W55th

I have no idea why West 55th St is ablaze with lights. perhaps it is for the upcoming Super Bowl weekend, or perhaps it is like this all the time. But I was drawn like the proverbial moth and walked down the street even though it took me out of my way.

Into the Maplewood

A trip to New Jersey this afternoon to see a matinee of INTO THE WOODS

 directed by friend and PRISCILLA alumni Eric Sciotto

who also choreographed, made the props, the cow, some of the costumes, and probably sold the tickets and orange juice as well.

Maplewood is the prettiest town, I'd love to revisit it one day when I have more time.

                                                           What a coincidence!

It was something of a PRISCILLA reunion as my companions were the delectable Thom Allison and Mike McGowan

We had a lovely brunch and really enjoyed Eric's production which was as well sung as any I've ever seen.

 

Home again, jiggity jig.

Tonight in Inwood

Snow Day

No setting foot outside today.

I think this is meant to go on for a couple of more days

I may never get out of here again.

 

50th Anniversary DOLLY! Reunion at Sardi's

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

Herman On Herman

From TIMES SQUARE CHRONICLES by photographer Stephen Sorokoff:

Peggy Herman’s show “Herman on Herman” is so touching that the audience couldn’t resist trying to touch this authentically sincere, honest and entertaining cabaret performer. Peggy’s love for the music and her thoroughness of preparation makes this Jerry Herman tribute show a tour de force of some of Broadways greatest songs. Peggy had some excellent “advisors” in the construction of this hour. Tommy Tune’s artistic brilliance was quite evident, as were some of the best “small orchestrations”  and piano playing I’ve heard in a cabaret four piece band, led by musical director Alex Rybeck. No one had a dry eye when special guest Jerry Lanning sang “You’re My Best Girl” and Tony Sheldon performing “A Penny In My Pocket” was one of the best versions I’ve heard.

                                                      with Peggy Herman

                                                                      Julie Wilson

                                              with musical director Alex Rybeck

                                                                     Jerry Lanning

                                                          with Jamie De Roy

Jerry Herman Day

In the middle of a most interesting weekend which started with a call from John Walton West, the brilliant director of the DOWNTON ABBEY MUSICAL video we did for YouTube last year with all the Broadway stars playing characters from the beloved series. John and his collaborators Kevin Duda and Jason Michael Snow are putting the finishing touches to their newest and even more spectacular short film and they grabbed me for a guest appearance on Friday morning. They showed me the footage that was already cut together and this time they have assembled more stars than are in the HEAVENS!!! So I hope I don't end up on the cutting room floor!
Then it was on a train to Goodspeed for the Festival of New Musicals where I was scheduled to speak at a seminar on The Actor's Life with my beautiful DOLLY, Klea Blackhurst (above). It was lovely to be back in the new company housing again, this time sharing with Klea, and our first stop was a reading of a new musical called ADAM LIVES by the talented Rob Baumgartner, Jr. I was due to attend a late night cabaret after the show but I have been jetlagged for eight days, not sleeping more than three hours a night since I left Sydney, so I headed straight for bed and mercifully slept almost eight hours straight. Next morning we did the first of our two talks which went really well, interspersed with another seminar on Casting which was interesting and informative, I wish I could have stayed and caught up with more people and seen more presentations but I was hurtled back on the train to NYC to appear in cabaret at the Laurie Beechman Theatre on 42nd St, in Peggy Herman's tribute to Jerry Herman, and it turned out to be a most exciting night. Julie Wilson was in the front row and I remembered that she had been the original choice to play HELLO, DOLLY! in Australia back in 1965, indeed she was announced in the press, but family matters prevented her from taking the role which went instead to Carole Cook. Anyway, I was introduced to Julie, whose only words to me were "You're cute!". Which made my night!!