Difference between revisions of "Person - Leon Sherman"

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LEON SHERMAN
 
LEON SHERMAN
  
John and Leon Sherman were Jewish brothers from Melbourne where their uncle was a fur cutter, and they both became furriers.  Leon joined the Young Communist League and Melbourne NT where [[Person - Miriam Hampson | Miriam Hampson]] was a memberFollowing his brother, he joined Sydney NT in 1936 during rehearsals for ''Till The Day I Die'.  In later life he reflected that the theatre's members were mostly on the dole, unemployed and political, leftists but no threat. Three of its dominant personalities were Jack Fegan (Irish), Jerry Wells (English) and a Scotsman.
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John and Leon Sherman were Jewish brothers from Melbourne where their uncle was a fur cutter, and they both became furriers.  In 1938 Leon turned up at Sydney NT on opening night to see his brother in ''The Brave and the Blind'', was grabbed and put behind a spotlight and told to operate it.  As a backstage worker on ''Aristocrats'' Leon suggested getting a stuffed Polar bear from a museum after [[Person - Jack Fegan | Jack Fegan]] threatened to punch one of the gay scene designers and both stormed outA wintry Baltic Sea landscape had to be hurriedly created(In the end painted flats were substituted and the 25-scene four-act Russian play included at least 23 laborious changes of set.)
  
Leon was involved in ''Aristocrats'' 1938, acted in ''Plant in the Sun'' 1939, stage managed in 1940, in Lefty 1941, Private Hicks 1941.  With Tom Salisbury directed Reedy River 1954Leon was NT President ca 1949-53, replaced by Graeme Stewart; by 1966 a Life member.  He was watched by ASIO.  Leon did agit-prop plays in Domain, on street corners, and on the back of a 3-ton Chevy truck,
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In 1939 Leon and [[Person - Freda Lewis | Freda Lewis]] were fined for distributing NTL handbills.  Leon acted in ''Plant in the Sun'' 1939, was on committee as stage manager in 1940,
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acted with his brother in ''Renegade'' 1940, and in 1941 was in revivals of ''Waiting for Lefty'' and ''Private Hicks''.   
  
Leon was in the army 4 ½ years, rejoining NT at Castlereagh St.
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During the Second World War he was in the army after which he rejoined NT. He acted in ''Sons of'' ''the South'' 1947, ''The Candy Store'' 1952, ''Under the Coolibah Tree'' 1956, ''Black'' ''Diamonds'' 1958, ''Our 'Dear' Relations'' 1963, ''A Penny for a Song'' 1965, ''Mother Courage'' 1966, ''The Good Soldier Schweik'' 1967, ''Postmark Zero'' 1968 and ''Reedy River'' 1969He stage managed ''The Star Turns Red'' 1948, ''The Dangerous Sex'' 1948 (also lighting designer), ''The'' ''Lion on the Square'' 1949, ''Birthday of a Miner'' 1949, ''The Germans'' 1952 and ''Reedy River'' 1953.  
Leon was best man at Marie and John Armstrong’s wedding; Marie became godmother of Linda, Leon and Jane Sherman’s daughter, born 8 November 1955.  Leon donated a water mole fur collar for a NT raffle in 1958Linda played in The Bushranger 1969 and joined NT in 1973.  
 
  
Leon’s wife Jane died suddenly on 16 January 1978.  She’d been on committee and responsible for classes at Castlereagh Street, survived by Leon and LindaLeon was still a member in 1980. He met Jane at NT when she was doing FOH.  
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Of interest to ASIO, Leon was NT President ca 1949-53, his successor [[Person - Graeme Stewart | Graeme Stewart]]He donated a water mole fur collar for a NT raffle in 1958. A Life Member by 1966, he became a Vice President of New Theatre Properties.
  
   
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He was best man at Marie and John Armstrong’s wedding.  Marie became the godmother of Leon's daughter Linda who played in ''The Bushranger'' in 1969 and who joined NT in 1973.
June 1952 NT fancy dress party includes Leon Sherman as Harpo Marx and Jane Sherman as Chico.
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Leon met his wife Jane when she was on Front of House duty at NT.  She acted, worked on committee and was responsible for classes at Castlereagh Street.  Jane Sherman died suddenly on 16 January 1978. 
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* [https://www.ausstage.edu.au/pages/contributor/243148 AusStage Leon Sherman material]
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<gallery heights="300px" mode="packed">
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1952 fancy dress party.jpg | In second row Leon as Harpo Marx (fourth from left) with his wife Jane as Chico (second from right) at a fancy dress party, 1952
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Group.jpg | Jane Sherman (second from right back row) ca 1953
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Bushranger Sherman.jpg | Linda Sherman (second from right) as Mymyee in The Bushranger, 1969
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</gallery>
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{{PersonsOfInterestFooter}}

Latest revision as of 20:00, 15 May 2021

LEON SHERMAN

John and Leon Sherman were Jewish brothers from Melbourne where their uncle was a fur cutter, and they both became furriers. In 1938 Leon turned up at Sydney NT on opening night to see his brother in The Brave and the Blind, was grabbed and put behind a spotlight and told to operate it. As a backstage worker on Aristocrats Leon suggested getting a stuffed Polar bear from a museum after Jack Fegan threatened to punch one of the gay scene designers and both stormed out. A wintry Baltic Sea landscape had to be hurriedly created. (In the end painted flats were substituted and the 25-scene four-act Russian play included at least 23 laborious changes of set.)

In 1939 Leon and Freda Lewis were fined for distributing NTL handbills. Leon acted in Plant in the Sun 1939, was on committee as stage manager in 1940, acted with his brother in Renegade 1940, and in 1941 was in revivals of Waiting for Lefty and Private Hicks.

During the Second World War he was in the army after which he rejoined NT. He acted in Sons of the South 1947, The Candy Store 1952, Under the Coolibah Tree 1956, Black Diamonds 1958, Our 'Dear' Relations 1963, A Penny for a Song 1965, Mother Courage 1966, The Good Soldier Schweik 1967, Postmark Zero 1968 and Reedy River 1969. He stage managed The Star Turns Red 1948, The Dangerous Sex 1948 (also lighting designer), The Lion on the Square 1949, Birthday of a Miner 1949, The Germans 1952 and Reedy River 1953.

Of interest to ASIO, Leon was NT President ca 1949-53, his successor Graeme Stewart. He donated a water mole fur collar for a NT raffle in 1958. A Life Member by 1966, he became a Vice President of New Theatre Properties.

He was best man at Marie and John Armstrong’s wedding. Marie became the godmother of Leon's daughter Linda who played in The Bushranger in 1969 and who joined NT in 1973.

Leon met his wife Jane when she was on Front of House duty at NT. She acted, worked on committee and was responsible for classes at Castlereagh Street. Jane Sherman died suddenly on 16 January 1978.



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