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''G. I. Carmen'' was an all-GI musical stage show produced by the 253rd Infantry Regiment, 63rd Division of the U.S. Army as an entertainment and morale booster for allied troops occupying post-WWII Europe. Initially intended as a three-show run for the Regiment it was extended to reach the entire Division and then picked up by the 7th Army and sent on an eight month tour of the ETO seen by over 250,000 military personnel and countless civilians. ==Background== Shortly after V-E Day Lt. Robert T. Bogan, 253rd Special Services officer, directed his assistant, T/5 Frederick Wiener (aka Fredd Wayne), to organize an entertainment for the Regiment. Sgt. Joe Pollock, co-collaborator with Wayne on Special Services theatricals during the 253rd’s training stint in Mississippi, joined Wayne in planning a show based on Wayne’s idea of a burlesqued ''Carmen''. Flyers were posted seeking volunteers for cast and crew in "Carmen – a Boilesk Voishin”.〔''Stars and Stripes'', Germany Edition, Vol. 1, No. 104, July 17, 1945〕 Of the 45 GIs in the cast about half would perform in drag but none wanted the title role, so Wayne in addition to co-producing and directing the show became the U.S. Army’s ‘Carmen’. During the nine days allotted for rehearsal cast and crew mustered what costumes, wigs and make-up they could. Guitarist and musical arranger Sgt. Marty Faloon coordinated with choreographer T/Sgt Hal Edwards, who had worked for Arthur Murray and danced in 20th Century Fox Studios musicals, on adaptations of popular contemporary numbers as well as original tunes composed by saxophonist Cpl. Herbert Behrens.〔''Redcat - A 253d Infantry Regiment Weekly'', Vol. 1 No. 1, Germany, 15 June 1945〕 The band for ''G.I. Carmen'' had its beginnings during stateside training when jazz violinist, Ralph Cerasuolo, once known in New York City as ‘Leonardo of the Stork Club’, coaxed and inspired G.I. volunteers of the 63rd into a swing unit that was in high demand, opening the new USO Club in New Orleans and playing multiple shows weekly around the south during breaks from combat drills. Cerasoulo was killed in action in April 1945; for ''G.I.Carmen'', the band’s leadership fell to Sgt. Faloon. Guitarist S/Sgt Charlie Byrd performed in the chorus as well as the band where his playing was favorably reviewed. ==Performances== On June 9, 1945, in the town of Tauberbischofsheim, Germany, the troupe presented the first performance of ''GI Carmen''. The show’s immediate success with military personnel – eager to return home but held in Europe in order to help stabilize the war-torn continent – prompted the 7th Army Special Services to commandeer the production. The first three shows for the Regiment had been extended to entertain the entire 63rd Division.〔''Redcat - A 253d Infantry Regiment Weekly'', Vol. 1, No. 2, Germany, 22 June 1945〕 The performance in Lauda on Monday, June 18, was seen by Lt. Mortimer Yolken of CONAD (Continental Advance Section) Special Service who had the show released from the Division to the 7th Army. (It was eventually taken over by TSFET, Theater Service Forces, European Theater.〔''Illustrated Daily News'', No. 15,980, April 9, 1946〕) The show re-opened on June 23, 1945, at Heidelberg’s Stadt Theatre where it had acquired professional costumes, wigs and scenery.〔''Redcat'', Vol.1 No.2., 22 June 1945〕 ''G.I. Carmen'' then began an extended tour of the ETO. Throughout its run ''G.I. Carmen'' played to packed venues and was repeatedly held over to accommodate demand. The Heidelberg run was extended one week through July 7; then Mannheim held the show an extra week before releasing it to Wiesbaden on July 18 for a two-week run.〔''Stars and Stripes'', Germany Edition, Vol. 1, No. 104 July 17, 1945〕 The troupe then got three days off before opening in Kassel where, after their 50th show, they were held over through their 56th performance. Then followed a full week of rest. It was late August 1945 and the war in the Pacific was ending. In September ''G.I. Carmen'' played in Geissen and Erbach before opening in Berlin on the 17th and setting attendance records in Titania Palace,〔''Stars and Stripes'', Germany Edition, Sept. 22, 1945〕 Europe’s largest playhouse, extending there through the 30th.〔''Stars and Stripes'', Germany Edition, Sept. 26, 1945〕 Marlene Dietrich, also performing in Berlin, visited during one intermission, walking onstage in an evening gown and playing her musical saw. October brought shows to Bremen, Bremerhaven and in Belgium to Brussels and Antwerp. While in Antwerp cast members posed in costume with their counterparts from the local opera company which was presenting Bizet’s version.〔''Akron Beacon Journal'', March 27, 1946〕 In November audiences in Paris included Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas who later invited some of the cast to their apartment for refreshments and conversation.〔''Combat - de la Resistance a la Revolution'', 8 novembre 1945〕 The 100th performance closed the Paris run,〔''Yank, the Army Weekly'', Continental Edition, Nov. 4, 1945, Vol. 2 No. 15〕 then on to Calas and Marseilles. A break on the Riviera before Italy and December runs in Livorno, Rome, Tarvisio and Gorizia. In January to Vienna and finally returning to Germany and closing with the 142nd performance on January 24, 1946 in Nurnberg. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「G.I. Carmen」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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