Theater
La Jolla Playhouse / Play Credits

The following credits are from the six seasons in which Mel Ferrer was in charge of production. Decisions about what plays to perform and what actors to employ were made jointly with Gregory Peck with valuable input from Dorothy McGuire and John Swope, but the actual administration of each season fell to Mel Ferrer. He can be aptly credited as Producer for all these credits; a * after the credit indicates he also directed and ** indicates he acted in the play.

1947 SEASON
NIGHT MUST FALL	07/08/1947 - 07/13/1947
Written by Emlyn Williams Directed by Richard Whorf Set Design by Robert Davison Starring: Dame May Whitty, Oliver Thorndike, Eileen Erskine, Gavin Muir, Patricia Hitchcock, John Williams, Doris Lloyd, Julie Mitchum
DEAR RUTH *	07/15/1947 - 07/20/1947
Written by Norman Krasna Directed by Mel Ferrer Set Design by Robert Davison Starring: Diana Lynn, Guy Madison, Fred Clark, Dan Tobin, Gloria McMillan, Peter Perkins, Barbara Brown, Marietta Canty, Judy Hall, Irving Sudrow
THE HASTY HEART	07/22/1947 - 07/27/1947
Written by John Patrick Directed by Harry Ellerbe Set Design by Robert Davison Starring: Richard Basehart, Beatrice Pearson, Henry Morgan, John Williams, Michael Garrison, James Logan, Guy Kingsford, Emmett Smith, George Pelling
THE GUARDSMAN	07/29/1947 - 08/03/1947
Written by Ferenez Molnar Directed by Bernard Szold Set Design by Robert Davison Starring: Ruth Hussey, Kent Smith, Beulah Bondi, Dan Tobin, Elizabeth Fraser, Leon Belasco, Janet Scott
BIOGRAPHY	08/05/1947 - 08/10/1947
Written by S.N. Behrman Directed by Harry Ellerbe Set Design by Robert Davison Starring: Eve Arden, Barry Sullivan, Sig Rumann, John Hoyt, Russell Hicks, Leif Erickson, Patricia Medina, Edit Agnold
TONIGHT AT 8:30	08/12/1947 - 08/17/1947
The Astonished Heart, Fumed Oak, Still Life Written by Noel Coward Directed by Edna Best and Harry Ellerbe Set Design by Robert Davison Starring: Heather Angel, Richard Haydn, John Hoyt, Una O'Connor, Ann Richards, John Williams, Dorothy McGuire, Thomas L. Brooks, Constance Cavendish, Elizabeth Fraser, George Pelling, Ben H. Wright
THE SHINING HOUR	08/19/1947 - 08/24/1947
Written by Keith Winter Directed by Axel Gruenberg Set Design by Robert Davison Starring: Robert Walker, Beatrice Pearson, Karen Morley, Selena Royle, Keith Johnson, Sean McGlory
ANGEL STREET	08/26/1947 - 08/31/1947
Written by Patrick Hamilton Directed by Shepard Traube Set Design by Robert Davison Starring: Laraine Day, Gregory Peck, Ernest Cossart, Elizabeth Patterson, Elisabeth Fraser
ANGEL STREET	on tour
1948 SEASON
KIND LADY	06/29/1948 - 07/04/1948
Written by Edward Chodorov Directed by William Spier Set Design by John Boyt Starring: Sylvia Sidney, Tom Helmore, Dennis Hoey, Sig Ruman, Doris Lloyd, John Newland, Virginia Keiley, Gerry Carr, Colin Campbell, Felippa Rock, Edith Tachna, Stasia Kes, Jack Little
THE ROAD TO ROME	07/06/1947 - 07/11/1948
Written by Robert Sherwood Directed by Norman Lloyd Set Design by John Boyt Lighting Design by James W. Neilson Incidental music by David Raksin Starring: Eve Arden, Wendell Corey, Beulah Bondi, Donald Curtis, Gar Moore, Ricki Soma, Bruce Gordon, Colin Campbell
