In the mid ‘60s Shirley collaborated with Ben Bagley and designed the review he produced, The Decline and Fall of the Entire World as Seen Through the Eyes of Cole Porter. It had wonderful performers like Kaye Ballard and Bobby Short and it was performed at Square East in New York for a long time before going on tour. 

Afterward Ben worked on a possible Broadway show again featuring Cole Porter’s music and life and I designed stage sets and costumes, and created sketches for the show. The show was also encouraged by John F. Wharton, co-executor of Porter’s estate. The show never happened, but the sketches remain. 

Shirley loved working with Ben. “He was daring, creative, humorous, witty and played around with censorship”.