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Helen Gallagher Headshot

Helen Gallagher

Birth Place: New York, NY, USA

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BIO

Gallagher was known for decades as a Broadway performer. She appeared in Make a Wish, Hazel Flagg, Portofino, High Button Shoes, and Sweet Charity (for which she received a 1967 Tony Award nomination for Featured Actress in a Musical), eventually assuming the title role, and closing the original Broadway run. She also appeared in Cry for Us All.



In 1952, she won a Tony Award for her work in the revival of Pal Joey. In 1971, she won her second Tony for her role in the revival of the musical No, No, Nanette. Her song-and-dance number with Bobby Van from that show, "You Can Dance with Any Girl", is preserved on youtube through its performance on the Tony Awards television broadcast. She later took on the role of Sue Smith in the Papermill Playhouse revival of the show, playing the role Keeler played a quarter century earlier.

Her first starring role on Broadway came in 1953 as title character in Hazel Flagg, based on the 1937 Carole Lombard movie Nothing Sacred. The role earned her a feature-photo shoot for Life. Gallagher appeared in the 1977 movie Roseland opposite Christopher Walken. An aficionada of Rodgers and Hammerstein, she appeared on a special tribute to Richard Rodgers on The Bell Telephone Hour.

STAGE CREDITS

[Off-Broadway]
Musicals in Mufti Concert, 2000
Gert

[Milburn, NJ (Regional)]
Paper Mill Production, 1997
Performer

[Regional (US)]
Regional Production, 1990
Fran Riley

[New York]
Concert Reading, 1987
Performer

[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 1983
Performer

[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 1981
Performer

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1979
Featured Performer [Replacement]

[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 1978
Maggie Simpson

[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 1976
Performer

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 1971
Lucille Early

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1970
Bessie Legg

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1966
Vera Charles [Replacement]

Agnes Gooch [Replacement]

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1966
Charity Hope Valentine [Replacement]

Nickie

Charity [Replacement]

Charity (Understudy)

[Broadway]
Closed on the road, 1964
Sadie (Understudy) [Replacement]

[Off-Broadway]
City Center Revival, 1958
Ado Annie Carnes

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1958
Kitty

Kitty

[Broadway]
City Center Revival, 1957
Meg Brockie

[Broadway]
City Center Revival, 1955
Sharon McLonergan

[Broadway]
City Center Revival, 1955
Miss Adelaide

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1954
Gladys [Replacement]

Gladys [Replacement]

Gladys [Replacement]

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1953
Hazel Flagg

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 1952
Gladys Bumps

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1951
Poupette

Poupette

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1949
The Girl

Theatregoer

Daughter

Neighbor

Performer

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1947
Nancy

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1947
Dancer

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1945
Neighbor

Chorine

Dancer

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1945
Corps de Ballet

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1944
Corps de Ballet

Performer (Understudy)

Productions

 
[Broadway, 1972]
Assistant to Mr. Saddler

Movies

Strangers When We Meet
[ 1960 ] Betty Anders
Roseland
[ 1977 ] Cleo The Hustle
Neptune's Rocking Horse
[ 1997 ] Sadie

TV Shows

Shangri-La
Lise
Another World
Hannah Tuttle
Ryan's Hope
[ 1975-1989 ] Maeve Ryan, Maeve Colleary Ryan
Law & Order
Flo Bishop
All My Children
Nurse Harris
One Life to Live
[ 1997-1998 ] Dr. Maud Boylan

Awards and Nominations


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1971 - Outstanding Performance

Helen Gallagher, No, No, Nanette


winner
Tony Awards - 1971 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Helen Gallagher, No, No Nanette

Tony Awards - 1966 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Helen Gallagher, Sweet Charity

Tony Awards - 1966 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Helen Gallagher, Sweet Charity


winner
Tony Awards - 1952 - Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Helen Gallagher, Pal Joey

Videos

News


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Review: FIFTY KEY STAGE MUSICALS IN CONCERT at 54 Below Is All The Things

Robert W. Schneider and Michael Lavine do themselves, 54 Below, and Broadway proud with their remarkable historical concert.
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Musical Theater Melodies Celebrates 120th Birthday of Legendary Composer Richard Rodgers with Broadcast and Streaming Premiere

Tuesday June 28th, 2022, marks the 120th Anniversary of the birth of legendary Broadway composer Richard Rodgers, Rob Morrison's Musical Theatre Melodies will commemorate the occasion with the broadcast and streaming premiere of the Museum of the City of New York's A CELEBRATION OF RICHARD RODGERS, recorded live at The Imperial Theatre, New York City, on March 26th, 1972.
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This week's list includes new music from Josh Groban and Broadway songs from Seth MacFarlane. In addition, The SpongeBob Musical is coming to DVD, and the lyrics of Hadestown are now available!
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Broadway and Film Actress Paula Kelly Dies at 76

