1886 Future stage actor and second wife of , is born in Washington, D.C. Born Mary William Ethelbert Appleton, Burke spends her childhood in England, where her father is a popular clown performer. For this reason, most of Burke's early stage successes are in London, not New York. In fact, Burke only appears in one American musical, 1924's , produced by her husband. Other New York stage appearances include , , and . In the 1930s Burke lends her name as a producer to many editions of her husband's Follies and make some film appearances. Burke is best-preserved on film as Glinda, the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz.
1919 Actors' Equity calls the longest strike in American theatre history. Francis Bacon's Lightin' and 12 other Broadway shows go dark as the fledgling union's struggle for recognition moves to the picket lines. Four days later, the chorus in Florenz Ziegfeld, Jr.'s Follies form Chorus Equity and elect as their first President. After 30 days, 37 closed productions and 16 prevented openings, and a loss of $3 million, the strike is settled and managers sign a five year contract. Responding to Equity's call for recognition, producer, director, and actor says "I will drive an elevator for a living before I will do business with any actors' union." A sign later appears in Times Square saying "Elevator Operator Wanted: George M. Cohan need not apply."
1950 Two-time Academy Award winner stars in a revival of 's as part of the 's season at the Fulton Theatre. Directed by , the cast also includes husband-and-wife actors and .
1965 Tony Award winner says "Goodbye" to the original Broadway production of after her August 7 performance to join the California company fo the show. Although Channing is immortalized as Ms. Dolly Levi (and returns to the role in ) the production also thrives with many new "star" Dollys. Among them are (who succeeds Channing the next week), , , and , for whom the show was originally written.
1984 's opens on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. directs a star-studded cast that includes , , , , , , and . The play about show business men trying to find themselves transferred from Off-Broadway where played the role taken over by Silver.
1986 Honky Tonk Nights opens at Broadway鈥檚 Biltmore Theatre. With music by Michael Valenti and a libretto by David Campbell and Ralph Allen (Sugar Babies), the show follows a Black vaudeville troupe as they move from Hell's Kitchen to Harlem. The troupe鈥檚 star duo gets extra opportunities from white show business that require personal compromise and threaten to tear the group apart. The cast stars a young Joe Morton (Raisin, TV鈥檚 Scandal), Ira Hawkins (The Tap Dance Kid) and Teresa Burrell (Thoroughly Modern Millie). The show was cut short and closed after only 14 previews and four regular performances.
2003 A Stoop On Orchard Street, a musical set in New York City's Lower East Side and exploring Ellis Island-era immigrant life, opens quietly at Off-Broadway's Mazer Theater, but builds into a sold-out hit almost exclusively on the strength of word of mouth. Jay Kholos, a 63-year-old former TV writer and producer, wrote music, lyrics, and book.
2016 The world premiere of 's play Meteor Shower opens at the in San Diego, California. Jenna Fischer, , , and Josh Stamberg star in the comedy about two married couples who gather to watch a meteor shower in the night sky. The play , in a production starring , , , and .
Today's Birthdays: (1916鈥�2008). (1927鈥�1984). (b. 1944). (b. 1955). Brenda Braxton (b. 1956). Jon Jon Briones (b. 1965). (b. 1971). (b. 1974). (b. 1976). (b. 1978).
