Cover photograph from the book
“The Ballad of Baby Doe: I Shall Walk Beside My Love”
by Duane A. Smith and John Moriarty
* *
Original 1956 Central City Production
photographs courtesy of Claire Jones
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
 |  |  |
* *
“Die Ballade von Baby Doe” as performed
(in German translation by Dr. Paul Esterhazy)
in May of 1986 by the Bielefeld Municipal Theatre (Bühnen der Stadt Bielefeld).
 |  |  |
 | photos courtesy of Heiner Bruns, Intendant i.R. |  |
* *
In April of 2006, students at the Governor’s School for the Arts in Norfolk put on Baby Doe under the direction of Alan Fischer. The photographs below show the members of the two casts who appeared in three complete performances at the beautifully restored Crispus Attucks Theatre. Interestingly, this was not the first time that this demanding work was done by Governor’s School students. Mr. Fischer directed other talented students in performances of Baby Doe in the Spring of 2001.
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
 | Photos courtesy of Alan Fischer. | Production and lighting by Konrad Winters. |
 |  |
| Anna McCoy as Augusta Lee Snook as Horace Deb Johnson as Baby Doe | The cast posing with pianist Pat Gibson and Narrator Gary Johnson |
The Central City Opera celebrated the 70th anniversary of the premiere of The Ballad of Baby Doe with performances in July of 2026. The gallery is available here.
If you were part of a Baby Doe performance and would like to contribute pictures
please e-mail Dave Kanzeg.