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that Paula Kelly, actress of stage and screen, has died. She was 76. Kelly made her Broadway debut as Mrs. Veloz in the 1964 musical Something More!, alongside Barbara Cook. Her other Broadway credits include The Dozens (1969), Paul Sills' Story Theatre (1971), Ovid's Metamorphoses (1971), and Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies (1981).
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On Monday, June 10 nearly 250 people gathered at the Tribeca Rooftop for the HB Studio Gala celebrating the centennial of its long-time master teacher, the two-time Tony Award winning actress Uta Hagen, whose 100th birthday is Wednesday, June 12.
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Like the rest of you, I've spent this week obsessing over 'Fosse Verdon' on FX and especially Gwen Verdon, played brilliantly on the series by Michelle Williams, in a performance that makes you want to reinvestigate what made Gwen so great. Sweet Charity is the perfect place to start. Gwen became a star and won her first Tony in a featured role in Can Can and she gained worldwide acclaim (and number 2 in a total of four Tonys) as Lola in Damn Yankees on stage and screen and of course there were many other shows and movies and TV appearances, but Sweet Charity was the show Bob Fosse (and Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields and Neil Simon) created just for her. She may have lost the Tony to Angela Lansbury in Mame, but Gwen got that iconic poster and all those songs.
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The 2018 Inaugural NAAP (National Asian Artists Project) Gala took place on December 2nd celebrating the 60th Anniversary of Rodgers & Hammerstein's groundbreaking musical 'Flower Drum Song'. Cast members from numerous productions including the original 1958 Broadway company, tours, the 1961 film and the 2002 Broadway revival took over the Golden Unicorn Restaurant in the heart of Chinatown for a magical evening that included a spectacular eight course Chinese banquet and a sensational show.
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Exclusive Podcast: Go 'Behind the Curtain' with Two-Time Tony Winner Helen Gallagher Photo
Exclusive Podcast: Go 'Behind the Curtain' with Two-Time Tony Winner Helen Gallagher

You can dance with any girl at all but why would you when the lovely Helen Gallagher is right here and ready to look back on her amazing journey which includes the original productions of Billion Dollar Baby, Brigadoon, High Button Shoes, the 1952 Pal Joey (for which she won a Tony Award), Make a Wish, Hazel Flagg, The Pajama Game, Sweet Charity, and the 1971 No, No, Nanette for which she won her second Tony Award.
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Richard Skipper Celebrates Richard Barclay featuring Frank Basile, Julie Budd, Eileen Fulton, Richard Holbrook, Ilene Kristen, with Musical Director, Rolf Barnes. October of last year, the entertainment industry lost a powerful friend. Richard Barclay, a celebrated singer/actor and producer/director ended his eight-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
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Two-Time Tony Award-Winner Helen Gallagher to Narrate 70, GIRLS, 70 Concert at Feinstein's/54 Below

Two-time Tony Award winner Helen Gallagher has joined the cast of the previously announced 70, Girls, 70 concert at FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club. Ms. Gallagher, who will serve as the evening's narrator, joins a starry cast of Broadway veterans in the 1971 Kander and Ebb-tuner, set for April 17th, 2017 at 7:00pm and 9:30pm. A portion of the evening's proceeds will benefit The Lillian Booth Actor's Home. 
HB Studio to Host Helen Gallagher's 90th Birthday Celebration, 7/18

HB Studio, one of New York's most venerable institutions for theater training and practice, will honor cherished Broadway, film and television actress Helen Gallagher on Monday, July 18th for her 90th Birthday in a musical celebration benefiting the HB Studio Scholarship Fund.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Helen Gallagher been in?

Helen Gallagher has appeared on Broadway in 20 shows.

How many West End shows has Helen Gallagher been in?

Helen Gallagher has not appeared in the West End.

What awards has Helen Gallagher been nominated for?

Helen Gallagher has received several nominations for her performances. She was nominated for Outstanding Performance at the Drama Desk Awards for No, No, Nanette. Additionally, she received nominations for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical at the Tony Awards for No, No, Nanette. She also earned nominations for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical at the Tony Awards for Sweet Charity, as well as for Pal Joey.

What awards has Helen Gallagher won?

Helen Gallagher has won the following awards: Outstanding Performance at the Drama Desk Awards for No, No, Nanette; Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical at the Tony Awards for No, No, Nanette; and Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical at the Tony Awards for Pal Joey.

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