THE FIRST MRS. FRASER	07/13/1947 - 07/18/1948
Written by John Ervine Directed by Jane Cowl Set Design by John Boyt Lighting Design by James W. Neilson Starring: Jane Cowl, Reginaldd Mason, Reginald Denny, Opal Euard, Clark Howart, Anne Meacham, Felippa Rock, Roddy McDowall
FOR LOVE OR MONEY	07/20/1948 - 07/25/1948
Written by F. Hugh Herbert Directed by Harry Ellerbe Set Design by John Boyt Lighting Design by James W. Neilson Starring: June Lockhart, Leon Ames, Mark O'Daniels, Frank Conlan, Joan Miller, Maudie Prickett, H.C. Rust, Margaret Wells
THE GLASS MENAGERIE	07/27/1948 - 08/01/1048
Written by Tennessee Williams Direction and Lighting Design by James W. Neilson Set Design by John Boyt Starring: Ann Harding, Richard Basehart, John Ireland, Betsy Blair
ULTRA-MARINE	08/03/1948 - 08/08/1948
Written by Peter Blackmore Directed by Harry Ellerbe Set Design by John Boyt Lighting Design by James W. Neilson Starring: Diana Lynn, Reginald Gardiner, Lillian Bond, Gar Moore, Ricki Soma, Clara Blandick, John Rodney, Fiona O'Shiel
SERENA BLANDISH	08/10/1948 - 08/15/1948
Written by S.N. Behrman Directed by Richard Whork Set Design by John Boyt Lighting Design by James W. Neilson Starring: Jennifer Jones, Constance Collier, Louis Jourdan, Christian Kelleen, Mildred Natwick, Reginald Owen, Sig Ruman, Colin Campbell, Noel Drayton, Gar Moore, Kenneth Tobey
ROPE	08/17/1948 - 08/22/1948
Written by Patrick Hamilton Direction and Lighting Design by James W. Neilson Set Design by John Boyt Starring: Roland Culver, Hurd Hatfield, John Ireland, Patricia Medina, Lumden Hare, Helena Grant, Guy Kinsford, Tudor Hayes
THE MALE ANIMAL	08/24/1948 - 08/29/1948
Written by James Thurber and Elliott Nugent Directed by Harry Ellerbe Set Design by John Boyt Lighting Design by James W. Neilson Starring: Martha Scott, Gregory Peck, Harold Peary, Louise Beavers, Douglas Dick, Donald Curtis, Cathy O'Donnell, Harry Carey, Jr., Clifford Brooke, Minna Phillips, Barbara Brown, Raymond Parker
THE GLASS MENAGERIE	on tour
1949 SEASON
BLITHE SPIRIT	07/05/1949 - 07/10/1949
Written by Noel Coward Directed by James W. Neilson Set Design by Bob Lee Starring: Mildred Natwick, John Emery, Tamara Geva, Jacqueline de Wit, Ellen Corby, Warner Anderson, Mary Lawrence
HERE TODAY	07/12/1949 - 07/17/1949
Written by George Oppenheimer Directed by James W. Neilson Set Design by Bob Lee Starring: Eve Arden, Robert Alda, Dan Tobin, Marjorie Lord, John Hubbard, Claire Du Brey, Conrad Binyon, Marietta Canty,
ARRANGEMENT FOR STRINGS	07/19/1949 - 07/24/1949
World Premiere and Pre - New York Opening Written by Michael Clayton Hutton and Samuel Rosen Directed by Samuel Rosen Set Design by Bob Lee Lighting Design by James Neilson Music composed and produced by David Raksin Starring: Anne Revere, Tom Helmore, J.M. Kerrigan, Mary Drayton
LIGHT UP THE SKY	07/26/1949 - 07/31/1949
Written by Moss Hart Directed by James Neilson Set Design by Bob Lee Starring: Jean Parker, Benay Venuta, Gregory Peck, Florence Bates, Fred Clark, Tom Powers, John Hubbard, John Hoyt, Toni Favor, Percy Hilton, Jack Mosher
