BROADWAY RECALL: Gypsies of the Past Years

Welcome to BROADWAY RECALL, a bi-monthly column where BroadwayWorld.com's Chief Theatre Critic, Michael Dale, delves into the archives and explores the stories behind the well-known and the not so well-known videos and photographs of Broadway's past. Look for BROADWAY RECALL every other Saturday.

Earlier this week, the 23rd Annual Gypsy of the Year Competition celebrated an all-time high of $4,895,253 collected for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, thanks to the fundraising efforts of 53 participating Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies.  That’s quite an amazing growth when you consider the first Gypsy of the Year, held in 1989 and hosted by Jonathan Hadary, Tyne Daly and the company of their revival of Gypsy, saw participation from 12 Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, raising a comparatively modest sum of $67,000.  (But, as Sherie Rene Scott sang in Debbie Does Dallas, every penny counts.)

And while supporting this exceptional non-profit organization with its mission – “To mobilize the unique abilities within the entertainment industry to mitigate the suffering of individuals affected by HIV/AIDS” – is the most important reason for the event, theatre fans and industry professionals always have a ball enjoying the songs and sketches created by the companies of individual shows.  This week BroadwayWorld readers have been enjoying this video featuring the routine presented by the company of Follies, where the West End’s original Evita star, Elaine Paige, mourns having to give up the Marquis Theatre to Ricky Martin and his cohorts. (see photo above by Peter James Zielinski)

But BroadwayWorld has been featuring Gypsy of the Year videos since 2006 with this edition of Broadway Beat featuring cast members from A Chorus Line, Hairspray, The Times They Are A-Changin’ and more:

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One of the fun aspects of the Gypsy of the Year routines is that they give theatre people a chance to spoof themselves and the business with inside jokes for a knowing audience.  Here’s the 2007 cast of The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, singing about how tough it is to pass themselves off as school kids compared with the younger performers in Spring Awakening.  They sing, “The Bitch of Aging.”

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But getting older isn't so bad when the whole Broadway community wants to honor you.  This year featured a reunion of the original Broadway company of Grease, and last year’s big opening number supplied plenty of thrills as Carol Channing reprised her two legendary signature performances:

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