Earliest Musical/Theatre Memories

So every time I've seen an publicity interview for Julie Andrew's new book, I'm brought back to one of my earliest musical memories...

Sitting in my 4th grade music class and watching the Sound of Music. Our music teacher was out, and the sub put in the movie. I remember the uncomfortable risers, the decorations on the walls, everything... and being completely in heaven while watching this musical.

I also remember sitting in awe watching a community production of Annie.

What are your strongest and earliest memories?

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My strongest memory is when I went to see "Into The Woods" at Highland Community College when I was in about 4th grade. It was my first REAL theater production, and I loved it. I remember where I sat, and who some of the cast was. I still love the show.

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My first live theatrical show was way back when the Shuberts would send out productions of operettras. My parents took me to see "Blossom Time". The first show I saw on my own was when in high school I saw a touring "Oklahoma". I've been in love with theatre ever since.

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Updated On: 4/6/08 at 06:30 PM

Listening to my parents B'way album collection and playing ALL the parts. The ones that stick out in my memory:

Two by Two
The Rothchilds

I was also THRUST on to the stage in 2nd grade simply because I was a good student and well behaved. Our Jr. High did a musical and used elementary kids for ONE number. I was in "Put on a Happy Face" in ByeBye Birdie. I had to wear a blue rain coat. I hated my costume.

A year later I was given the part of the "Magical Toy" (anyone rmember that Christmas Carol?) and had applause for just little old me...I was hooked. Now some 35plus years later, I'm still hooked...the longest POSITIVE relationship in my life.

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My parents took me to see Wizard of Oz at Casa Mañana's Children's Playhouse when I was 6. I still remember it and it's weird RSC/MUNY Mashup script.

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I was 4. I went to THE NUTCRACKER. I was kicked out for being too loud.

In three years, I was on the stage doing the show. Take that, bizznatches!!

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We watched Mary Poppins in preschool and I remember loving it so much. I begged for it, and I don't think I actually got it until I was 6 or 7. For Easter.

Then, probably in kindergarten, seeing the Sound of Music on NBC and falling in love with it, and waiting for it to come on tv again the next year so I could tape it. I had the Sound of Music LP with Mary Martin and used to listen to it constantly as a toddler. My older cousin would come over and she would throw the SoM LP off of my tiny turntable and put on Michael Jackson's Thriller- this was probably 1989 or 1990. My record got so scratched, and I didn't get another one 'til about 5 years ago. Also, with the movie, I had been watching my tv tape for years and didn't get the DVD until sometime during high school...probably 6 years ago, and had no idea that there was a wedding sequence...among other things. So much had been edited out for time that I had no idea!

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Peter Pan. I was about 8 or 9, and I was hooked for life.

I remember when I was in junior high that a touring company of HELLO DOLLY! came to town, and it featured a star of my favorite tv show at the time--Yvonne DeCarlo {better known as Lily Munster). My mother knew I wanted to see her, and so she bought me a ticket [how I wish now that she had gone with me!}. Well, the night of the show, Yvonne came down with some illness, and when that was announced over the speaker-system, I was crushed, but the show went on and the understudy was great, and I discovered that I liked the show so much that it did not matter if Yvonne was in it or not. It would be a wonderful experience to actually see a true Broadway show, but I know that will probably never happen, but I have many good memories of the touring companies I have been fortunate enough to see, most with my now deceased mother by my side.

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Cleveland's stop on the first national tour of "Beauty and the Beast".

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I was 12 and went to see Les Mis with my school, and I thought the scene where he jumps off the bridge was the most extraordinary thing I had ever seen.


It was my first show, but far from my last.

I was 3 or 4 when my mother took me to a local kid's production of Mary Poppins, because my neighbor was in it, and I clearly remember the dancing chimney-sweeps and carousel horses. According to my mother, I was standing on my chair, dancing the whole time. I was so tiny, I didn't obstruct the view of the woman who was sitting behind me, who apparently turned out to be the director, who told my mother that she had thoroughly enjoyed seeing how enthusiastic I was.

"Beauty and the Beast" at a HS near me.
"The Telephone Song" from my HS's "Bye Bye Birdie" when I was in 5th grade. I was wowed by the staging. Haha

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