When I was a kid, I discovered musicals and my world changed. I especially fell in love with Jerry Herman musicals. Carol Channing in Dolly and Angela Lansbury in Mame … well, they gave me my dreams. In high school, I saw Angela in Gypsy two or three times when she was on tour. It was one of the first professional shows I ever saw and to this day it remains as vivid in my mind as a videotape. Few actors could ever sing as well and few singers could ever act as well. She was riveting. I finally saw her do Mame in Kansas City when I was in college. Wow. Just wow. Then, the first show I ever saw ON Broadway on my very first trip to New York in 1979 was the original production of Sweeney Todd with Angela and Len Cariou. Breathtaking. I had gotten to know Jerry Herman during the 80s and had a chance to work on an AIDS benefit in Chicago in 1987 that Angela hosted and Jerry was in along with Chita Rivera, Leslie Uggams, Peter Allen and Colleen Dewhurst. This was during the Murder, She Wrote days. When Angela arrived, she absolutely just lit up the entire Chicago Theatre. She was also the sweetest, loveliest and most gracious woman you could ever imagine. Pure joy. And to watch her work … just extraordinary. Such a pro. I was standing in the wings during the show and we were watching Leslie Uggams onstage singing “I Am What I Am” from Jerrys La Cage aux Folles … Jerry to my left and Angela to my right, the three of us with our arms around each others waists, swaying to the music and beaming like mad. My life could have ended at that moment and Id have been fine. Later that year, I attended the Tonys. That was the year the original Les Mis won and Angela hosted. To everyones delight, Bea Arthur made a surprise appearance and the two original Mame costars brought the roof down with a long overdue and truly beloved encore of “Bosom Buddies.” When you see this clip, Im one of the people going nuts in the audience. Ive been madly in love with her for almost 50 years. She is still going strong at a remarkable 89 years old, appearing onstage in Blithe Spirit. Unbelievable. Happy Birthday, Dame Angela Lansbury!! XXXOXO
Posted on: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 02:29:21 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015