Ralph Meeker: On Stage

Ralph Meeker: On Stage

The Doughgirls

1943

Cast: Ralph Meeker . . .

Notes on The Doughgirls
-- Ralph Meeker made his professional stage debut with this Chicago production.

Ten Little Indians

1944

Cast: Ralph Meeker . . .

Notes on Ten Little Indians
-- This was a USO production touring in the Mediterranean area.

Strange Fruit

1945

Author: The play was based on a novel by Lillian Smith. She and her sister adapted it for the stage.
Director: Jose Ferrer.
Cast: Melchor Ferrer, Jane White, Murray Hamilton, Ralph Meeker, Juano Hernandez.

Notes on Strange Fruit
-- Opened November 29, 1945, at the Royale Theatre in New York. This was Ralph Meeker's New York stage debut.
-- Juano Hernandez had a small role in the 1955 feature film Kiss Me Deadly, which starred Ralph Meeker.

Cyrano de Bergerac

1946

Author: Edmond Rostand (adaptation by Brian Hooker)
Director: According to the Playbill, this production was staged by Melchor G. Ferrer
Cast: Jose Ferrer, Frances Reid, Ralph Clanton, Hiram Sherman, Paula Laurence, Frances Compton, Ernest Graves, William Woodson, Leopold Badia, Wallace Widdecombe, Nicholas Dennis, Francis Letton, Bert Whitley, Robinson Stone, Dean Cetrulo, John O'Connor, Nan McFarland, Benedict McQuarrie, and Ralph Meeker.

Notes on Cyrano de Bergerac
-- Opened October 8, 1946 at the Alvin Theatre in New York. The production was moved to the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York on November 18.
-- Ralph Meeker served at least two functions for this production. As a member of Jose Ferrer's staff he served as an assistant stage manager. He also performed on stage in the small role of "another lackey." The Playbill lists him right under Stewart Long, who played "a lackey." Stewart and Meeker are listed fourth and fifth, respectively, in the cast, which is in order of appearance. Jose Ferrer, the star, is listed twenty-fourth, although elsewhere his name is above the title.
-- According to a beat-up American Heritage Dictionary we consulted, a "lackey" is a footman, a servile follower and a toady. We're glad Ralph Meeker didn't get typecast in these kinds of roles.
-- We took our information from a Playbill dated Monday, February 10, 1947.

Meeker as "Mannion" in Mister Roberts (1948)

Mister Roberts

1948

Author: Thomas Heggen and Joshua Logan (from Heggen's novel)
Director: Joshua Logan
Cast: Henry Fonda. David Wayne, Robert Keith, Ralph Meeker, Jocelyn Brando, Harvey Lembeck, Murray Hamilton, Tiger Andrews.

Notes on Mister Roberts
-- Opened February 18, 1948, at the Alvin Theatre in New York.
-- Ralph Meeker played "Mannion" in the original production and understudied Henry Fonda for the title role.
-- The "Who's who in the cast" feature of the original Playbill contains this item about Ralph Meeker:

RALPH MEEKER (Mannion) has appeared on Broadway in "Cyrano" and "Strange Fruit." Before that he was in the Chicago run of "The Doughgirls" following his graduation from Northwestern University. He served in the Navy Air Forces, which accounts for the "saltiness" of his characterization.

Booklet for national company tour

A Streetcar Named Desire

1949

Author: Tennessee Williams
Director: Elia Kazan
New York cast: Uta Hagen, Ralph Meeker, Karl Malden, Carmelita Pope
National company tour cast: Judith Evelyn, Ralph Meeker, Jorja Curtright, Jim Nolan

New York Times: Ralph Meeker and Uta Hagen

Profile: Ralph Meeker as Stanley Kowalski in the national company tour.

Still: Ralph Meeker and Judith Evelyn

Notes on A Streetcar Named Desire
-- Meeker replaced Marlon Brando in the original New York production on June 1, 1949, and later that year toured with the national company of the play. He replaced Anthony Quinn in the national company. Meeker's Blanche Du Bois was played by Judith Evelyn. Stella was played by Jorja Curtright, and Jim Nolan played Mitch.

Ralph Meeker, Janice Rule, cover of Playbill, 1953.

Picnic

1953

Author: William Inge
Director: Joshua Logan
Cast: Ralph Meeker, Janice Rule, Eileen Heckart, Kim Stanley, Paul Newman, Arthur O'Connell, Peggy Conklin, Reta Shaw, Elizabeth Wilson, Ruth McDevitt, Morris Miller.

Picnic: Ralph Meeker and Janice Rule

Notes on Picnic
-- Picnic opened at the Music Box Theatre in New York City on February 19, 1953, and ran for 477 performances.
-- Ralph Meeker and Janice Rule were understudied by Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.
-- Meeker and Rule later co-starred in the feature film A Woman's Devotion, directed by Paul Henreid.

Top Man

1955

Author: Albert Halper
Director: Norman Lloyd
Cast: Ralph Meeker, Polly Bergen, Lee Remick . . .

Notes on Top Man
-- Opened November 16, 1955, at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut, and closed in Philadelphia on November 26.
-- In Top Man Ralph Meeker played Frank Copley, a once promising physician who has fallen into a life of alcoholic binges and family squabbles.

Cloud 7

1958

Director: Jed Horner
Cast: Ralph Meeker, Martha Scott, John McGiver, Anne Helm

Notes on Cloud 7
-- Opened February 14, 1958, at the John Golden Theatre in New York.
-- We have a photo of Anne Helm in our Potpourri Lounge.

Rhinocerous

1961

Cast: Ralph Meeker . . .

Notes on Rhinocerous
-- Longacre Theatre . . .

Something About a Soldier

1962

Director: Dore Schary
Cast: Sal Mineo, Ralph Meeker, Kevin McCarthy.

Notes on Something About a Soldier
-- Opened January 4, 1962, at the Ambassador Theatre in New York.

Natural Affection

1962

Cast: Ralph Meeker . . .

Notes on Natural Affection
-- Sombrero Playhouse, Phoenix, Arizona

After the Fall

1964

Director: Eliza Kazan
Cast: Jason Robards Jr., Ralph Meeker, Faye Dunaway, Zohra Lampert, Salome Jens, Barbara Loden, John Phillip Law.

Notes on After the Fall
-- ANTA Washington Square Theatre in New York . . .
-- Ralph Meeker and Salome Jens were married July 20, 1964.
-- We have photos of Salome Jens in our Potpourri Lounge.

But For Whom Charlie

1964

Director: Elia Kazan
Playwright: S. N. Behrnman
Cast: Jason Robards Jr., Ralph Meeker, Faye Dunaway, Salome Jens, Barbara Loden, David Wayne.

Notes on But For Whom Charlie
-- Opened March 12, 1964, at ANTA Washington Square Theatre. The production was presented by the Repertory Theatre of Lincoln Center and ran for 47 performances.

Mrs. Dally

1965

Director: Joseph Anthony
Cast: Ralph Meeker, Arlene Francis, Robert Forster

Notes on Mrs. Dally
-- Opened September 22, 1965, at the John Golden Theatre in New York. The show ran for 52 performances.

The House of Blue Leaves

1971

Cast: Ralph Meeker, John Glover, Georgia Engel, Peggy Pope, Katherine Helmond, Rita Karin, Margaret Linn, Kay Michaels, Jared Mickey

Notes on The House of Blue Leaves
-- Truck and Warehouse Theatre . . .

Streamers

1977

Cast: Ralph Meeker . . .

Notes on Streamers
-- Los Angeles and San Francisco . . .

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