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ERNEST **	08/02/1949 - 08/07/1949
Written by Oscar Wilde Directed by James Neilson Set Design by Bob Lee Starring: Dorothy McGuire, Jane Wyatt, Mildred Natwick, Mel Ferrer, Hurd Hatfield, Lillian Bronson, Whit Bissell
ART AND MRS. BOTTLE	08/09/1949 - 08/14/1949
Written by Benn Levy Directed by Miss Jane Cowl Set Design by Bob Lee Starring: Jane Cowl, Roland Winters, Paul Cavanagh
ARMS AND THE MAN	08/16/1949 - 08/21/1949
Written by George Bernard Shaw Directed by James Neilson Set Design by Bob Lee Starring: Richard Basehart, John Ireland, Jean Parker, Joanne Dru, Rosalind Ivan, J.M. Kerrigan, Ludwig Donath
COMMAND DECISION *	08/23/1949 - 08/28/1949
Written by William Wister Haines Directed by Mel Ferrer Set Design by Bob Lee Starring: John Lund, Ward Bond, Kent Taylor, Albert Dekker, Whit Bissell, Kenneth Tobey, Russell Hicks, Harry Carey, Jr., Richard Crane
PETTICOAT JUNCTION	08/30/1949 - 09/04/1949
A Non-Tropical Farce in Three Acts by Mark Reed Directed by James Neilson Set Design by Bob Lee Starring: Robert Ryan, Ruth Warrick, Dorothy McGuire, Dan Tobin, Clifford Brooke, Chris-Pin Martin
1950 SEASON
BORN YESTERDAY	07/04/1950 - 07/9/1950
Written by Garson Kanin Staged by James Neilson Set Design by Robert Tyler Lee Starring: Marie McDonald, Robert Ryan, Tom Powers, Whit Bissell, Johnny Call, Paul Maxey, Louise Lorimer
CLAUDIA	07/11/1950 - 07/16/1950
Written by Rose Franken Directed by Frank Ross Set Design by Robert Tyler Lee Starring: Joan Caulfield, Don DeFore, Ruth Clifford, Mary Drayton, Leeta Anderson, Edit Angold, Fred Essler
SUMMER AND SMOKE	07/18/1950 - 07/23/1950
Written by Tennessee Williams Direction and Lighting Design by James Neilson Set Design by Robert Tyler Lee Starring: Dorothy McGuire, John Ireland, Una Merkel, Robert H. Barrat, Hunter Gardner, Peggy O'Connor, John Mantley, Adrienne Marden, Naomi Stevens
ARSENIC AND OLD LACE	07/25/1950 - 07/30/1950
Written by Joseph Kesselring Directed by James Neilson Set Design by Robert Tyler Lee Starring: Richard Carlson, Florence Bates, Clara Blandick, Mike Mazurki, Helen Westcott, Howard Freeman, Sig Arno
THE FRONT PAGE	08/01/1950 - 08/06/1950
Written by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur Directed by James Neilson Set Design by Robert Tyler Lee Starring: Pat O'Brien, Michael O'Shea, Eliezabeth Fraser, Jo Carrol Dennison, Walter Baldwin, Edgar Buchanan, Frank Conlan, Allen Jenkins, George Stone, Johnny Call, James Flavin, Paul Maxey, Paul Picerni
OUR TOWN *	08/08/1950 - 08/13/1950
Written by Thornton Wilder Directed by Mel Ferrer Set Design by Robert Tyler Lee Starring: Ann Blyth, Millard Mitchell, Marshall Thompson, Beulah Bondi, Edgar Buchanan, Esther Somers, Raymond Greenleaf
THE SILVER WHISTLE	08/15/1950 - 08/20/1950
Written by Robert E. McEnroe Directed by Jose Ferrer Set Design by Robert Tyler Lee Starring: Jose Ferrer, Teresa Wright, Beulah Bondi, Ellen Corby, Raymond Greenleaf, John Hubbard, J.M. Kerrigan, William Lynn
