Profile for Jay Williams

Broadway, Broadway! Love to hear your stories of your romance with Broadway..........one of my favorites is the original production of Hello, Dolly at the St. James, 1964 or so........this was my date show and I saw it over 40 times with Carol Channing, Pearl Bailey, Ethel Merman, Bibi Osterwald and lots of others. One night it snowed, and 44th. Street was deserted...........no cars! My guy date and I decided to just dance down the street..........snow and all! Total bliss. And then into Sard...

All the actors out there: would love to hear a great audition memory or story. One of my favorite is being seen by Estelle Parsons for something she was directing. Oh, was she fun! She came into the holding room after seeing many people and looked at us and said in a very big and friendly voice: "look at me in the room.......I want you to look at me............not at the wall or the floor or the ceiling.....let me know who you are........" and she stomped out with this huge grin on her face. ...

Stro is a lovely and talented and generous woman! Hope this can get legs to move to Bway. Have you ever auditioned for her? She makes you feel amazing! And her smile is delicious.

MERMAN.............almost never missed (will someone get her at least an alley sign that says Ethel Merman Way or Ethel Merman was heard here, etc.). Harvey Fierstein was not amused when so many kids would call out during Hairspray.............and he was right. 8 a week: not easy especially on weekends when there can be five in a row. But this is Bway and people know what they are in for when they sign on and as many leading men and women point out, you have to be almost a nun or whatever in ...

Looking forward to seeing MFL........................for someone who does not always love what LC Theatre does it seems from the messages that Sher took some serious time to examine what to do with the show and make some astounding and memorable (if not to everyone's liking) choices. Good directors do this.Sad that the same cannot be said about the dreadful Carousel at the Imperial.

Let's hear it for the "reliable" and fabulous Linda Muggleston! During Wonderful Town the less than adorable Donna Murphy was out so much that Linda seemed to be starring in the show. Every show needs understudies or the show would not go on.

So, the Harlequin has been gone for a very long time. It was above a Howard Johnson's at 46th. and Bway. Had my first stock audition there as a kid (got the job, too, singing "Shy" from Mattress. I am a dude and liked the song so I went to Colony and got it for about 75 cents and sang it and got a call back and did it again. Years later when I was rehearsing for a dance break in a movie, they put us in the Harlequin..........it was freezing, no heat at all on the top floor! Yuch. But it was p...

My Fair Lady..............anyone care to share the "new" ending of MFL at the Beaumont........what does Eliza do and what does Higgins do? Especially after the line: "where the devil are my slippers?". Just wondering how the "new" ending worked for you. Put "spoiler alert" in your response if you do not want others to know how the final moments go. Just curious how you liked the ending.

Dolly does what she does to survive in HER world................she needs the money, she needs to connect, she needs to find her way.............is anyone in this world without flaws? That is what makes us alike.She finds a way to return to the human race...............she is teacher, guru, mother, lover.........and boy can she eat! And she IS musical comedy. Oh, re. Merman: one of the great joys was to watch this woman work. Is anyone still interested in getting at least an alley named for h...

George Abbott.............Mr Abbott............lived to 107 or more.............was directing in his 90's.........a lovely man.........it is, indeed, great to tour: for all who have done it the hotels, the old theatres, the parties: just amazing (when amazing...........).

See Anastasia...........a lot of people have dismissed this show............and while it is not An A, it is a solid B+ for Bway as the singing is delicious and the new leading guy Zach is gorgeous and sings better than most Bway guys. And how lovely to see Mary Beth Piel at the top of her game. The projections are simply beautiful. Sweet show especially if you can get low price tix.

Hello Dolly...............cannot remember all of your questions...........but Horace spent a lot of time in NYC trying to find a "mate" and of course he went there to see Irene and "seal the deal" perhaps. Tomatoes: those kind of shops sold all kinds of things. All that luggage: mostly a gag, and it is funny. Forgot the rest of the questions. I, too, saw Dolly many times..........it was my date show in college.........and it was cheap to see........maybe $4.00 for a seat and much less for sta...

Just love the work Tommy Tune directed for Broadway in the past. He knows how to "love a show into being". Why is this adorable, talented and centered director not directing much anymore? Perhaps it is his choice. I can just imagine the beauty he would have brought to some of our current revivals.

Discussion is always healthy! Thanks. What would be your choice for best revival of a musical? Really interested in your opinion.

Would love to know why you loved this production; happy to learn from you.

Tony voters: Carousel is a giant mis step. Awful: opening, one horse, people dancing around just to dance around, no feeling of a carnival at all, dark and dismal. Julie Jordan: love Jessie, but she was far better as Carrie in another staging. Where were all the snow kids? Not here and not in the ballet, which was not at all impressive. The acting of Ms. Pollack as Louise was a mix of Liza and someone with a poor New England dialect; just annoying. And for the first time, the finale did not m...