Florence Henderson in Sound of Music.
Florence Henderson in Sound of Music.
#1Florence Henderson in Sound of Music.
Posted: 7/18/13 at 9:37am
I am so embarrassed, I never knew Florence had such a big Stage repertoire. I only know her from The Brady Bunch so you can imagine my humility when I just recently listened to a recording of her singing "The Sound of Music". What a voice on that lady. Anyone see her live on the national tour?
Here is Seth Deconstructing her SOM performance:http://youtu.be/bPLrn-gE6YM
So Lauren Bacall me, anything goes! *wink*
#2Florence Henderson in Sound of Music.
Posted: 7/18/13 at 10:17am
The 1967 Lincoln Center Theater Cast Recording of Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC starring FLORENCE HENDERSON and GIORGIO TOZZI is a real winner. She's my favorite of all the "recorded" Nellies. Beautiful, beautiful voice.
If you can try to get your hands on the Original Cast Recordings of Harold Rome's FANNY and Harry Kurnitz & Noel Coward's THE GIRL WHO CAME TO SUPPER. She's also in top form on those recordings.
She's had quite a respectable stage career prior to her run on THE BRADY BUNCH. She was a Rodgers & Hammerstein protege in very much the same way Shirley Jones was.
#2Florence Henderson in Sound of Music.
Posted: 7/18/13 at 10:35amMy dad saw Florence Henderson in Fanny several times and said it was one of his favorite Broadway musical performances ever.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
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BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#3Florence Henderson in Sound of Music.
Posted: 7/18/13 at 11:00am
Florence played Maria in the 1st National Tour of THE SOUND OF MUSIC in 1961 and at The Muny in St. Louis in 1968. THE BRADY BUNCH made its debut on ABC TV in 1969.
Here she is with Mary Martin and the real Maria Von Trapp shortly after she was cast as Maria for the 1961 tour:
#4Florence Henderson in Sound of Music.
Posted: 7/18/13 at 11:02am^ Great photo!
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
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#5Florence Henderson in Sound of Music.
Posted: 7/18/13 at 11:38am
While I very much enjoy Florence Henderson in the OCR's of FANNY and TEH GIRL WHO CAME TO SUPPER as well as her Carrie on Rca's studio cast album of CAROUSEL (finally issued on CD last year by Masterwroks/ArkivMusic), I am not a big fan of teh 1967 Lincoln Center SOUTH PACIFIC album. Henderson "belts" it too much in a tough souning voice, lacking any warmth. Maybe it was necessray in that huge theatre but on a recording it is less attractive. SHe published an autobiography a few yeasr ago, but as I recall she doesn't spend a lot of time on her SOUND OF MUSIC performances.
In the A&E biography of Mary Martin, Henderson does talk very movingly about her last visit with Mary as the great star faced her final days.
Cast albums are NOT "soundtracks."
Live theatre does not use a "soundtrack." If it did, it wouldn't be live theatre!
I host a weekly one-hour radio program featuring cast album selections as well as songs by cabaret, jazz and theatre artists. The program, FRONT ROW CENTRE is heard Sundays 9 to 10 am and also Saturdays from 8 to 9 am (eastern times) on www.proudfm.com
#6Florence Henderson in Sound of Music.
Posted: 7/18/13 at 11:53amWow. I had no idea she had such a voice. What's funny, though, is that you can definitely hear that it's Florence Henderson. Just goes to show how well I know the voice of Carol Brady, huh?
#7Florence Henderson in Sound of Music.
Posted: 7/18/13 at 12:16pm
Awesome Photo!
I agree Hest882, It's a shame Carol Brady never got to belt out a number on the show.
So Lauren Bacall me, anything goes! *wink*
#8Florence Henderson in Sound of Music.
Posted: 7/18/13 at 12:21pmI saw her in "The Sound of Music" at The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in 1978.
#9Florence Henderson in Sound of Music.
Posted: 7/18/13 at 12:31pmWhat did you think of her performance? From the recording I heard it seems like she really tackled the score and put her own vocal styling on it.
So Lauren Bacall me, anything goes! *wink*
ggersten
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/06
#10Florence Henderson in Sound of Music.
Posted: 7/18/13 at 12:43pm
I recall at least two musical performances by "Carol Brady" in the original Brady Bunch:
There was a duet with "Marcia" - as "bums" to a version of "Wherever We Go" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_8fzsp8lQc
and in this Xmas episode (singing at 3:06) she sings as well http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8LdJz_HxTM
#11Florence Henderson in Sound of Music.
Posted: 7/18/13 at 12:57pm
Another great recording featuring Florence Henderson is the studio cast recording of Rodgers & Hammerstein's OKLAHOMA! with John Raitt and Phyllis Newman.
