Bernadette Peters and Robert Preston in MACK AND MABEL (1974, Broadway)

Super8 home movies shot during the original production of Mack and Mabel, starring a young Bernadette Peters and Robert Preston. While most of the performance footage from the wings was shot by Don Pippin, the show’s conductor, the rest of the backstage and studio footage was shot by Igors Gavin, a grip and Mr Preston’s understudy. First seen is the cast preparing to go out of town for the tryouts, then various rehearsals in studio and at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and at the Kennedy Centre Opera House, lots of fooling around backstage (I cut out some less appropriate scenes), more studio rehearsals, and finally onstage rehearsals. This is followed by a cast party at Jerry Herman’s house in LA, rehearsals for a special performance at the Hollywood Bowl, more studio rehearsals, and finally performance excerpts seen from the wings.