The American National Theatre and Academy was chartered by Congress in 1935. In 1946, it established the National Theatre Foundation which entailed "the pooling of ideas, resources, knowledge, in the sponsorship, stimulation and support of good theatre for the country as a whole".
The ANTA Album was a gala benefit performance inaugurated in 1948--"the first benefit given by the theatre for the theatre, by the people of show business for the idea and ideal of an American national theatre"--and presented each year thereafter. The 1951 Album was produced by Jean Dalrymple and the Mistresses of Ceremonies were Fay Emerson, Hedda Hopper, Margaret Webster and Tallulah Bankhead. Among the evening's performances were scenes from the musical productions "Finian's Rainbow", the operatic version of "Emperor Jones", "Annie Get Your Gun", "Porgy and Bess" and "Of Thee I Sing"; from the ballet "Rodeo", with music by Aaron Copland; and from the plays "My Sister Eileen" [with Shirley Booth], "Camille" [two versions, one with Uta Hagen, one with Eva LeGallienne], "Our Town" [with Thornton Wilder as the Stage Manager] and Shaw's "The Devil's Disciple". Also Gloria Swanson performed "Impressions of Charlie Chaplin". Very good .
Keywords: THEATER; THEATRE; STAGE; ANTA; AMERICAN NATIONAL THEATRE AND ACADEMY; NATIONAL THEATRE FOUNDATION; THEATRE SERVICE ORGANIZATION; THE ANTA ALBUM 1951; BENEFIT PERFORMANCE; JEAN DALRYMPLE; TALLULAH BANKHEAD; MARGARET WEBSTER; HEDDA HOPPER, FAY EMERSON; AARO