But, while Smyth negotiated with the British organizations, a Los Angeles touring company, Little Broadway Productions, bought all the rights to all the Lewis material for the next nine months from the very licensing company that Smyth had thought of as his last resort.
Little Broadway will bring "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" to San Diego in December of 1990.
Rights came through on Monday for the Lamb's replacement show, the Douglas Post adaptation of Kenneth Grahame's "The Wind in the Willows," a classic children's tale about Mr. Toad and his obsession for cars.
Smyth has completed casting and had his first full rehearsal Tuesday night.
That leaves barely two weeks for Lamb's to put the show together in time for a July 6-29 run. It \o7 will \f7 be a challenge, Smyth said.
"We've scrambled in the past to put up a show quickly, but this will be a new record."
PROGRAM NOTES: James A. Strait, the co-producer of T.S. Productions, has raised $20,000 toward his goal of $30,000 to open a commercial production of "Nunsense." With several parties expressing interest in kicking in the final amount that would make the project a go, he has tentatively booked July 20 as his opening date at the Sixth Avenue Playhouse. . . .
Lee Julien, one of the general partners of the Kingston Hotel, said the Bowery Theatre, which is housed by the hotel in the Kingston Playhouse, will not be affected by the Kingston going into Chapter 11 as of June 1.
"I am confident of landing on my feet," said Julien. "And besides, the Bowery has a three-year written agreement. Even if a foreclosure or a transfer of the property would be made, it would be subject to this encumbrance." . . .
The San Diego Theatre League's interpreted series of performances for the hearing-impaired continues with the June 27 performance of Starlight Musical Theatre's "Singin' in the Rain" at the Starlight Bowl.
