#1
Posted: 8/8/07 at 1:49pm
Once she was a schlepper. Now she's an octogenarian litigant.
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Washington Post
Reliable Source
Faith: Broadway Has No You-Know-What in Me
By Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts
Wednesday, August 8, 2007; Page C03
Former exotic dancer, champion of the arts and seven-time D.C. mayoral candidate Faith is recovering at George Washington Hospital from a case of pneumonia -- brought on, says her husband, when the 83-year-old performer was denied her chance for a Broadway comeback.
Faith Dane was 36 years old when she landed the role of Mazeppa in the legendary 1959 Broadway musical "Gypsy," starring Ethel Merman. The burlesque-style dancer wowed producers at her audition with her hilarious horn-blowing striptease -- which concluded with her bending over and blowing the trumpet between her legs -- and brought down the house in the "You Gotta Get a Gimmick" number: "If you wanna stump it, bump it with a trumpet."
Faith, the perennial D.C. mayoral candidate. (Courtesy of Jude Crannitch)
She repeated the role in the 1962 movie, but was never cast in the musical's many revivals. Faith made a name (she legally changed it to just "Faith") as a colorful political activist in the nation's capital. When she learned of a new production of "Gypsy" with Patti LuPone at New York City Center this summer, she asked to reprise her signature role. No response.
Husband Jude Crannitch said his wife was distraught by the rejection, which he believes contributed to her illness. "Nothing," he told us yesterday. "Not even the courtesy of a response." Crannitch said his wife -- despite her age -- still deserves the part. "I sent pictures to them showing how good she looks," he said. They attended a 2003 "Gypsy" revival in New York and met the three actresses playing the musical's strippers: "They looked like schleppers compared to Faith."
Last month, Faith filed an age discrimination complaint against the theater and casting company with New York State's Division of Human Rights. "Faith feels it's her child, her artistic work that's being butchered," Crannitch said.
Jack Viertel, artistic director for the City Center production, said there was never any attempt to prevent her from auditioning. Actors Equity rules require open auditions, which Faith could have attended, and producers had no obligation to grant her a private audition. A rep from the Division of Human Rights could not comment on specific cases, but said the investigation to determine probable cause for the complaint would be completed by late fall.
Crannitch still believes his wife should get another chance: "There's a helluva lot of people who would love to see the original Mazeppa
Faith: Broadway Has No You-Know-What in Me
===
Washington Post
Reliable Source
Faith: Broadway Has No You-Know-What in Me
By Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts
Wednesday, August 8, 2007; Page C03
Former exotic dancer, champion of the arts and seven-time D.C. mayoral candidate Faith is recovering at George Washington Hospital from a case of pneumonia -- brought on, says her husband, when the 83-year-old performer was denied her chance for a Broadway comeback.
Faith Dane was 36 years old when she landed the role of Mazeppa in the legendary 1959 Broadway musical "Gypsy," starring Ethel Merman. The burlesque-style dancer wowed producers at her audition with her hilarious horn-blowing striptease -- which concluded with her bending over and blowing the trumpet between her legs -- and brought down the house in the "You Gotta Get a Gimmick" number: "If you wanna stump it, bump it with a trumpet."
Faith, the perennial D.C. mayoral candidate. (Courtesy of Jude Crannitch)
She repeated the role in the 1962 movie, but was never cast in the musical's many revivals. Faith made a name (she legally changed it to just "Faith") as a colorful political activist in the nation's capital. When she learned of a new production of "Gypsy" with Patti LuPone at New York City Center this summer, she asked to reprise her signature role. No response.
Husband Jude Crannitch said his wife was distraught by the rejection, which he believes contributed to her illness. "Nothing," he told us yesterday. "Not even the courtesy of a response." Crannitch said his wife -- despite her age -- still deserves the part. "I sent pictures to them showing how good she looks," he said. They attended a 2003 "Gypsy" revival in New York and met the three actresses playing the musical's strippers: "They looked like schleppers compared to Faith."
Last month, Faith filed an age discrimination complaint against the theater and casting company with New York State's Division of Human Rights. "Faith feels it's her child, her artistic work that's being butchered," Crannitch said.
Jack Viertel, artistic director for the City Center production, said there was never any attempt to prevent her from auditioning. Actors Equity rules require open auditions, which Faith could have attended, and producers had no obligation to grant her a private audition. A rep from the Division of Human Rights could not comment on specific cases, but said the investigation to determine probable cause for the complaint would be completed by late fall.
Crannitch still believes his wife should get another chance: "There's a helluva lot of people who would love to see the original Mazeppa
Faith: Broadway Has No You-Know-What in Me
