Profile for Demitri2

What horrible news. She was one of my favorites. I was lucky enough to see her on stage many times. She brought so much pleasure to so many people. She shall be sorely missed. 

I only saw her in CABARET but what I remember most about her were her appearances on ALL MY CHILDREN as Olga Swenson. She was always a joy to watch.

TRIUMPH OF LOVE's set was on par with most off-Broadway musicals (I take that back since LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS far excelled it). It consisted of geometric blocks placed around the stage and little else. Add to that a large amount of bright green astro turf. 

LITTLE WOMEN didn't look that expensive  to mount either. I recall looking forward to the big ball scene listed in the program. What we got instead  were the principles standing outside the do

My mother had an older friend who actually saw MENAGERIE with Laurette Taylor (her first musical as a child was a 1930 production of BABES IN TOYLAND). She's in her mid-nineties now but still recalls the show because of the unforgettable performance given by Taylor. I recall what impressed her the most was her delivery of three simple words, "Rise and Shine." She said her line reading summed up the character's sorrows, pathos, and regrets in life in one fleeti

"One Hand, One Heart" which I believe was originally written for CANDIDE.

The few times I stage doored I found the cast members were having as much fun as I was. After MATILDA my friend and I thought it would be fun to hang out afterward. We were fortunate to have been able to secure seats in the front row. Note the production is pretty well lit. After the show when the cast exited the theatre a bunch of them recognized us. Sweet Jill Paice said she could feel my energy and asked if I saw her wink at me at curtain call. I said yes but to be honest missed it. L

Chita was fine as was her replacement Eartha Kitt. Both women were legends in their own right and a pleasure to watch in the role. 

The night I saw PASSION I stage doored the show afterward. I wanted to ask Donna Murphy if her make-up changed in the final scene. She said yes and that her face make-up was lightened. I told her she looked truly beautiful and she smiled and said that was the effect she was after. A moment later Marin Mazzie was standing next to me when a small woman stepped on my foot as she was walking down the street and apologized profusely. I immediately recognized her. And so did Mazzie w

I didn't care for the staging of this revival at all. I did see it with Peters and Ladd. I was disappointed that the supporting players two songs were gone by the time Ladd started her run. I recall asking the usher at intermission why the songs were all of a sudden dropped. His reply, "Well, now everyone gets to leave the theatre fifteen minutes earlier."

My all-time favorite production of this show played Los Angeles and San Francisco back in 1977. Gower Champion di

Back in the late sixties, my partner appeared on the cover of TV Guide advertising a musical TV special he was appearing in that week. Ann Miller must have seen it because his manager received a call from her inviting him to her home for dinner. He had never met Ms.Miller but decided to attend and was told to arrive at 8 pm sharp. When he arrived, there were other people waiting in the foyer. Interestingly, not one of the guests had ever met Annie before.

At exactly 8:15 pm, Ms. Miller

I had a flagship music store in Hollywood around this time. One day Pioneer Electronics stopped by and installed an elaborate LaserDisc/monitor display to promote the new LaserDisc medium. The demonstration disc used was this concert performance of Liza's. I loved it back then and can still enjoy watching it today. Liza at her best. The consummate performer. However, I could never locate a copy of the concert on VHS or DVD.

I love the Gateway Theatre and have fond memories of being there. As a child, I saw my favorite production of THE LITTLE FOXES starring the frightening and wonderful Geraldine Page as Regina, heartbreaking Betty Field as Birdie and old-timer John Boles as Horace. I also saw a not too good production of ROBERTA starring Patricia Neal and Edward Everet Horton when the theatre was still an old barn. I recall one of the supporting actresses sang part of her song sitting on my lap. I thought she l

"Paris Makes Me Horny". On a more serious note, "The Music That Makes Me Dance." and "My Gentle Young Johnny."

Thanks for the report CatsNYrevival. Could you please  tell me if the recording is with a full orchestra or just piano accompaniment? Thanks. If it's just piano, I would truly miss the clarinet in "Blame It On The  Summer Night."

Thanks BrodyFosse123. She's wonderful.I always enjoy your posts :)

Another news item at the time was the reteaming of Andrews and Van Dyke in SHE LOVES ME. Apparently, 20th Century Fox Pictures had a three-picture. deal with Andrews. However, the studio dropped their option after STAR and  DARLING LILI performed so poorly at the box office. I think Andrews would've sung the role of Amalia Balash beautifully. Yet, I would've have minded if it was I DO! I DO! either.  

IIRC, I viewed this show on a pay station like Showtime or HBO back in the eighties (much like HBO's CAMELOT with Richard Harris). Although I enjoyed Lee Remick as an actress playing Agnes was way beyond her talents. Her "Flaming Agnes" was embarrassing to watch. Hal Linden was fine though. I agree it sounds like fun but I wouldn't go out of my to see it.  

Besides LaChiusa's gorgeous score, I was most impressed by Eartha Kitt who I had never seen live. The power of this woman's voice, especially at her age, was amazing. You couldn't take your eyes off her whenever she was on stage. I was in the second row and from the moment the curtain went up you saw Toni Collette naked from the waist up, bruises and black and blue marks on her legs. It was a jolting beginning for a show that had me enthralled from beginning to end. The reaso

A real fun read is THE MAKING OF NO NO NANNETTE giving the reader an inside look at the bitchiness and power plays of producer Cyma Rubin and her special treatment of her talented daughter Loni Ackerman. It's a fascinating look at what went on behind the scenes of this production. 

PLATINUM - After her Tony win for FOLLIES, Alexis Smith starred in this unbelievably awful show. My favorite line though... Smith referring to Chita's daughter, Lisa Mordente, as "that little pigmy."

DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES - the only time in my theatre-going experiences that I wanted to shout out, "This is a total piece of crap" from the audience.

NEVER GONNA DANCE - amateur night on Broadway. Made the mistake of taking three other people to see this