CLUTTERBUCK	08/22/1950 - 08/27/1950
Written by Benn Levy Directed by Tom Helmore Set Design by Robert Tyler Lee Starring: Arthur Treacher, Claire Carleton, Jacqueline de Wit, Mary Drayton, Dan Tobin
GOODBYE AGAIN	08/29/1950 - 09/03/1950
Written by Allen Scott and George Haight Directed by James Neilson Set Design by Robert Tyler Lee Starring: Wendell Corey, Audrey Totter, Leon Ames, Barbara Lawrence
SUMMER AND SMOKE	on tour
1951 SEASON
RING AROUND THE MOON **	07/03/1951 - 07/08/1951
Written by Jean Anouilh Translated by Christopher Fry Directed by James Neilson Set Design by Robert Tyler Lee Starring: Diana Lynn, Mel Ferrer, Florence Bates, Brenda Forbes, Neva Patterson, John Wengraf, Milton Parsons, Lisa Ferraday, Mary Wickes, Raymond Greenleaf, William Allyn
SECOND THRESHOLD	07/10/1951 - 07/15/1951
Written by Philip Berry with revisions by Robert E. Sherwood Directed by James Neilson Set Design by Robert Tyler Lee Starring: Raymond Massey, Adele Longmire, Arthur Franz, Lumsden Hare, Dorothy Whitney, Lamont Johnson
SUSAN AND GOD	07/17/1951 - 07/22/1951
Written by Rachel Crothers Directed by James Neilson Set Design by Robert Tyler Lee Starring: Joan Bennett, Walter Coy, Neva Patterson, Craig Stevens, Catherine Craig, Melinda Markey, Clark Howat, Bradford Hatton, Perdita Chandler
THE VOICE OF THE TURTLE * / **	07/24/1951 - 07/29/1951
Written by John van Druten Directed by Mel Ferrer Special Lighting Effects by James Neilson Set Design by Robert Tyler Lee Starring: Diana Lynn, Mel Ferrer, Vivian Vance
COME BACK LITTLE SHEBA	07/31/1951 - 08/05/1951
Written by William Inge Direction and Lighting Design by James Neilson Set Design by Robert Tyler Lee Starring: Una Merkel, Philip Ober, Marion Marshall, Vincent Edwards, Edit Angold, Robert Karnes, Phil Tead, Will J. White
ROOM SERVICE	08/07/1951 - 08/12/1951
Written by John Murray and Allen Boretz Directed by James Neilson Set Design by Robert Tyler Lee Starring: Barry Sullivan, Harry Carey, Jr., Fred Clark, Jane Nigh, Jesse White, Sig Arno, Bill Erwin, Russell Hicks, Phil Tead, O.Z. Whitehead
THE PETRIFIED FOREST	08/21/1951 - 08/26/1951
Written by Robert E. Sherwood Direction and Lighting Design by James Neilson Set Design by Robert Tyler Lee Starring: Jan Sterling, Charlton Heston, Fred Clark, Griff Barnett, Lydia Clarke, Norman Budd, O.Z. Whitehead
ON BORROWED TIME	08/28/1951 - 09/02/1951
Written by Paul Osborn Directed by James Neilson Set Design by Robert Tyler Lee Starring: Victor Moore, Beulah Bondi, Harry Ellerbe, Whit Bissell, David Stollery III, Russell Hicks
VOICE OF THE TURTLE * / **	on tour
Written by John van Druten Directed by Mel Ferrer Special Lighting Effects by James Neilson Set Design by Robert Tyler Lee Starring: Diana Lynn, Mel Ferrer, Eve Arden
1952 SEASON
THE MOON IS BLUE	07/01/1952 - 07/06/1952
West Coast Premiere First time a play currently a hit on Broadway has been released to a summer theater. The comedy hit of the year. Written by F. Hugh Herbert Directed by Otto Preminger Set Design by Stewart Chaney By special arrangement with Richard Aldrich, Richard Myers, and Otto Preminger Starring: Diana Lynn, David Niven, Scott Brady, Jack Shea, Patty O'Neill, Donald Gresham, David Slater, Michael O'Neill
