By WALTER ZVONCHENKO
The Charles Strouse Collection complements a number of collections housed in the Library of Congress. These include the collections of Frederic Brisson, Gower Champion, Peggy Clark, Aaron Copland, David Diamond, Alan Jay Lerner, Joshua Logan, Roger L. Stevens and Tony Walton. With the exception of the Joshua Logan Collection, which is housed in the Manuscript Division, these collections reside in the Music Division.
Strouse studied with composers Aaron Copland and David Diamond. Strouse wrote the score for “Dance A Little Closer,” a musical adaptation of Robert Sherwood’s “Idiot’s Delight” that was produced by Frederic Brisson. Alan Jay Lerner wrote the book and lyrics for the show, starring Len Cariou and George Rose, which opened on May 11, 1982, in New York City at the Minskoff Theatre. The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, chaired by Roger L. Stevens, was also a producing agent. Stevens was associated with the New York production of “Annie,” with score by Strouse, which opened on April 14, 1977, in New York’s Alvin Theatre.
Peggy Clark was lighting designer for Strouse’s “Bye Bye Birdie,” which was directed and choreographed by Gower Champion. The musical opened on April 14, 1960, in New York’s Martin Beck Theatre with a cast that included Chita Rivera, Paul Lynde and Dick Van Dyke.
Champion also supervised the production of “A Broadway Musical,” featuring a score by Strouse, which opened on Dec. 21, 1978, in New York’s Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.
Joshua Logan directed “All American,” with score by Strouse. Starring Ray Bolger, the play opened on March 19, 1962, at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City.
Tony Walton designed the sets, costumes and projections for “Golden Boy,” a musical adaptation with score by Strouse of Clifford Odets’s play “Golden Boy.” The musical, starring Sammy Davis Jr., opened on Oct. 20, 1964, in New York’s Majestic Theatre.