I know she recorded songs from GYPSY & FLOWER DRUM SONG for a studio album but I've never heard it.
I love the way Mary Martin "sexys up" her SOM costume wearing it very off the shoulder while Florence's is more demure.
#12Florence Henderson in Sound of Music.
Posted: 7/18/13 at 12:57pmLooks like I spoke too soon. Thanks,ggersten.
So Lauren Bacall me, anything goes! *wink*
#13Florence Henderson in Sound of Music.
Posted: 7/18/13 at 1:30pm
And for any true blue Brady fans, how can we ever forget the truly psychotic Brady Bunch Variety Hour.
Here's to the Bradys who bunch...
#14Florence Henderson in Sound of Music.
Posted: 7/18/13 at 1:55pm
I love the Brady Bunch Variety Hour and all its hideousness.
Flo was pitchy by this point.
I remember her sliding into another Zip code with the Theme from Ice Castles. Those notes weren't even on the scale.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
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#15Florence Henderson in Sound of Music.
Posted: 7/18/13 at 2:06pmWhy don't I remember the Brady Bunch Variety Hour?! Looks like Eve Plumb was the only one who had good enough sense NOT to participate. Oh goodness.
Hey Dottie!
Did your colleagues enjoy the cake even though your cat decided to sit on it? ~GuyfromGermany
#16Florence Henderson in Sound of Music.
Posted: 7/18/13 at 2:10pm
Yes, we had Fake Jan!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pf8BqUhtYM
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
finebydesign
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/17/07
#18Florence Henderson in Sound of Music.
Posted: 7/18/13 at 8:21pm
If you can, check out her charming performance on the soundtrack of SONG OF NORWAY (available on LP only), or the film (VHS only).
The film itself is a mixed bag, but she is charming.
Well-well-well-what-do-you-think-of-that-I-have-nothing-here-to-pay-my-train-fare-with-only-large-bills-fives-and-sevens....
#19Florence Henderson in Sound of Music.
Posted: 7/18/13 at 9:27pmI've never seen Miss Henderson live, but when I was a kid, she was a regular on TV variety shows (which were numerous in those days). I knew her quite well before THE BRADY BUNCH even started.
morosco
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/10/04
#20Florence Henderson in Sound of Music.
Posted: 7/18/13 at 9:32pm
She seems like a lovely lady.
Florence Henderson discusses The Sound of Music and The King and I
#21Florence Henderson in Sound of Music.
Posted: 7/18/13 at 10:11pm
Thanks for the video. Love hearing her tell stories about her experience. It's amazing how she did the show 8 times a week while pregnant. What a classy lady.
So Lauren Bacall me, anything goes! *wink*
Updated On: 7/18/13 at 10:11 PM
#22Florence Henderson in Sound of Music.
Posted: 7/19/13 at 10:13pm
My dad, may he rest in peace, took me to see the "South Pacific" revival starring Florence Henderson, when I was 12 or 13. She was perfect for the role, and her incredible singing beautifully complemented Giorgio Tozzi's operatic voice.
I think my dad wanted to take me to see the show more because he'd always had a crush on Ms. Henderson than because I was a huge fan of musical theater. 
You alone can make my song take flight.
#23Florence Henderson in Sound of Music.
Posted: 7/21/13 at 12:00pm
I thought Florence was wonderful in THE SOUND OF MUSIC which played at the Dorothy Chandler Theatre back in the late seventies (as stated in an earlier post). She was perfect as Maria and sang and acted the role beautifully. Perfect casting and she couldn't have been better as Maria.
A few years later she did a Los Angeles Civic Light Opera production of BELLS ARE RINGING at the same venue with Dean Jones. She was totally miscast as Ella Peterson. As much as she tried her best to be funny, her acting seemed forced and over the top. Just a case of the wrong actress in the wrong part. I blame whoever cast her in the role.
When I saw FOLLIES in L.A. last June, Flo was in the lobby and as I passed her I blew her a kiss. She smiled and waved and looked absolutely fantastic. When I was in college I worked in a restaurant in L.A. on weekends and Flo was a regular. She couldn't have been nicer and to my surprise was a bit flirtatious. I remember telling her once that I had just listened to the cast album of THE GIRL WHO CAME TO SUPPER and especially enjoyed her singing of HERE AND NOW. Her face lit up and she said "Ah yes, a wonderful Noel Coward score!" A genuinely sweet lady.
I've always enjoyed her on the SOUTH PACIFIC recording. Especially her rendition of A WONDERFUL GUY. At the end of the song she sings, "I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love with a wonderful guy!". She's the only actress I've ever heard sing that song who does a different line reading of "I'm in love" each time she sings it. It's kind of fun to listen to her take on it.
