Broadway Theatre
Opening:Apr 13, 1957Closing:May 25, 1957
Total Performances:49

Chita was the standby for Eartha Kitt as Mehitabel the cat in this original musical based on the "archie and mehitabel" stories by Don Marquis, about a grouchy typewriting cockroach and a lovelorn cat, set in Shinbone Alley and its Environs.

Opening Night Production Credits:

Theatre Owned / Operated by The Shubert Organization.

Produced by Peter Lawrence.

Music by George Kleinsinger; Lyrics by Joe Darion; Book by Joe Darion and Mel Brooks;; Music and Choral Direction by Maurice Levine; Music orchestrated by George Kleinsinger; Additional orchestrations by Irwin Kostal; Additional Musical Routines by John Morris.

Production Supervised by Sawyer Falk; Choreographed by Joe Alexander and Rod Alexander.

Production Design by Eldon Elder; Costume Design by Motley; Lighting Design by Tharon Musser; Hair Design by Ernest Adler; Assistant to Eldon Elder: Betty Coe Armstrong and Jesse F. Beers, Jr.; Assistant to Motley: Michael Travis.

General Manager: Elias Goldin.

Production Stage Manager: Morty Halpern; Stage Manager: Julian Barry and Gilbert Cates.

Music Materials under supervision of Arnold Arnstein; Orchestra Manager: Morris Stonzek; Assistant Conductor: Frederick Vogelgesang.

Asst. to the Choreographer: Arthur Mitchell; Production Associate: Jerry Leider; Press Representative: George Ross; Production Assistant: Frances Lewis; Advertising: Ingram Ash; Press Associate: Madi Blitzstein.

Opening Night Cast

Eddie Bracken -- archy
Eartha Kitt -- mehitabel
Jacques d'Amboise -- Frankie, Dancer
Gwen Harmon -- Jail Crony, Edie, Lady Bug, Singer
George S. Irving -- Big Bill
Allegra Kent -- Penny, Dancer
Ross Martin -- Broadway
Erik Rhodes -- Tyone T. Tattersal
Dorothy Aull -- Ricky, Lady Bug, Singer
Julian Barry -- Voice of Newspaperman
Cathryn Damon -- Jail Crony, Rusty, Dancer
Jack Eddleman -- Harry, Singer
Don Farnworth -- Fighting Dog, Dancer
Gene Gavin -- Fighting Dog, Dancer
Carolyn George - Dancer
Harold E. Gordon -- Fighting Dog, Dancer
Reri Grist - Phyllis, Singer
Carmen Gutierrez -- Jail Crony, Gladys, Dancer
Buzz Halliday -- Jail Crony, Lady Bug, Singer
Lillian Hayman - Mother, Singer
Moses LaMarr - Butch, Singer
Bruce MacKay - Bartender, Singer
James Marley - "Cooper," Singer
Larry Montaigne - Blackie
Albert Popwell -- Tall Cat, Dancer
Jack Rains - Singer
Nora Reho -- Jail Crony, Dancer
Howard Roberts - Buzz, Singer
Dorothy Scott - Dancer
James Tarbutton -- Tall Cat, Dancer
Elizabeth Taylor -- Jail Crony, Dancer
Claude Thompson -- Fighting Dog, Dancer
Elmarie Wendel -- Jail Crony, Singer
Myrna White - Dancer
David Winters - Shorty, Dancer

Standbys:
Larry Montaigne, Tom Poston (archy),
Chita Rivera (mehitabel).