MIKE NICHOLS. Signed Theater Documents, "The Apple Tree. "

MIKE NICHOLS. Four Signed Theater Documents related to the early production of the Broadway musical, "The Apple Tree," directed by Nichols. The play won the 1967 Tony Award for best musical and NIchols won the Tony for best directing of a musical. Our four documents use the play's original working title, "Come Back! Go Away! I Love You!". The documents each dated May 24, 1966, establish working arrangements between Nichols, Icarus Productions and the Stuart Company, a producer.

The first document, "Re: Bock-Harnick Musical," is an agreement between the two producers to engage Nichols' services "as director" and as "an author" of the musical play. Jerry Boch and Michael Harnick wrote the music and lyrics to the musical and both won Tony's for best original score. NIchols signature, "Mike NIchols" appears as the second signature at the lower left of the page.

The second document is signed by Nichols alone and states, "I have read the foregoing agreement [sic]...and that I agree to be personally bound by...said agreement...." Signed above his typed name.

The third document in the form of a typed letter to Nichols from Stuart Ostrow, head of the Stuart Company, refers to an amendment regarding payment to Nichols as author of the play in the event of a disagreement with the Dramatists Guild. This document is signed by Nichols in the lower left corner above his typed name.

The fourth document is a "right of refusal" offered by Icarus Productions to Nichols and Stuart Company should there be an offer to sell or transfer rights to the play. Nichols signature above his typed name is the second signature on the right. The name of the play shown on our documents changed to " The Apple Tree" and was a trilogy of one act musicals about love and temptation. The play ran for 463 performances and was revived for Broadway for a three month run between December 2006 and March 2007. Autograph