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Creator
Luhrman, Henry
Call number
*T-Mss 1993-021
Physical description
15.79 linear feet (38 boxes)
Preferred Citation

Henry Luhrman publicity files, *T-Mss 1993-021. Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library.

Repository
Billy Rose Theatre Division
Access to materials
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Henry Luhrman (circa 1942-1989) was an American press agent working in theatre and cabaret. The Henry Luhrman publicity files are from productions, cabaret performances, venues, and for individuals that Luhrman publicized.

Biographical/historical information

Henry Luhrman was born in 1941 or 1942 in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was educated at Cincinnati Country Day School. He studied acting at Carnegie Mellon University and graduated from Columbia University's School of General Studies in 1966. After briefly pursuing an acting career, Luhrman shifted his interests to the publicity side of the theatre industry. His first Broadway credit was as a press assistant on Sweet Charity (1966), but he quickly moved into the role of press representative for his next Broadway show, the comedy Mike Downstairs (1968). He continued as a press representative and press associate for the next six years, working on several shows, including Happy Birthday, Wanda June (1970); To Live Another Summer, To Pass Another Winter (1971); On the Town (1971); The Grass Harp (1971); Grease (1972); A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1972); and Irene (1973).

In 1974 he formed his company, Henry Luhrman Associates, and continued to represent Broadway productions such as Good News (1974), Knock Knock (1976), Your Arm's Too Short to Box with God (1976), I Love My Wife (1977), Sugar Babies (1979), Lolita (1981), Colette (which closed during its pre-Broadway tryout in 1982), Mayor (1985), and Romance / Romance (1988). He represented several Off-Broadway productions, including In the Nick of Time (1967), Dames at Sea (1968), What the Butler Saw (1970), Greater Tuna (1982), and Tent Meeting (1987). Luhrman also represented special events such as the American Music Theatre Festival, and cabaret performances at such venues as Astor's at the St. Regis, Rainier's at the Sheraton-Centre, and the King Cole Room.

Henry Luhrman died in New York, New York on April 11, 1989.

Scope and arrangement

The Henry Luhrman publicity files are from productions, cabaret acts, and for individuals that Luhrman publicized. Publicity files include press releases, clippings, reviews, programs, brochures, contact sheets, tour schedules, business correspondence, agreements, headshots, resumes, production photographs, and publicity photographs. They also occasionally include general production materials, such as sheet music from the musical Mayor. Productions include Colette, The Custom of the Country, The Faithful Brethren of Pitt Street, The Importance of Being Earnest, Kennedy at Colossus, Mayor, Split Second, Sugar Babies, and You Can't Take it With You. Cabaret performers documented here include Edie Adams, Kaye Ballard, Orson Bean, Vivienne Blaine, Ann Hampton Callaway, Nell Carter, Barbara Cook, Vic Damone, Loretta Devine, Jane Powell, Debbie Reynolds, and Mel Tormé. Sometimes cabaret publicity files are listed by the performer's name, and sometimes by the venue's name.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged alphabetically by production name, individual's name, or venue name.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Unknown.

Processing information

Compiled by Diana Bertolini, 2015

Using the collection

Location

Billy Rose Theatre Division
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor

Conditions Governing Use

The author/creator retains copyright of materials. For information on obtaining permission to publish, contact the Theatre Division at theatre@nypl.org.