REMAINS TO BE SEEN	07/08/1952 - 07/13/1952
Written by Howarad Lindsay and Russell Crouse Direction and Lighting Design by James Neilson Set Design by Ariel Ballif Starring: Monica Lewis, Carlton Carpenter, Veronika Ptaky, Jesse White, Louis Jean Heydt, Wilton Graf, Barry Kelley, Robert Foulk, Dick Elliot, H.T. Tsiang, David Ralston, Allen Jenkins, Janis Sears, Charles Bateman, Edward R. Moore, Jon Savage, Robert Cosner
TIME FOR ELIZABETH	07/15/1952 - 07/20/1952
Written by Groucho Marx and Norman Krasna Directed by James Neilson Set Design by Ariel Ballif Starring: Groucho Marx, Peggie Castle, Mary Philips, Sig Ruman, Russell Hicks, Johnny Sands, Will Wright, Marie Lund, Eden Hartford, Claire Carleton, Madge Blake, Dick Elliot, Dayton Lummis, Leonard Mudie
SEASON IN THE SUN	07/22/1952 - 07/27/1952
Written by Wolcott Gibbs Directed by James Neilson Set Design by Ariel Ballif Starring: Terry Moore, Howard Duff, Nancy Kelly, Cora Witherspoon, Benny Baker, Robert Strauss, Claire Carleton, Don Porter, Peggy Converse, Burt Mustin, David Stollery, Dona Barskin, Dikki Lerner
AFFAIRS OF STATE	07/29/1952 - 08/02/1952
West Coast Premiere Written by Louis Verneuil Direction and Lighting Design by James Neilson Set Design by Ariel Ballif Starring: Marsha Hunt, Tom Powers, Gloria Holden, Warner Anderson, Gordon Nelson, Leonard Carey
THE HAPPY TIME	08/04/1952 - 07/10/1952
Written by Samuel Taylor Directed by Harry Ellerbe Set Design by Ariel Ballif Starring: Fay Wray, Onslow Stevens, Suzanne Dalbert, Warren Berlinger, Raymond Greenleaf, Maurice Marsac, Steven Geray, Edit Angold, Patricia Wright, Hans Herbert, James Hickman, Robert Cornthwaite
THE CORN IS GREEN	08/12/1952 - 08/17/1952
Written by Emlyn Williams Directed by Harry Ellerbe Set Design by Ariel Ballif Starring: Ann Harding, Diana Barrymore, Douglas Dick, Larry Dobkin, Peggy Converse, Robin Camp, Opal Euard, George Macready, Cora Witherspoon, Don Cruikshank, Dan Levin, Ed Martin, Mike Pierrefite, Carolyn Olman, Susan Van Zandt, Marily Hedley, Bill Porter, Vicki Voll
STRIKE A MATCH *	08/19/1952 - 08/24/1952
A New Play by Robert Smith Directed by Mel Ferrer Set and Lighting Design by Ariel Ballif Starring: Eva Gabor, Richard Egan, Pat O'Brien, Tom Brown, Michael McHal, Rex Evans, Eddie Marr, William S. Meigs, John Downey, Alan Dexter, G. Pat Collins
THE LADY'S NOT FOR BURNING	08/26/1952 - 08/31/1952
Written by Christopher Fry Directed by Norman Lloyd Set, Lighting and Costume Design by Ariel Ballif Starring: Vincent Price, Marsha Hunt, Beulah Bondi, Lamont Johnson, Anne Kimbell, James Dobson, Sean McClory, Philip Tonge, Milton Parsons, Walter Kinsford, J.M. Kerrigan

Related Internal Links to The La Jolla Playhouse:

La Jolla Playhouse Overview

La Jolla Playhouse Photos

Theatre Arts / August 1951

The Actors Company

Related External Links to The La Jolla Playhouse:

The La Jolla Playhouse

The Life of an Actor / La Jolla