A series of free previews was given starting on Monday evening, September 25, 1961. Although there were daily ads in some New York papers during this period, the previews were not mentioned in the ads. The fact that free previews would be starting on September 25 was mentioned in the New York Times on that day, but with no information on how to obtain tickets. An item in the issue of Backstage dated September 29, 1961, mentioned that tickets were available “by invitation only” and that they could be obtained by writing to the theatre. The item also stated that anyone currently appearing in an Off-Broadway show could attend the first preview, the one on September 25 (most Off-Broadway shows did not perform on Mondays), so presumably issues of Backstage were on the street several days before the publication date of the issue.
The items in both the Times and Backstage made it sound like there would be only one performance per day — an evening performance — during previews, but as that was not definitively stated, it's hard to be positive.
The production was originally annouced to close on November 5, 1961, but the run was extended after Eleanor Roosevelt wrote favorably about the show in her New York Post column. A quotation from Mrs. Roosevelt — "I hope the public will patronize it" — was used in newspaper ads, but even with beloved former first lady's endorsement the public still didn't come in sufficient numbers for the show to last more than one more week.
