The play was first published in 1873. The file contains materials related to rehearsal and performance, including a handwritten transcription of the text in a hard-covered notebook, with annotations, used as a prompt-book; and 14 handwritten role books, for the following parts: Zernikow, Stadtrichter; Natalie, dessen Frau; Marie; Emma; Clara; Leopold; Fritz Mehlmeyer; Schwalbach; Minna, Dienstmädchen; Rudolph Starke; Wilhelm, Lehrjunge; Krümel; Mielisch; and Gottlieb, KInd). (The list of characters in the text shows a few additional roles: Anna; Gottlieb Weigelt; Hempel, Obergeselle; Frau Reinlich, Wäscherin; Herr Schmidt; ein Kellner; and Karl, Kind.) Music is attributed to R. Bial. Included is a published booklet of music by Bial entitled "Couplets aus dem Volksstück Mein Leopold" (Berlin: Eduard Bloch, n.d.; Berliner Couplet-Salon, Band 26), for piano and voice, containing 5 songs (see folder 643). The role book for Rudolph Starke is signed and dated as having been written out by Adolph Oehlwang, Phila. 31 Jan. 1883. Names of actors and actresses noted on the front of role books appear to reflect three or four casts in Philadelphia over time, from around 1883 through the mid 1890s. A cast list written in the text on the page with the list of characters probably dates from the mid 1890s. The notebook containing the text is labeled as the property of Theodor Bloch, who was active in German-language theater in Philadelphia from at least the early 1870s until the mid 1890s, first as an actor and later as a prompter, and who ran a theater lending library. That item apparently dates from 1878; clippings pasted to the front cover and first inside page as titles and character list appear to be from an advertisement for the play in a theater newspaper of 15 Nov. 1878 (see folder 690). See also another related theater newspaper, of Jan. 1888, in folder 706.
