Scoreography (Signed)

McCraw, Charles B

Self Published & Edwards Brothers, Printers, 1964

[Association copy, inscribed by Charles B. McCraw to Agnes De Mille on verso.] Hardcover. Green cloth. No dust jacket. Good binding and cover. Clean, unmarked pages. Small stain to page 5. Minor tear to rear end page. 

"Agnes de Mille was one of the preeminent American choreographers of the twentieth century. Entering a field dominated by men, de Mille created a distinct American style of dance and choreographed some of the most beloved American ballets. She remains an inspiration to dancers and choreographers. Her first success was choreographing the dance sequences for the 1936 film, Romeo and Juliet. In November 1938, de Mille returned to the U.S., first touring with Joseph Anthony and Sybil Shearer, two important names in the world of ballet and modern dance. When the Ballet Theatre (now the American Ballet Theatre, ABT) began in 1939, de Mille was invited to be a charter member. She created her first ballet for the group in 1940, Black Ritual. The ballet was the first production to use African American ballet dancers. Her career skyrocketed beginning in 1942 when she was asked to choreograph a ballet for the preeminent Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Given considerable creative control, she created and danced in Rodeo. Set to a score by American composer Aaron Copland, Rodeo is considered the first American ballet, incorporating cowboy motifs and tap dance for the first time. Rodeo was a critical and commercial success and premiered at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City on October 16, 1942. De Mille received 22 curtain calls and standing ovations, the ballet toured the country, and it is still performed today. The success of Rodeo also led de Mille to her next choreography job. Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, the successful musical theater duo, saw the production and approached de Mille about choreographing the dances for their next musical, Oklahoma! (1943). It remains one of the most successful musicals in American history. She was also involved with the 1955 film adaptation."