Arlen, Harold. (1905–1986) & Harburg, E.Y. [Edgar Yipsel] (1896–1981). "Bloomer Girl" - Signed Presentation Bound Rehearsal Scores. Bound presentation volume of the complete separate songs from the 1944 musical by Arlen and E.Y. Harburg, based on the book by Sig Herzig and Fred Saidy. 11 rehearsal copies, each a dyeline facsimile of a song in an unidentified copyist hand, several of these otherwise unpublished individually. Bound together with a Playbill cover from the opening run at the Shubert Theatre and 6 published first edition songs, each issued by Crawford Music Corporation of New York, each with the illustrated cover by Miles White. Inscribed on the first free endpage by Arlen "For Mannie + Martha - Love [Anya, signing in her hand] + Harold / 5.2.45." Together with, laid in, a complete 1946 Playbill of the show, signed in blue ink on the cast page by E. Y. Harburg and Nanette Fabray. Full crimson leather binding with title and 1944 stamped in gold on front cover. Binding heavily worn with chipping to edges and losses along spine. Internally very good.



Bloomer girl opened on Broadway on October 4, 1944. It ran for 657 performances and while successful, it has seldom been revived. Set in 1861, it tackles (in a lighthearted mode) subjects as serious as the emancipation of both women and slaves. With choreography by Agnes DeMille, it solidified the stardom of Celeste Holm, who portrayed Evelina, the bloomer girl of the title.