The day after the Peggy Herman cabaret I was invited to the DOLLY anniversary brunch at Sardi's.
Miss Channing unfortunately didn't show but a handful of the original cast made it, including my now good buddy Sondra Lee, the original Minnie Fay.
You can see my portrait on the wall to Sondra's left.
Mary Jo Catlett, the original Ernestina, read out a note of apology from Miss Channing
NY POST theatre columnist Michael Reidel was there, as was Lee Roy Reams (a former Cornelius and director of many DOLLYs) with event organizer, erstwhile Carol Channing impersonator and DOLLY archivist Richard Skipper.
I was seated with my darling Harvey Evans, who played Barnaby on Broadway and the First National company.
Another pal, James Darrah, who played Ambrose and later Cornelius in the last Channing tour.
The wonderful Ernestine Jackson from the Pearl Bailey company. I saw Ms. Jackson play Sarah Brown in the all-black GUYS AND DOLLS in 1976 and she stopped the show cold with "If I Were A Bell".
with another friend, composer Steve Schalchlin who was escorting Mary Jo.
We had a delicious brunch of scrambled eggs, ham, turkey, bagels, quiche, Danish and a slice of DOLLY cake. We also got a calendar (pictured at the top) as a keepsake. And yes, we all sang the title song.
with photographer supreme Stephen Sorokoff
Ah Sheldy. It's so nice to see you back where you belongggggggg !
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful all this is xxx