At the Ballet...

#1

At the Ballet...

Posted: 7/5/07 at 7:43pm

If you go to "that site" there is a clip I just discovered from Phil Donahue's 15th anniversary reunion show of A Chorus Line. It's the entire original Broadway cast... with Kelly Bishop, Nancy Lane and Kay Cole singing At the Ballet.

(type in "at the ballet")

They can barely get through the number, especially Kay... watch the OBC around them drying their eyes...

...by the end of this song, I was crying at work just now.

Take a look, and see how powerful this number can be with these brilliant original ladies. And listen to Kay on those high notes. Nobody ever sang them like she did.

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

#2

re: At the Ballet...

Posted: 7/5/07 at 7:48pm

I was surprised that they managed to maintain a 15 year vocal prowess that can match how they originally sounded.

edit; same even goes for Donna's voice on the MB tribute at the Tonys around the time she had returned as Cassie and she sounded gorgeous, even better than the original recording.

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Updated On: 7/5/07 at 07:48 PM

#3

re: At the Ballet...

Posted: 7/5/07 at 7:52pm

That was gorgeous. Thanks for telling us about the clip, best.

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I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.

#4

re: At the Ballet...

Posted: 7/5/07 at 7:54pm

C---I agree! When Donna sings, "I'll do you proud" on that MB tribute at the Tonys, my jaw never fails to drop. That's some brilliant belting. Her tone on that is flawless.

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

#5

re: At the Ballet...

Posted: 7/5/07 at 7:55pm

Wow, that was amazing.

Thank you so much.

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"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird

#6

re: At the Ballet...

Posted: 7/5/07 at 7:56pm

Her very clear "Chance to dance" is what blows me away and then watching her sweep the stage is just so damn impressive after hearing what she went through in Time Steps.

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#7

re: At the Ballet...

Posted: 7/5/07 at 7:56pm

Is there a clip on the forbidden site of the MB tribute?

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SondheimGeek: Is it slightly pathetic that you guys get to be Jedi bitches, and I'm Bitchy the Hutt?
LizzieCurry: No, you're more memorable

#8

re: At the Ballet...

Posted: 7/5/07 at 7:56pm

I have on DVD that entire Phil Donahue Show. If you think that's emotional -- you should see Baayork Lee's breakdown when Phil showed a clip of Michael Bennett accepting his Best Director Tony Award. Poor gal.

Also, Pamela Blair performed the entire "Dance: 10; Looks: 3" number with the original lyrics. Phil is proud in saying that it's a FIRST for morning television to use those words: tits and ass.



Michael Bennett Tribute at The Tony Awards - Part 1: http://youtube.com/watch?v=_Du5iq2PmSU
Michael Bennett Tribute at The Tony Awards - Part 2: http://youtube.com/watch?v=5rLvbURynxo&mode=related&search=

Updated On: 7/5/07 at 07:56 PM

#9

re: At the Ballet...

Posted: 7/5/07 at 7:57pm

Donna's voice is like wine - only gets better with age.

The MB tribute brings tears to my eyes everytime she runs on in the red dress.

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"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird

#10

re: At the Ballet...

Posted: 7/5/07 at 7:59pm

SondheimGeek, yes, it is on there.

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"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird

#11

re: At the Ballet...

Posted: 7/5/07 at 8:03pm

Sorry to sound cliche but when I watched that clip I couldn't help but think: "they don't make them like that anymore"
Donna McKechnie is just superb in that tribute to Bennett, as much as I *love* her singing voice, it is her dancing that showstopping choreography with such energy and passion so many years after she first danced those steps to Tony-winning effect that just gives me chills. And C, I read Time Steps as well and it definitely makes you appreciate that clip even more. I truly admire McKechnie.

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"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"

#12

re: At the Ballet...

Posted: 7/5/07 at 8:05pm

C---You're right! It was "chance to dance..."

I hadn't seen it in a while, but that's the part that blows me away with Donna.

There's something about watching these three ladies doing At the Ballet... it's so genuine. They're not trying to win Oscars or Tonys or to be asked back on American Idol.

They're telling a story...

...so VERY well.

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

#13

re: At the Ballet...

Posted: 7/5/07 at 8:10pm

Donna is a goddess. The end.

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I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.

#14

re: At the Ballet...

Posted: 7/5/07 at 8:11pm

Her "chance to dance" gives me chills.

I read her autobiography close to a year ago and I still think of her haunting retelling of the tony award winning dancer sitting on the toilet bowl unable to stand.

That passage has not left my mind since and boy did I tear.

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"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view - until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."
To Kill A Mockingbird

#15

re: At the Ballet...

Posted: 7/5/07 at 8:14pm

There's something about Tony-winning actresses whose names are Donna and last names begin with an M that just makes me smile

I think this clip becomes even more nostalgic with the recent news of Thommie Walsh' passing.

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"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"

#16

re: At the Ballet...

Posted: 7/5/07 at 8:29pm

Are there any more clips from that show out there?

#17

re: At the Ballet...

Posted: 7/5/07 at 8:44pm

WOW! Haven't seen this since it originally aired. Kay Cole's money note is STUNNING!

#18

re: At the Ballet...

Posted: 7/5/07 at 8:47pm

I just love "money notes."


Especially when they pay off big time.

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"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

#19

re: At the Ballet...

Posted: 7/5/07 at 8:51pm

And when Cole says "...he'd say to me Maggie do you want to dance? And I'd say Daddy I would love to dance."


AHHHHHHH. Her reading of that line. Breaks my heart.

#20

re: At the Ballet...

Posted: 7/5/07 at 9:34pm

If you want to watch the MB Tribute clip without it being divided in two, it's on BlueGobo.

Edit:
Ok, so I finished watching it, that whole episode is tough to sit through without crying. What was the original airdate on it?

Btw, I love the fact that Kelly Bishop has the same hair still.

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http://www.youtube.com/huskcharmer

Updated On: 7/5/07 at 09:34 PM

#21

re: At the Ballet...

Posted: 7/5/07 at 9:36pm

What a sublime video. It really reflects the talent of the original Broadway cast.

#22

re: At the Ballet...

Posted: 7/5/07 at 9:43pm

Damn you BlueGobo...why can't you make friends with KeepVid?

Updated On: 7/5/07 at 09:43 PM

#23

re: At the Ballet...

Posted: 7/5/07 at 9:47pm

What's the site?

#24

re: At the Ballet...

Posted: 7/5/07 at 9:50pm

Does anyone feel like putting more clips of the Donehue episode up? It seems like such a good one. I'd love to see more.

#25

re: At the Ballet...

Posted: 7/5/07 at 9:50pm

Link to A CHORUS LINE video clips on BlueGobo:

http://bluegobo.com/video/_production.php?var=10057