drawing of the Kander and Ebb classic was the decadent club setting of the 1998 revival starring the late Natasha Richardson and the great Alan Cumming.> Hirschfeld drew the premiere of ''Cabaret'' on Broadway in 1966. He drew the film in 1972. He drew the 1987 revival, and his final drawing of the Kander and Ebb classic was the decadent club setting of the 1998 revival starring the late Natasha Richardson and the great Alan Cumming. courtesy of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation Although Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill’s landmark musical ''The Threepenny Opera'' first premiered on Broadway in 1933, it was not until this production in 1955 that it captured the audience’s imagination.> Although Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill’s landmark musical ''The Threepenny Opera'' first premiered on Broadway in 1933, it was not until this production in 1955 that it captured the audience’s imagination. courtesy of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation Hirschfeld captured the spirit of the current production of ''Chicago'' when it first opened in 1996, just as he had done for the original production in 1975. Hirschfeld had drawn the original play the musical was adapted from in 1927.> Hirschfeld captured the spirit of the current production of ''Chicago'' when it first opened in 1996, just as he had done for the original production in 1975. Hirschfeld had drawn the original play the musical was adapted from in 1927. courtesy of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation Like Hirschfeld, ''Annie'' is theatrical art first seen in the pages of a newspaper. The actors in this drawing of the original 1977 production have changed when it returned to Broadway in 2012, but the characters remain the same.> Like Hirschfeld, ''Annie'' is theatrical art first seen in the pages of a newspaper. The actors in this drawing of the original 1977 production have changed when it returned to Broadway in 2012, but the characters remain the same. courtesy of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation On Sunday March 25, 1945, Al Hirschfeld included ''The Glass Menagerie'' in a diptych with Katharine Cornell and Brian Aherne in the third (and final) revival of ''The Barretts of Wimpole Street''. Hirschfeld gave the two shows equal weight in his drawing, which in retrospect neatly summarizes the transition of the American theater that was occurring that week.> On Sunday March 25, 1945, Al Hirschfeld included ''The Glass Menagerie'' in a diptych with Katharine Cornell and Brian Aherne in the third (and final) revival of ''The Barretts of Wimpole Street''. Hirschfeld gave the two shows equal weight in his drawing, which in retrospect neatly summarizes the transition of the American theater that was occurring that week. courtesy of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation For more information about the exhibit, click here .
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