Daily Worker
May 13, 1941
ALMANAC SINGERS AND PLAYERS IN DEBUT MAY 15th
The Almanac Singers and Players will give their first combined perfor
mance on Thursday and Friday, May 15 and 16, at the Finnish Hall, 15 W. 126th St., where they will present “Sign of the Times.”The formation of this new group of professional actors with the Alman
ac Singers came as a result of the spontaneous enthusiasm with which the Almanac Singers were met wherever they entertained. Because the songs they sing are so much a part of American life today, it was a natural extension of their activities to join with a company who wanted to say the same things through a different medium.What the Almanac Singers say in terms of music, the Almanac Players will offer in a streamlined series of sketches and skits. The Players are using the old form of vaudeville with brand new material that will provide the entertainment of an old-time vaudeville show, and in addition, have some mighty pertinent things to say about pretty nearly everything.
The initial program will consist of original material written especially for the Almanac Players and Singers. The Almanac Singers have, of course, written their own songs. “Union Blues” — one of the features of the show will be sung by them and performed by Saralee Hayes, who also did the choreography, Carol Janning, first introduced to New York audiences in Marc Blitzstein’s "No For An Answer,” in which she sang “Fraught,” Perry Bruskin, last seen in “See My Lawyer” and “Medicine Show,” and Eli Siegel. Sam Bonnell, who delighted audiences by his performance in “Pinocchio” is included in the cast. The show is directed by Manny Manisof. All of which will make a very exciting first program of the Almanac Singers and Players.