Beyond the Mountains

New York: The Living Theatre, 1951. First Edition.

Small Quarto (9 1/4 x 6 1/4 inches; 235 x 160 mm), 16 pages, in stapled printed wrappers (soft cover).

Program for Kenneth Rexroth's four short plays in verse on classical Greek themes. "Beyond the Mountains" opened at the Living Theatre on December 30, 1951, with Living Theatre co-director Judith Malina playing several roles. Julian Beck directed, with music by Richard Stryker, sets and costumes by Garrick Maxwell, choreography by Tei Ko, and lighting designed by Marjorie Spitz.

This production was part of the first season at the Living Theatre's first permanent performance space at the Cherry Lane Theatre in Greenwich Village. The program includes an essay on "The Poetic Theatre" by Harold Norse, a poem, "The Last Supper," by Oscar Williams, and an article on "Vanguard and Theatre," by Paul Goodman (who wrote "Faustina," which was performed at the Living Theatre following "Beyond the Mountains.")

There are also advertisements from local businesses, especially bookstores and cafes, as well as an advert for drawings by Kenneth Rexroth, each priced at $35. A list of Living Theatre sponsors includes John Cage, Merce Cunningham, Anaïs Nin, Betty Parsons, William Carlos Williams, and other luminaries of the art and literary worlds. SCARCE.

This program should not be confused with a New Directions hardback issued in 1951.

CONDITION: Edge wear and a couple of tiny nicks to wrappers, light toning to pages. Near Fine.