CIVIC THEATRE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 150, 28 June 1933, Page 3

CIVIC THEATRE.

"42nd Street," a dramatic spectacle of the American theatre, as wide as show business in scope, which will be presented at the Civic Theatre on Friday, carries a scintillating all-star cast of eleven stars, besides featured actors of note, a picked chorus of 150 beautiful girls, and hundreds of extras. The cast is headed by Warner Baxter, the star of '"Six Hours To Live," "Daddy Long-Legs," and many other hits, and Bebe Daniels, of '"Silver Dollar," "Rio Rita," and "Dixiana" fame. Ruby Keeler, wife of A 1 Jolson, and the Ziegreld Broadway star of "Show Girl," makes her picture bow as the ingenue of "42nd Street." George Brent, Una Merkel, Guy Kibbee, Ned Sparks, Dick Powell, "Ginger" Rogers and Allen Jenkins, all well known both on stage and screen, complete the star cast. Other important featured players include such well-known names as Henry B. Walthall, Edward J. Nugent, Harry Akst, Robert McAYndc, George E. Stone, and A] Dubin and Harry Warren, the song writers, who both wrote the song hits for the picture, and played the roles of the song writers for the production around which "42nd Street" revolves. The chorus of 150 girls was selected by Busby Berkeley, the famous Broadway director, who created and staged the dance numbers and ensembles. "42nd Street" is a show within a show, the dramatic story of life backstage in a musical comedy troupe, from the day the stars and chorus are chosen to toe opening night. "SEARCH FOR BEAUTY." The contest to find New Zealand's most perfect man and woman to go to Hollywood to appear in the picture. "The Search For Beauty," which is being eonducted by the Regent Theatre in Auckland, will close definitely on July S. Winners of the district contests will be included in 1110 North Island and South Island semi-linals, and from this section four finalists will be chosen. Screen tests will be made of these four people and sent to Hollywood, where a committee of directors will make the final selection. The New Zealand winners will receive a trip to the Paramount Hollywood studios, with all expenses paid; the opportunity of actually appearing in the picture, "A Search For Beauty"; compensated by a salary of 50 dollars per wek for a minimum of five weeks; hotel accommodation during their Hollywood stay, and a chance to receive the bonus of 1000 dollars each to be given to the youn? man and tlio young woman who give the finest performances in the picture, "A Search For Beauty." COMMUNITY SINGING. A highly successful community singing gathering was he'd in the Town Hall early this afternoon, the proceeds being in aid of tlie Metropolitan Unemployed Fund. The song leaders were Mr. and Mrs. Albert Russell and Mr. T. T. Garland. Mr. Reg Morgan offered vocal items. SECOND GERMAN CLUB BALL. Owing to the unprecedented success of the first German Club masked ball, held earlier this month, a second and similar event will be held in the Peter Pan Cabaret to-morrow evening.