Betty White In Musicals?

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 12/13/09 at 2:25pm

Does anyone know anything about Betty White doing musicals?

I had no idea she performed in musicals until I watched this clip of "Password" from the original black and white series. She says that in Milwaukee she will be performing in "South Pacific"

Here is the link, she briefly speaks about it at 2.25
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UjStGJl6X4&feature=rec-fresh+div-f-11-HM

[keithp]

Posted: 12/13/09 at 2:51pm

I had a programme of her as Dolly in Hello Dolly! with The Kenely Players on Ohio.

[keithp]

Posted: 12/13/09 at 2:51pm

I had a programme of her as Dolly in Hello Dolly! with The Kenely Players on Ohio.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 12/13/09 at 3:07pm

In the late 60s she did lots of stock, including, GUYS AND DOLLS, TAKE ME ALONG, THE KING AND I and BELLS ARE RINGING.
I saw her in BELLS.. and she was great.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/13/09 at 3:08pm

Wow! Could she sing?

[frontrowcentre2]

Posted: 12/13/09 at 3:09pm

In her autobiography (Here We Go Again) she mentions Mrs. Anna in KING AD & I as one of her favourite roles. Mostly she did summer stock and regional productions.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 12/13/09 at 3:52pm

Wow! Way to go Betty! And I didn't think I could have anymore respect for her, and I guess now I do!

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 12/13/09 at 5:12pm

frontrowcenter2-
One of those featured a young Donna McKechnie, who mentions it in an interview.

[zamedy]

Posted: 12/13/09 at 5:18pm

Ditto fashionguru. Is there anything this woman cannot do? A truly amazing actress and person. An American icon who is STILL acting and going strong at, what, 87?

"Our town's motto was 'better Ned than red.' Ned was kind of the village idiot."

"When, on your days off??"


Updated On: 12/13/09 at 05:18 PM

[beaemma]

Posted: 12/13/09 at 6:27pm

I saw Betty White in SOUTH PACIFIC at the Melody Top Theatre in Milwaukee. I was in high school and had no idea that she could act on stage or sing, knowing her only from TV game shows. I expected the worst, and she really surprised me--good acting, a serviceable light soprano, and a really likable stage presence.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 12/13/09 at 10:20pm

I saw Betty White as Mrs Anna in THE KING AND I 'way back when. I don't recall whether it was at the Westbury Music Fair or the Plumstead Playhouse. I DO recall that her King was Allen Ludden.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 12/14/09 at 1:36am

Betty White AND Allen Ludden as the leads in "The King and I"??? I wish I could have seen that!

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 12/14/09 at 4:53am

A piece of blue sky just fell on my head! The wherefore and why are best left unsaid...
Updated On: 12/14/09 at 04:53 AM

[WOSQ]

Posted: 12/14/09 at 11:03am

There is a memory going through my head (which is not saying much these days) that Betty and Allen did Chicago for Kenley in the late 70s-early 80s. She was Roxie.

Or is this an acid flashback?

[Patash]

Posted: 12/14/09 at 12:22pm

I once saw Edie Adams attempt to do a very dramatic Sadie Thompson in Rain for Kenley Players. Zsa Zsa Gabor did Private Lives for Kenley. And I saw a very, very pregnant Barbara Eden do Maria in the Sound of Music for Kenley. Her appearance in an Empire waistline wedding gown drew huge laughs -- reminiscent of Barbra in Funny Girl. With Kenley Players anything was possible. He would contact "stars" with midwest box office appeal and ask them what they wanted to do. Sometimes the results were wonderful. Sometimes the results were bizarre. Not every star has the best idea of what their own capabilities are. I guess Zsa Zsa felt she was right for Private Lives since it was about a woman getting remarried?

[Sonia&Vernon]

Posted: 12/14/09 at 2:27pm

I know Allen Ludden once did Chicago with Sue Ann Langdon as Roxie on the Kenley circuit. I don't know if Allen and Betty ever did the show together.