Profile for onceadancer2

Dis Stockard Channing war that dress throughout the second act? Or was it just for the curtain call. In the original Vivienne Segal wore a very elegant black dress and shoes, but nothing like the contraption that Channing is wearing. It's also so out of period. Who designed the costumes? It makes her look atrocious. I can just imagine Segal looking at a dress like that and screaming: I'M GOING TO WEAR THAT? STICK IT UP YOUR ASS! As one of the lines in MY SISTER EILEEN wwent "what sadist desig...

Dear AllofMyLife: Thank you so much for that information. And yes, I am on the footage! There's more footage around, unfortunately none of Vivienne Segal or Leila Ernst. By the way, there is a clip of Vivienne Segal singig Bewitched on the Ed Sullivan Show. Have you see it? Talk about adult, sophisticated, charming--and ruthless. And by the way, I thought you'd get a laugh out of this. I've told it before, but here it goes again. Seal and Abbott were always at odds. He never wanted her to tou...

After receiving a few nasty notes from someone on the board—class always shows, but was obviously lacking in this person, I decided not to write anymore. Look, I’m going to be 88 soon, and still have my marbles. As I was in the original dancing corps of PAL JOEY, and if my mind is still in order, a few reminders and pointers about the show and what sounds terribly wrong about this show. And for all the nitpickers, I say “sounds” because I have not seen it. The part of Vera Simpson was written...

Try to get the new Vienna Volksoper recording of SOUND OF MUSIC. It is truly wonderful! Miriam

Listen to SOUND OF MUSIC from the Vienna Volksopera. It is really wonderful! Miriam

Comedy (Female): Shirley Booth, Ina Claire, Jean Dixon, Gertrude Lawrence, Maggie Smith, Joyce Redman, Judy Holliday, Athene Seyler. Comedy (Male) : Alfred Lunt, Noel Coward. Drama (Male) : Olivier, Ralph Richardson. Drama (Female) : Irene Worth, Judi Dench, Edith Evans, Kim Stanley, Celia Johnson. Musical (Female): Vivienne Segal, Carol Bruce, Nancy Walker, Shirley Booth (again) Musical (Male): John Raitt, Alfred Drake. There are more that I have forgotten, and I am not up on the performers ...

I don't know where you reside or your knowledge of ballet, but some ballets where the skirts, or dress, swish are: Serenade Vienna Waltzes Ballet Imperial (now called Piano Concerto No. 2) Dances At A Gathering Tschiakovsky Suite No. 2 (or 3, I forget!) Liebeslieder Walzer In the Night Brahms Schoenberg Quartet Emeralds (from the Diamonds Trilogy) Valse Fantaisie Miriam

I ususally do not come to this site often, but I was very surprised that no one mentiond the passing of Carol Bruce. Carol Bruce had a very strange career. On opening night in Louisiana Purchase, she created quite a sensation, and seemed on the point of a great career on the musical comedy stage. Hell, on opening night Irving Berlin and Eddie Cantor came on with bouquets for her, much to the displeasure of Zorina. Bruce had everything: looks, talent, a great voice, femininity, charm, poise, a...

During my performing career I met the following people: Eleanor Roosevelt Anna Roosevelt Harry Hopkins General George Marshall Felix Frankfurter Mrs. Sara Delano Roosevelt Frances Perkins Henry Morgentahu Dwight Eisenhower Missy LeHane Wendel Wilkie Groucho Marx Bette Davis Leslie Howard Clark Gable Joan Crawford Gail Russell Ginger Rogers Fred Astaire Vivien Leigh Laurence Olivier Sylvia Sidney Arthur Sulzberger Golda Meir Mrs. Harry Truman Arthur Hitchcock George Cukor Lots of others! Miriam

These go way back, but you might want to look into them: Girl Crazy opening (1930) Jumbo opening (1935) Boys From Syracuse (193 : The overture segueing into the opening dialogus segueing into the I Had Twins number. By Jupiter (1942) - I can not remeber the number, but it was an extended sequence. Something For the Boys (1943) - had a lengthy opening in which all three of the cousins get news that the house in Texas has been left to them. On The Town (1944) - Beginning With "Im'm not out of b...

I’ve been reading the posts about GYPSY and the complaints about City Center. So a short history lesson is in order. For all of those who complain, remember that City Center was built as a theatre for the people at popular prices. Yes, the seats, the stage and everything else were inadequate. But let us look at what you got at City Center. First of all, a huge thank you—and my love and affection—for the two people who pushed City Center through, fought for it, pleaded for it and generally rai...

Such a sad way to end one's life. I wonder if he sought help before this tragic incident. Rest in peace.

WITH A SONG IN MY HEART from Rodgers and Hart's SPRING IS HERE. I saw the original in 1929!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of my close friends—one of America’s most famous dancers—lurks here all the time. For some reason she refuses to write and passes everything on to me. So here are some Merman quotes that she remembers—from a very long time ago. 1. Fanny Brice meets Ethel Merman on the street and says “we’ve got to do a show together. Merman replies, “yeah, we could call it my man is girl crazy.” 2. In the Scandals of 1931, Ethel Merman appeared with Rudy Vallee. Obviously, she did not like him. Vallee say...

I still have my costume from the original BABES IN ARMS 1937. Unfortunately, it doesn't fit anymore!

Way back in 1939 Merman was in a show called Stars In Your Eyes with Jimmy Durante, and also featuring Tamara Toumanova with choreography by Robert Alton and George Balanchine. Merman watched the corps performing from the wings and was rumored to have said: "that little jewish boy over there dancing up a storm, what a talent. I'd like to work with him someday!" Turned out it was Jerome Robbins! When Merman was in Something for the Boys, the wonderful Betty Garrett had a featured role. Porter ...

I have been interested in reading reviews about LOVEMUSIK. I danced in one Kurt Weill musicaal, ONE TOUCH OF VENUS, and was able to observe Weill and Lenya--who came to rehearsals--at a distance, so what I have to say is only based on insights and what the other girls and I put together. Yes, I do think that Weill and Lenya loved each other--but it was not in a physical way. I would say that it was more a meeting of the minds, rather than the heart. Yes, Kurt Will did rely on feedback from Le...

Gertrude Niessen in the 1940s war camp musical of all time, FOLLOW THE GIRLS. The reviews were awful, calling it tacky, stupid, imbecilic, vapid, degrading, vile, an insult to one's intelligence, etc. It didn't matter. The audiences came. Part of the fun of FOLLOW THE GIRLS were the regulars who came and would call out the dialogue from their seats.

Depending on the time and date, I saw the original MY SISTER EILEEN about 50 times. And laughed!!!!!! Miriam

Lynn Fontanne Ina Claire Ruth Gordon Maude Adams Ethel barrymore Marilyn Miller Claire Eames Katharine Cornell Vivienne Segal Evelyn Herbert Adele Astaire Helen Hayes Lotte Lenya Judith Anderson Ethel Waters Gertrude Lawrence Beatrice Lillie Fanny Brice Lillian Gish Grace George Alice Brady Julia Sanderson Frances Starr Jeanne Eagles Laurette Taylor Pauline Lord Peggy Wood Jane Cowl Eva Le Gallienne Florence Reed Lenore Ulric Edna Best Mary Boland Elisabeth Bergner Tallulah Bankhead Shirley B...